Playing like Claypool

[Killtron]

He slaps muted notes a lot and uses this weird technique where he strums more than one string with his fingers. I can't seem to do this, does anyone have any tips?

[Sarbecue Boss]

The strumming technique he uses is very similar to that of flamenco guitarists, basically opening his hand up in a kind of downward strum with multiple fingers

[BigDawg]

You or no one else can replicate exactly what he does. He is an oddity.

[PrimusNut]

I do something similar... When Les does it, he lets his thumb rest on the neck or on the E string, but when I do it, I anchor my thumb on the string above the ones being played, and then just fan my fingers down and out. It takes a bit of practice, but it sounds really good.

Another way to strum is by holding your fingers like you are holding a pick, and use your index fingers fingernail for the downstroke, and your thumbnail for the upstroke, but I find this harder to do, I am just beginning to get used to it.

And, LOL, BigDawg, good point hahaha.

[Enden]

Originally Posted by Killtron

He slaps muted notes a lot and uses this weird technique where he strums more than one string with his fingers. I can't seem to do this, does anyone have any tips?

It's Flamenco. Try to practice playing John the Fisherman. That's a good example of it.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by BigDawg

You or no one else can replicate exactly what he does. He is an oddity.

Yeah but you can learn the technique and do your own thing with it. Les got the flamenco thing from Stanley Clarke anyway.

[fryBASS]

The chords he plays he almost always does the flamenco strums for. You take all your fingers and strum them across the strings. Getting the upstroke is the hardest part (bringing your fingers back up the strings)

[PrimusNut]

Why is the upstroke hard? All you have to do is drag your fingers up the strings...

[acleex38]

I am having trouble getting past doing two-string downstroke strums with just my index finger. Past that, and I get confused. Fortunately, I'm not trying to sound like Claypool - just pick up a distorted imitation of a portion of a single technique - but I'm still considering getting a flamenco guitarist friend to show me some right-handed stuff.

[Enden]

It can be hard to be accurate. When I started, I used to tear the skin under my fingernails a lot.

[TeeMartin]

I can use my thumb like a pick for chords but I can never get the percussive sound Claypool does. It just sounds like I'm finger-plucking multiple strings.

[fryBASS]

Its like opening up your hand and then closing it again over the strings. You can see him doing it a lot here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwGhLPhMpns

[BullHorn]

When I do the upstroke thing, the fat part of my fingers gets stuck on the strings. So I just do the downstrokes fast.

[AmazingGracePlayer]

Originally Posted by BigDawg

You or no one else can replicate exactly what he does. He is an oddity.

I agree that he is odd in terms of playing and personality, but it can be replicated.

[TeeMartin]

Am I supposed to be striking the strings with my nails? I can get a decent sound that way when downstroking but I don't imagine it'd be good for my nails for an extended period of time.

[PrimusNut]

Down stroke with your nails and upstroke with the pads of your fingers. it isn't hard on your finger nails if Like I said, I have adopted this technique, but have changed it a bit to make it easier for me. Just figure out a way, then expirament to make it comfortable for you.

[PrimusNut]

And it isn't hard on your naile, if you do it right....

[TeeMartin]

Does your upstroke sound like your downstroke?

Thanks a bunch.

[SFjonstarr]

Light gauge strings and some compression will help. I've gotten to the point where I kind of strike with the tips of my fingers and the upstrokes sound like the downstrokes. It just takes some time to develop some finnesse with your right hand. I used to get terrible blisters trying to play that type of stuff, but once you get the technique down it's much easier on your hands. I don't even really build up callouses anymore. It just takes some time.

[PrimusNut]

Upstroke doesn't sound exactly like the downstroke, but it is good enough for me...