Claw Technique

[db59]

Sweet, post a video of yourself showing me how to do it. I am curious to learn.

me too……..I have seen "The Stingster" (3) times………never quite noticed his claw playing like that

 

[Badwater]

Similar to travis style fingerpicking on the acoustic guitar. But with bass, the thumb on the picking hand also controls the duration of the note vs guitar where in most cases the strings are allowed to sustain.
Remco uses a lot of muting techniques to give his notes their value in the grooves with both hands and all fingers. Very dynamic playing.

 

[maturanesa]

it sounds thinner than regular restroke technique...

 

[kesslari]

Interesting technique. I like it more than conventional slap for fretless. I think I may play around with it a bit.

 

[Waytootrue]

Its a pretty handy skill for playing chords and double stops, or doing some guitar style arpeggios.

 

[Cutter8]

That is very similar to how I played guitar for 40 years before I decided to switch to bass. I picked/plucked/popped with all of my fingers using ultra heavy strings (.13-.58) on long scale steel-string guitars with customized top bracing to handle the tension and drumming of my fingers on the soundboard. I never had any training, so I didn't know I was doing it "wrong", but blissful ignorance left me free to do what worked for me, and it worked great. It allowed me to play in a very dynamic, textured and percussive style and be my own rhythm section when playing solo. The funny thing is now that I've started taking bass lessons to try to learn the right way, I've been embarrassed about anyone (or my instructor) seeing me play bass "claw-style", but it's how I spend half my time playing on my own! Who knows, I may not be quite as bad a player as I thought...

 

[cman227]

That is very similar to how I played guitar for 40 years before I decided to switch to bass. I picked/plucked/popped with all of my fingers using ultra heavy strings (.13-.58) on long scale steel-string guitars with customized top bracing to handle the tension and drumming of my fingers on the soundboard. I never had any training, so I didn't know I was doing it "wrong", but blissful ignorance left me free to do what worked for me, and it worked great. It allowed me to play in a very dynamic, textured and percussive style and be my own rhythm section when playing solo. The funny thing is now that I've started taking bass lessons to try to learn the right way, I've been embarrassed about anyone (or my instructor) seeing me play bass "claw-style", but it's how I spend half my time playing on my own! Who knows, I may not be quite as bad a player as I thought...

Since I posted this I have noticed many pro bassists play this style. Currently, it's hurting my thumb because I haven't developed calluses on the thumb yet. Also, I can't play as fast as finger style but I have been able to insert percussive ghost notes into the more funky songs my band plays and I intend to keep practicing it.

 

[Cutter8]

Since I posted this I have noticed many pro bassists play this style. Currently, it's hurting my thumb because I haven't developed calluses on the thumb yet. Also, I can't play as fast as finger style but I have been able to insert percussive ghost notes into the more funky songs my band plays and I intend to keep practicing it.

Stick with it. I think you will find that it is like going through a tunnel that curves sharply. For a while, you really don't see light at the end, so it can feel like your not progressing very quickly, and then it suddenly it clicks and...
P.S. - Sooooo glad you posted and turned me on to Remco! Thank you.

 

[honeyiscool]

I don't really care what the basis is for this technique but it's a great way to get a slap sound profile without slapping. It's like instead of thumping and popping, you're popping everything and there's way more articulation and less offensive extra noise in a band mix. And seems like it's a quicker transition from my relaxed fingerstyle position without having to adjust strap length. Not to mention, the thumping on a 5 string flat wound can sound a little much, but this technique can work on anything. I've also been trying to play some slap style guitar and this seems like it would work on guitar as well. I think it goes with my natural tendency to integrate the thumb on all strings when I'm trying to slap, which has tended to confuse my slapping technique. With this, I can work with my tendency instead of against.

Yeah, who cares if it's an adaptation of flemenco, the fact that he's streamlined it means we can see a lot of potential and it's expanded my mind. All techniques build on others. I like this one. I'm going to practice it.

 

[scuzzy]

i like watching him play. imo, a major component to getting the "slap" sound with this technique is a very low action. even aggressive finger picking with the same action would get a very slap-like sound. it seems to me that geddy is able to get an agressive, fret slapping tone due to his attack and the low action.

i'm no expert on banjo, but it seems a bit like bluegrass banjo technique as well. i'll see myself out now....