Slap, pop and pick...

[Swimming Bird]

I saw a youTube video of Jauqo III-X (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV10D9Mp7_8) and I was wondering how to do the slap, pop and pick technique without dropping the pick, tearing up your knuckles (or the little joints) or having enough seperation for popping. Mainly, I'm having trouble getting the right pick placement.

This technique is cool/odd enough that I've picked up a pick for the first time ever, but I don't think there are a heck of a lot of people who use this style...

[T Man]

I don't think he's holding a regular pick between his index and middle fingers. I think he's using a thumb pick of some sort on the end of his middle finger. If you stop the video at 1:43, you can see what I mean.

I've never seen anyone do that before. I might have to try it.

[Swimming Bird]

huh

Thanks, I hadn't noticed that.

[Chase_The_Bass]

Jaquo posts here doesnt he? Im pretty sure.

[JAUQO III-X]

That video came about while I was at a NAMM show and a Bass player who had saw me during a performance was asking me about that technique in particular so I was attempting to explain the basics of it and for those who may not know or may be interested the Bass I'm playing in the video is a Beneventa (a very funky one at that).This method of picking has been my approach to the use of a pick as long as I can remember and I have never seen any one do it and Mark Gooday,the owner of Ashdown says I have a patent on it I was at Victor Wooten's house once and while playing one of his Basses(the now famous yin yang)I was doing it and Victor said he had never seen this picking technique before and was very curious and was asking me how I'm able to do it.

I use a Dunlop .38 nylon it's paper thin,I hold it between my index and middle fingers and that's where it stays,In the video I'm not using a thumb pick at all,it's the Dunlop .38 nylon pick but on occasion I use a thumb pick called a "comfort pick" made by the company http://www.strum-n-comfort.com/shark...kproducts.html while holding the Dunlop between my index and middle fingers(so I'm playing the Bass with a thumb pick on my thumb and a nylon pick between my index and middle fingers)


the basic application of my picking technique is to use it in an up and down motion as if I was just holding it in the traditional form and from there you can get started with one of the most basic applications of this technique,which is to start very slowly and go
thumb,pluck(using index finger),up & down(while holding the pick between your index and middle fingers)once you get the basic form of that flowing then you can incorporate your rhythmic interpretation to the technique.

and from there the rest is on you.

I do have actual songs where I utilize this approach.

[dlloyd]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

on occasion I use a thumb pick called a "comfort pick" made by the company http://www.strum-n-comfort.com/shark...kproducts.html

I've tried so many thumb picks I've lost count... that one looks like it might work for me. Thanks for the pointer...

while holding the Dunlop between my index and middle finger(so I'm playing the Bass with a thumb pick on my thumb and a nylon pick between my index and middle finger)

Now, that's just showing off

Looks like Youtube's down right now. Which sucks.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by dlloyd

I've tried so many thumb picks I've lost count... that one looks like it might work for me. Thanks for the pointer...

The comfort pick is adjustable,you can have it as tight or as loose as you like on your thumb.

[BrandonBass]

man how many strings does ur bass hav, do u use em all?

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

man how many strings does ur bass hav, do u use em all?

I use 4,5 6,8 (none doubled),10(2x5)12(3x4) and 15(3x5)

and when I play them I utilize all the strings

This is not pointed at you BrandonBas but I'm not a poser,if you see me playing an 8 string bass I'm going to be using more than 4 or 5 of it's strings if not I may as well just play a 5 string.

[Swimming Bird]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

This method of picking has been my approach to the use of a pick as long as I can remember and I have never seen any one do it and Mark Gooday,the owner of Ashdown says I have a patent on it

Very cool technique -- thanks for sharing. From the tone I wouldn't have guessed, but a thin pick is probably easier to hold that way. I suppose the 'big stubby' 3mm picks I got are only making everything harder...

I've definately never seen that approach before, so I almost hate to use in case I don't do it justice. If nothing else, it'll be pretty satisfying to learn a completely new technique

Hmm... I'll have to check out some of your CDs. Thanks again for the pointers.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Swimming Bird

I suppose the 'big stubby' 3mm picks I got are only making everything harder...

Hmm... I'll have to check out some of your CDs. Thanks again for the pointers.

The thicker the pick the harder it is to get a quick bounce back feel.

And I don't have any recordings available for the public at the moment where I'm utilizing this technique.

[Jay Terrien]

It's now called the "Jauqo Thumb" technique!!! Bookmark and learn this skill immediately.

Jauqo Thumb!!! Jauqo Thumb!!!

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

The thicker the pick the harder it is to get a quick bounce back feel.

And I don't have any recordings out at the moment where I'm utilizing this technique.

