ryan martinie "technique"

[ARCtrooper225]

I thought this belonged in the technique section more than bassist section, but if it doesn't than could someone move this to where it belongs?...While watching the videos to happy and dig, I tried to keep an eye on ryan's technique. During the chorus of happy, is that slapping or tapping, or both? And, how can I get my three finger technique as fast as his, maybe I'm giving him too much credit, but this small maybe 3 second clip in dig, closed up on his right hand, and it looked like his fingers weren't even moving. Thanks people.

[jady]

According to a Bass Player artice from about 4 yrs back, he is not tapping or slapping, he is hitting the string with his fingers straight down on the neck. Given the really low tension due to the detuning he uses, it gives a punchy percussive sound. I've heard this reffered to as thumping but I dont know if that is acccurate or not.

[DeathDancer]

He's hitting the strings over the fretboard with a stright down motion using his fingertips (similar to the motion of tapping) but you hit strings hard (you're creating a percussive effect not trying to tap a note). Your left hand controls all the notes you are using the right hand to 'hammer' the string. I usually hit the string on the fret that corresponds to the octave of the low note when I do it but it is not neccesary (but hitting the string in different places does create a slightly different attack). It gives you a lot more attack but still the low fundamental (but more attack then fundamental). If I recall 'Happy' Correctly he is doing this but with a lot of octave work. I don't know if this technique has a name or not I stumbled upon it by accident ten years ago and never saw anyone else do it until I saw the Happy video.

[Jayhawk]

Here's an interview where he talks a little about his technique: http://www.bassplayer.com/story.asp?storyCode=8340

He is an amazing bassist, a lot of that comes from his jazz background I think.

[ARCtrooper225]

thanks

[BrandonBass]

If im not wrong, hes kinda slapping the string w his fingers. entwistle uses a similar technique

[idoru]

I've given it a whirl myself, just some simple (yet abrasive) patterns. If you give some thought to where you hit the strings you get interesting combinations of fretted note, ghost note and harmonics.

chris

[MMcC]

I've been having some fun with this technique on Pearl Jam's Jeremy, which uses an 8 or 12 string. The outro is kinda challenging played like this.

[ARCtrooper225]

so its also like using a doubled string, or an octave pedal?

[MMcC]

Yeah, a little bit. For instance, if you fret the C on the A string (3rd fret) and with your right hand tap lightly on the 15th fret C on the A string, you get the low C with an accompanied octave. It sounds cool, but not as distinct as a coupled string or octave pedal. But with Ryan though, I don't think he uses the precise octave higher on the fretboard. He frets the root and octave with his left hand and taps both strings with his right hand (fingers 1 and 2) anywhere on the fretboard. So for example the first chord of the Happy? chorus would be fretting the 5th fret on the C and C strings (remember he tunes CGCF) and tapping those strings on the fretboard.