***? Jamersons 1 finger up/down stroke

[jellymax]

i had always read he used two fingers when needed. video shows this clearly not the case. he appears to be doing a up/down
stroke with his index finger for 16th notes. like a pick

cue it up to approx 2:30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fopc4exF4D0

i did not know about this

[Matthew_84]

Have to watch it, on my BB, but I thought he only used his index, but only used downstrokes with it. Interested in viewing link later.

[pbass2]

I always read that he only used one finger at all times.
I see where it looks like he's up-stroking there, but I only hear the downstrokes--I think it's just the rapid movement of his finger getting back into position since he's playing it all with one digit, that makes it look like that. Of course, maybe he did upstroke with his finger at times--I mean, if anybody could do it....
I've tried that myself and it sure didn't work for me--not nearly enough strength on the upstroke to strike the string decently, plus the tone wouldn't match the downstrokes even close--your nail is hitting as opposed to meat.
I remember learning some of his parts once and what really struck me was his syncopation was so incredible, that there actually weren't notes in places where I thought there were--he was just so beautifully syncopated with the drums, percussion, etc. it sound like there were notes in some of the spaces!

[Signs]

A friend of mine who has been a professional bass player was saying the other day that Jamerson primarily used his index finger to play. He supposedly earned the nick name "the hook" for his finger...

[jellymax]

the 16th notes higher up on the D & G strings at 2:40
chk it out

[pbass2]

Originally Posted by jellymax

the 16th notes higher up on the D & G strings at 2:40
chk it out

Yeah--maybe I'm crazy, but I got my earphones jammed up to my head and I still only hear the downstrokes we see him playing (gives me a cramp in my index finger just looking at it

[king_biscuit]

Looks like just down strokes to me.

[jellymax]

i agree many 16th notes are downstroke, but when he hits the G string right there,
IMO he floats over it twice, getting 4 notes.

am i trippin?

[SoCal1]

Actually...Jamerson used a one finger downstroke...AKA The Hook. James actually teased Chuck Rainey for plucking up and down; calling it "sissy stuff", as Chuck fondly recalls.

[pbass2]

Originally Posted by SoCal1

Actually...Jamerson used a one finger downstroke...AKA The Hook. James actually teased Chuck Rainey for plucking up and down; calling it "sissy stuff", as Chuck fondly recalls.

Oh yeah--that's right, I remember reading that Rainey did that--THAT's what inspired me to try it once or twice myself. I think you can hear it on Aja on some tracks. Crazy technique.