[Poop-Loops]

That's wierd. You think it can be applied to regular guitar?

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

That's wierd. You think it can be applied to regular guitar?

I don't see why it couldn't.

[iamlowsound]

That looks cool, I am going to learn it tonight.

lowsound

[TheJimster]

I love the video

[Poop-Loops]

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

That looks cool, I am going to learn it tonight.

lowsound

That made me chuckle.

[DavidRavenMoon]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

The thicker the pick the harder it is to get a quick bounce back feel.

I've always found just the opposite to be true. I've been playing with a pick for 37 years, and I find that you get far more control from a non flexible pick. When I started playing with a pick I looked to guitar players like John McLaughlin and Robert Fripp, and others, for insight into pick technique... both those guys pick every single note, fast and clean.

They use heavy picks, so I figured that's the way to go. You get more tone too. Thin picks sound thin. Look at Steve Swallow... he uses copper picks!

First I used Fender heavy, and Carol Kaye picks. I used a stainless steel pick for a while, but now I mainly use the purple Dunlop Tortex 1.14 mm picks.

It's all in the right hand technique though. I also pick fairly hard, because I like the way the notes snap. At one point I was slapping with the pick... just picking and popping with my middle finger. I switch between playing with a pick and my fingers these days. I play faster with a pick, but I like the tone better with my fingers.

(picking hard vs. soft)

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by DavidRavenMoon

I've always found just the opposite to be true. I've been playing with a pick for 37 years, and I find that you get far more control from a non flexible pick. When I started playing with a pick I looked to guitar players like John McLaughlin and Robert Fripp, and others, for insight into pick technique... both those guys pick every single note, fast and clean.

They use heavy picks, so I figured that's the way to go. You get more tone too. Thin picks sound thin. Look at Steve Swallow... he uses copper picks!

First I used Fender heavy, and Carol Kaye picks. I used a stainless steel pick for a while, but now I mainly use the purple Dunlop Tortex 1.14 mm picks.

It's all in the right hand technique though. I also pick fairly hard, because I like the way the notes snap. At one point I was slapping with the pick... just picking and popping with my middle finger. I switch between playing with a pick and my fingers these days. I play faster with a pick, but I like the tone better with my fingers.

(picking hard vs. soft)

A thin pick works perfect for me,I get more control out of a very thin pick,my insight into playing with a pick came from me and how I choose to interpret my approach to the use of the tool referred to as a pick or plectrum,what works for you and obviously a large majority definitely does not work for me.Hearing I would need to use a heaver pick to get more tone is the same as when I hear Bass players say you can't get any bottom out of the use of very light gauge Bass strings,you've also mentioned you play fairly hard,I do not,my whole approach is more about economy of texture and since you like the tone of playing with your fingers more so than with a pick have you ever tried using a pick with cloth on it ?

I listened to your sound bites and I like and respect the tone of your Bass and your playing was very nice as well.

[DavidRavenMoon]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

A thin pick works perfect for me,I get more control out of a very thin pick,my insight into playing with a pick came from me and how I choose to interpret my approach to the use of the tool referred to as a pick or plectrum,what works for you and obviously a large majority definitely does not work for me.Hearing I would need to use a heaver pick to get more tone is the same as when I hear Bass players say you can't get any bottom out of the use of very light gauge Bass strings,you've also mentioned you play fairly hard,I do not,my whole approach is more about economy of texture and since you like the tone of playing with your fingers more so than with a pick have you ever tried using a pick with cloth on it ?

I started with a felt pick, which was the thing to do at the time. I didn't like it too much though. I actually started playing with a pick because at the time I was playing a Rick 4001 doing prog rock, and needed that very bright tone. Over the years I tried to not sound like a pick per se, since usually you can hear pick vs. fingers. Then I started playing 5-string bass, and switched to flats, a tube amp and my fingers... all at the same time. lol

Right before that is was fretless exclusively for about 6 years. During that time I learned to play less and softer, while still making the notes jump out.

Now when I play with my fingers, it's usually just my index or middle finger, unless I'm playing something fast like that clip, or I slap in the usual way. I keep the first knuckle of my plucking finger stiff, and that seems to add more power to the note. Actually my first knuckle doesn't bend backwards anyway, so it's always like that.

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

I listened to your sound bites and I like and respect the tone of your Bass and your playing was very nice as well.

Well thank you very much, I enjoy your playing as well... and we all have our methods.

I certainly wasn't correcting you... you have an interesting style there. I just think energy is lost in a flex pick, and you have to wait for it to rebound ... but using it the way you do, I don't think a stiff pick would work!

That clip was a bit brighter tone than I usually use... these two are more like my sound. These were just improvised pieces to show the sound of the pickups.

clip one

clip two