The Mingus rapid-fire thing

[Aaron Cohn]

I'm talking about when, on a held note, Mingus would do a sort of pizz tremolo. Anyone know for sure how he did it, or have any ideas?

I've been experimenting a little and I've been getting the closest to a good result (if not all that close) by going back and forth with my index finger, using both sides. I think this might be the way, and once I build up more strength I should be able to get more volume doing it. For some reason, it doesn't seem to be a two-finger thing to me, but maybe I'm wrong.

Aaron

[Gornick]

I've seen Mingus do this in videos and it's one finger in his normal attack angle but using both sides of the finger. Sorta like a Flamenco technique. I use it a bit, and love the sound and expressiveness with it.

Youtube I believe has him using this, but I surely don't remember which one it might be.

[Marcus Johnson]

You can also see him doing this in the movie "Triumph Of The Underdog". I just rented it last week, from Netflix. As you describe it, you're doing it correctly.

[AZNBassist]

According to John Goldsby's Jazz Bass Book, he describes Mingus's tremolo technique similar to what you're doing: using one index finger going back and forth.

[Aaron Cohn]

Thanks everyone. I'll keep working on it.

[Marcus Johnson]

It always amazes me to watch film of Mingus, with those bratwurst fingers. As great as he was as a composer, it's easy to forget what a monster bassist he was.

It's been a long time since I've not thought about Charles Mingus at least once during the course of a day.

[oliebrice]

I find I can get a similar, though not identical effect, by strumming with the nail of my index finger, with the finger resting on my thumb in a guitar-esque fashion. It doesn't sound as good as the mingus way, as the nail obviosly gives a different sound to the finger, but I find it much easier personally.
If anyone's interested, I got the idea from watching John Edwards play.

[Marcus Johnson]

A third way, which I used to do, is to place your thumb tip on the side of the fingerboard, and lock your first and second fingers into one unit, and then move back and forth across the string. I did this early on, before I concentrated on getting my fingers more parallel with the strings. Now I do it the Mingus way, as I can get more volume and better tone.

[musicman5string]

Mingus has some of the most incredible right hand technique by using just the index finger of anyone out there. I wish I had it too. The live video from Europe 1964 (?) illustrates this well.

[Aaron Cohn]

Thanks again to everyone. I'll have to check out some of the videos mentioned here.

I've been having lots of fun doing this the Mingus way.

"I've flown aro-o-o-o-o-o-o-ound the world in a plane"