Claw Technique

[Altitude]

Does anyone incorporate the claw technique? This is a right hand technique where you use your thumb and fingers to slap and pluck but it's not as aggressive as a traditional slap pluck. I have tried this and really like the tone it yields but I am currently having an issue with the low b string ringing. Can anyone inform me of any muting techniques to implement in this scenario?

See if you can use the meaty part of your right palm to mute the strings, entirely or partially depending on what tone you want.

I do this a lot to establish dynamics between verses and chorus on cover tunes where the original guy probably used a pick.

With low action, you can end up with an interesting tone that's both muted and percussive at the same time. I used that approach on this funky reggae tune "Give It Back" from 2007:

 

[bolophonic]

Exactly.

I've been using that technique on both guitar and bass for 30 years. You can do it cleanly by plucking parallel to the body or more percussively like he's doing by pulling the strings away and letting them slap back against the frets. But it's still basically fingerpicking.

None of which is to say the guy isn't good at it or that it doesn't sound good, but it isn't anything new.

I'm not sure if you know this, but we can all see exactly what the guy is doing in the video. Everybody else seems to think this is kind of interesting, so I'm not sure why Mr. Serious here is so worried about debunking the timeline of "fingerpicking."

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

his left hand thumb is muting the lowest sting. that'd be the B in your case

Does anyone incorporate the claw technique? This is a right hand technique where you use your thumb and fingers to slap and pluck but it's not as aggressive as a traditional slap pluck. I have tried this and really like the tone it yields but I am currently having an issue with the low b string ringing. Can anyone inform me of any muting techniques to implement in this scenario?

 

[bolophonic]

He actually has a video where he gives a VERY quick, high level explanation of the technique.

Thanks for posting that.

 

[TemplesOfSyrinx]

Remco is a beast!


Check out his newest release.

 

[LowActionHero]

Been kinda playing around with this myself, mainly because of this guy. And one of our originals that I don't want to play with a pick anymore, but skips 2 strings in the main riff.
Love this dood's videos.

 

[TemplesOfSyrinx]

I'm listening to his latest release, Awesome stuff!

 

[54321BASSOFF]

He calls it "claw technique". Interesting. Makes me think of Jerry Reed and his famous song, "The Claw". He shows how to do it on six strings here: Invalid Link Removed
Also makes me think of "clawhammer" banjo technique, but that's a whole different thing.
Lots of nuance to how you apply force to the strings with fingers.

 

[Quinn Roberts]

Does anyone incorporate the claw technique? This is a right hand technique where you use your thumb and fingers to slap and pluck but it's not as aggressive as a traditional slap pluck. I have tried this and really like the tone it yields but I am currently having an issue with the low b string ringing. Can anyone inform me of any muting techniques to implement in this scenario?

I generally use something similar to this for comping chords. I posted this in a thread about transitioning between five and four string basses earlier. It'll definitely be a little more tricky to get a nice mute on the B and E strings, but with a smooth, soft touch it should be easily achieved.


Edit: I'll add that you want to make sure you have an even volume and attack between your thumb and fingers if you want to attempt this playing style. I haven't heard of this Remko guy before (though I wish I had! ), but, listening to the examples posted here, he's displaying a great example of this. Listen to how the notes played with his thumb are just about even (unless he's going for an accent) to those played with his fingers.

 

[FenderB]

Does anyone incorporate the claw technique? This is a right hand technique where you use your thumb and fingers to slap and pluck but it's not as aggressive as a traditional slap pluck. I have tried this and really like the tone it yields but I am currently having an issue with the low b string ringing. Can anyone inform me of any muting techniques to implement in this scenario?

Damn.

 

[bolophonic]

I can't believe that I have never heard of this gentleman before. I have a close friend who has an unconventional slap technique and I have been inspired by the idea of adding some slap back into my repertoire. This gives me some new ideas about how to tailor it to my style. thanks, OP.

 

[JeffC23]

Love remco's technique. It's difficult for me to play slap but I've been working with his technique for a few weeks and it's working for me. I'm not very good at it yet but watching his videos makes me keep at it.

 

[bearhart74]

Check vids with Abe Laboriel.. Hes the "claw" master.

 

[bolophonic]

Question regarding funk vocabulary: is there a specific term for the little glissando trill that he does at 0:25?

 

[Fergie Fulton]

It looks to me like he is also using his thumb to mute the string he is playing.

Also: on a technical note, I object to the idea of debasing an interesting approach to the bass by dismissing it a guitar technique.

Its not debasing it.....focus on the word "Guitar" in bass guitar and not bass.

Great use of a guitar technique and it works great....cool video.

 

[Fight4Bottom]

The little Health & Safety Inspector in me is worried about Remco getting his dreads stuck in his strings.

 

[Kustom_Thunder]

I have a lot of thinking to do

Remco is a beast!


Check out his newest release.

 

[bassliner50]

Love those triplets!

 

[micguy]

That's also useful for holding the cigarette in place for a bass because of the thicker strings and wider spacing relative to guitar.

guitar -> cigarette
bass -> cigar

You'd think we'd have already covered this.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Does anyone incorporate the claw technique? This is a right hand technique where you use your thumb and fingers to slap and pluck but it's not as aggressive as a traditional slap pluck. I have tried this and really like the tone it yields but I am currently having an issue with the low b string ringing. Can anyone inform me of any muting techniques to implement in this scenario?

I mute the B with the palm of my right hand.