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BASSISTS WHO USED 1 FINGER

#22
JTE said:
Jack Bruce used one finger a lot. He got it from studying an Indian string instrument that's played with one finger only, and he carried it over to bass playing, so it's not just the blisters. Although, if I recall correctly from the BP interview, he said he used one finger on some things at the first Cream reunion concerts that he'd have normally played with two fingers.

John
Click to expand...

Would that "Indian string instrument that's played with one finger" be the Double Bass?

:rollno:

Most of these "older" bassist played upright many years before electric.

In Bruce's case he played DB (and Cello) for several years, then adding the electric bass when he was 20.

Jamerson was also a DB player, first.
 
#23
pharaohamps said:
Doesn't Geddy Lee just use 1 finger? I also remember an interview with Tim Commerford where he mentions favoring single finger style.
Click to expand...

No, Geddy definitely uses two fingers; stuff like YYZ would be impossible otherwise.

And is using one finger bad technique? Completely depends on what kind of playing you're after. I study Jaco, and am also influenced by Flea on Stadium Arcadium, John Taylor on Rio, and Adam Perry from Perpetual Groove, so I direly need at least two :P But not everyone plays fast like that, so just get what you're after; doesn't matter how! And remember:

If it sounds good, it is good; if it sounds sh*t, it is sh*t!
 
#24
Stick_Player said:
Would that "Indian string instrument that's played with one finger" be the Double Bass?

:rollno:
Click to expand...

Not at all. It's an Indian instrument called a veena. Jack has talked about it in several interviews. Here's one I found quickly on line, but he also mentioned it in a couple of Bass Player Magazine interviews. And the snarkiness of your assumption that the technique came ONLY from double bass is totally uncalled for.

Jack Bruce

"GB) Please describe to me your approach to right hand technique.

JB) A lot of my technique I learned from studying veena, an ancient Indian instrument about 2000 years old. I’ve recently started playing veena again. The technique is similar to James Jamerson’s “hook” technique."

John
 
#27
homeslice1479 said:
No, Geddy definitely uses two fingers; stuff like YYZ would be impossible otherwise.

And is using one finger bad technique? Completely depends on what kind of playing you're after. I study Jaco, and am also influenced by Flea on Stadium Arcadium, John Taylor on Rio, and Adam Perry from Perpetual Groove, so I direly need at least two :P But not everyone plays fast like that, so just get what you're after; doesn't matter how! And remember:

If it sounds good, it is good; if it sounds sh*t, it is sh*t!
Click to expand...


Geddy uses one finger in a back-and-forth picking type motion. Listen to the new song Caravan, he really shows off that technique.
 
#32
I frequently play with one, (or sometimes both simultaneously). It depends on the sound I want. I can only play marginally (maybe %20) faster alternating two fingers, so unless I need that extra bit of speed, I usually use one. Thing is, it isn't always the same finger. Each has a slightly different touch and sound, so I use the one that works best, sometimes that is even the ring finger.
 

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