Anybody using Jamerson Hook Technique?

[4-fingers]

Not an exclusive "hook" player but primarily play with one finger as much as possible. There are times when alternating feels right and I do it without thinking about it......it kind of finds is spots on its own. I use the floating thumb exclusively though.......comes from good teaching during my mandolin days, no anchoring. Cool story.......my band recently replaced our long time, now retired, guitarist. After the second rehearsal he commented "love the Jamerson technique" how lucky am I to play with a great guitar player that knows about Jamerson and respects his style! Next rehearsal I showed up with my 62AVRI and it's been the number 1 gigging bass for December, January and this far into February. Probably a coincidence........I alternate two in spurts.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Yeah, I've noticed that as well….
Why is that?

Different harmonic?
Difference in angle of the two fingers?
Slight difference in pressure?

 

[Wood and Wire]

Bear in mind that the reason he played that way, was because he was coming from upright bass - it's just a slight modification of that technique, due to playing on a horizontal axis, rather than vertical.

He would often play the electric bass, held vertically - sometimes even laying down on his back (yeah, sometimes due to being drunk), with the bass laid crotch to chin.

 

[JimmyM]

Why purposefully limit yourself like that?

 

[AK precision]

Why purposefully limit yourself like that?

I don't know, I just like it that way (for the past 25 years). And, one of James Jamerson's idols was Ray Brown, whom I love as much as Jamerson - Ray Brown played (his upright) mostly with one finger.

 

[SBassman]

I know this is a dormant thread, but during some searching, I landed here.

I Love J J, and he will always be among the greatest to me, but, I don't use that technique.

I'm a drummer, so right out of the gate it was natural to be alternating.
Then, when I Did start teaching myself, I would pedal the two fingers of my right hand while doing one finger per fret on the left - up and down the board, for 15 minutes a day. I pedalled until it became completely second nature.

So, I couldn't get comfortable playing with one finger if I tried.

 

[Vinny_G]

I do it very often instinctively, probably because being a pick player at heart, I like the regularity of the attacks and the homogeneity of the sound. That said, when I switch from pick to fingers in the same song, I don't really have a choice as I'm used to keep the pick in the palm of my hand. But it's fine with me, I can do what I need, and I like that feel and the sound I get, anyway.