• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Chuck Rainey's incredible one finger technique in a live performance

#3
Not to take away from Chuck Rainey, James Jamerson and Jerry Scheff are/were also single finger technique and mind blowing bass lines!

1727093556795.png
 

Attachments

  • 1727093620736.png
    1727093620736.png
    422.8 KB · Views: 20
  • Like
Reactions: PolkaHero and 2saddleslab
#5
badgrandad said:
Why do you think he is only playing with one finger?
Click to expand...
Chuck Rainey has spoken about using his index finger as a plectrum and also writes about it in his method book. he achieves enormous speed that i'm not sure could be accomplished with a two finger technique. mainly what i was trying to illustrate is the 32nd note descending scales lines that are very fast and fluid at the quick tempo they are playing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dylanjohnson, Kubicki Fan and Dasgre0g
#6


if you listen from about 17:40 minutes in to the film there is another live example of Chuck's same technique. this is him with the Quincy Jones orchestra and i believe it is both him and Ray Brown playing on the same song but at different times.
 
#7
badgrandad said:
Why do you think he is only playing with one finger?
Click to expand...

pipeman said:
Chuck Rainey has spoken about using his index finger as a plectrum and also writes about it in his method book. he achieves enormous speed that i'm not sure could be accomplished with a two finger technique. mainly what i was trying to illustrate is the 32nd note descending scales lines that are very fast and fluid at the quick tempo they are playing.
Click to expand...
I do something somewhat like that. Since I started on bass before guitar, I did the finger thumping, since that’s what I saw my favorite bass players at the time do. Then I finally gravitated to picks, but only after I additionally took up guitar, and rode that out. Suddenly after a while it felt weird, but I grew out the right hand index nail, strengthened it with nail varnish, and it’s the best of both worlds. The three middle fingers are occasionally utilized flamenco style, but not that often.
If I ever get a goth gig, I can do ‘em all in black.
 
#8
I can totally see doing basically pick style just using a finger instead of a pick. I was listening to the music thinking it would be almost impossible to do that with the one finger-claw style plucking I tend to associate with Jameson style playing ( though I’m sure it is more involved than that).
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back