Learning Cherokee - Victor Wooten: Advice?

[tombaker]

Hey guys,

I'm currently working on my Unit 4 songs for Music VCE (I don't know if it's called something else in other countries. Basically, just a music class done at year 12 level involving playing your instrument and being able to play it fluently) Not the best explanation but you get the idea.

I'm playing Cherokee for my end of year performance and would like some advice on the double thumb technique. I'm sort of new to it. I can thumb down, thumb up on one string, then pop on another string fluently. But I'm having trouble doing this all on one string. My hand gets too cramped when trying to do this on the one string which is a pain because I need to be able to do it for Cherokee.

How do you approach this technique? I've watched Victors video on this but still can't get it.

[pierreganseman]

how to approach??

Take your time :-o, and find the right angle for your wrist :-), and the right strengh in your movement... worked for me...

[251]

I approached it slowly, with a metronome & had some success. It took me several months, YRMV. FWIW, drinking water will help with the cramps

Cherokee is/was a popular jazz vehicle because of all those whole notes. It has a lot of room, built in, for fills & flash. My 1st success with open/hammer was a rehearsed solo for Red Clay, Freddie Hubbard's version of "Sunny". Is there another song you can improvise with & still sing the melody in your head? Perhaps it will make a better performance piece for your VCE?

Vic is applying American folk guitar & banjo picking right hand techniques, to bass. If you've played that way you're a little closer. If not & there is time to learn on a guitar, go for it. If not, learning on a bass is not harder, just different.

There comes a time when you stop watching Vic & take a close look at how to make hands & a body shaped like yours, make the music. Consider changing the length of your strap, the position of your right hand near the neck or bridge, left hand fingering choices, the way you trim your nails ...

Maybe your music will sound different than music played by others? You are you & learning to cover another musician's style is part of learning to play but not all of it. Somewhere along the line you take what you have learned & make it your own.

Good luck 8-)