So I'm watching the Marshall Tucker Band on the Midnight Special and admiring the Caldwell brothers thumbing techniques on their respective guitars. And then Tommy, on bass, quickly moves to a pick looking technique. Tone doesn't seem to change at all. What is that? Start at about 4:25 and you'll see what I'm talking about. Then he switches it up again in his solo at about 6:50. There's no pick. What is that technique? Long jam that had to probably fill out the remaining minutes of the show ......
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Is this a pick or what is this technique?
- Thread starter LG TPAFL
- Start date
He just plucks with his thumb. When he wants to hit harder, he presses his index finger to his thumb like he's holding a pick. No biggy. Adds attack and power. I've seen some modern players do that, though I can't think of who off the top of my head.
BTW, it wasn't uncommon to see Marshall Tucker jamming a lot at shows, especially when Charlie Daniels and band were on the bill. That's Charlie on fiddle and it looks edited to be a shorter version.
BTW, it wasn't uncommon to see Marshall Tucker jamming a lot at shows, especially when Charlie Daniels and band were on the bill. That's Charlie on fiddle and it looks edited to be a shorter version.
You are correct, no pick. Thumb and index finger are together as if holding a pick. It allows you to use a little bit of the nail of the index finger on the down stroke. Just an another wrench in the tool box that some players use.
Bernard Edwards was known for his unique bass playing style, particularly his "chucking" technique. This involved using his thumb and forefinger like a pick, creating a distinct, percussive sound.
That'd be my guess, considering the prominent hook the song was known for doesn't occur in this version until the very end.
When you drop your one and only pick in the middle of a song you learn this technique. I have an old friend that does this and you would never know he wasn't using a pick.
I learned how to play like that before realizing I could use a pick. I thought I was doing something wrong at the time and only found out later that some pretty great bassists were doing it too.
Usually play with fingers these days but I'm still more comfortable "picking" like that than with a real pick.
Pretty sure that's how I first discovered this technique: Dropped a pick during a gig, whoops! show must go on.
But I soon realized it's a pretty cool sound, a handy technique to have in your arsenal, especially for those Bernard Edwards-type grooves.
I will confess I don't use it very much anymore, because it completely destroys the cuticle on my index finger. That hurts!
Mario Cipollina (Huey Lewis & The News) plays with his thumb, but with a thumb pick. Similar, maybe?
came here to say this...now going to add this (two f'n geniuses)
SIDE NOTE: tried this once and dislocated my index finger...not for the faint of heart
I just learned that about Mario, after all these years. He occasionally switches to finger style too - within the same song!
Two minor points.
1) So great seeing a live clip. Always loved that song and the album. Them boys could play.
2) Andy Martin the guitarist who demos pedals, and is a very good musician, uses that technique regularly. Can be seen in almost any random clip of his.
1) So great seeing a live clip. Always loved that song and the album. Them boys could play.
2) Andy Martin the guitarist who demos pedals, and is a very good musician, uses that technique regularly. Can be seen in almost any random clip of his.
Love the Hard Trucker/Alembic type cabinets
Alembics. Hard Truckers didn't exist back then. I love the sound of them also. Bag End started making those cabs, too. If you look behind him, on top of the 2x12 cabs are two Alembic SF-2s, likely feeding a McIntosh amp or two. There's a PDF out there somewhere that details his setup.
The Caldwell brothers:
"PICKS?....WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN PICKS!!
"PICKS?....WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN PICKS!!
My best little kid early bass amp in the interest of following the Dead. I had two single 15 sealed boxes made from some old speaker plans that looked like those. They were powered by a Marantz Model 8B stereo tube power amp with a Heathkit stereo tube preamp.
I knew that the Hard Trucker boxes were not around yet. Used more as a point of reference
