Marcus Miller: What the heck is he doing!?

[OldSchoolFlats]

He’s bouncing his thumb off the D and G in a video of Blast that I’ve seen.

Yep, just saw that. Being able to slow down the video really helps!

The start of Blast! is one I sort-of figured-out previously, but that's a bit different from his typical licks on the high notes. I THINK it is the pops I like, but I can now deep-dive in the videos, now that I see the playback speed feature.

Mostly with Marcus it is his melodic style I like, but I have really been trying to understand how he brings-out some of those high notes.

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

He’s bouncing his thumb off the D and G in a video of Blast that I’ve seen. Also his index is hooked right under his thumb to pluck the same string on the way up.
When playing the melody, he actually plucks up with the index first and then thumbs down after in various sequences.

You ARE "the man": thanks! I know my question(s) was kind of screwy. Thanks for bearing with me!

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Probably light gauge strings, very low action, boost the high end, preferably a jazz bass w/70s pickup spacing. These things all help to bring the nuances in his playing out loud and clear.

 

[FourStringFunk]

Best of Marcus Miller - Bass Recorded Versions

 

[Chickenwheels]

Probably light gauge strings, very low action, boost the high end, preferably a jazz bass w/70s pickup spacing. These things all help to bring the nuances in his playing out loud and clear.

45-105 Stainless Steel Strings. Brand isn’t a big deal probably, as he has used Dean Markley, DR and Dunlop over the years.
He actually has his action raised slightly as his tour progresses and his gig fitness increases.
Definitely that 70s Jazz Bass tone is there. I’ve seen him use a mid-60s Jazz once. Different, but not wildly.
Preamp is key to the clean zing. His main bass had a Stars Guitars pre and then a Bartolini. Rodger Sadowsky also did a lot to get that bass playing at its optimum.

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

Best of Marcus Miller - Bass Recorded Versions

Awesome!

 

[logdrum]

Marcus played and even was the "musical director" of Miles Davis electric band/s and I would say everyone who played with Miles Davis are deep artists rather than technicians. I don't even try to cop or play Marcus Miller. I just listen

Listen how he plays the bass clarinet - you have to have that conception and intention. It's not just technique. That really separates him from others like Victor etc

Good luck on your quest though, but I suggest really learning where he comes from musically.

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

Marcus played and even was the "musical director" of Miles Davis electric band/s and I would say everyone who played with Miles Davis are deep artists rather than technicians. I don't even try to cop or play Marcus Miller. I just listen

Listen how he plays the bass clarinet - you have to have that conception and intention. It's not just technique. That really separates him from others like Victor etc

Good luck on your quest though, but I suggest really learning where he comes from musically.

Amen. My "musical memory" stinks. Can't tell jokes/stories worth a darn. I just jam/improvise for fun. While my memory stinks, at least I know theory and can "think on my feet".

Yes, it is that "deep artist" thing that draws me to Marcus. I started clarinet, sax and bass about the same time as Marcus, but never took it seriously. Still, with the clarinet/sax I developed a rudimentary ability to read, and played a lot with a good drummer in my teens.

It kills me to see that 70's Jazz of his. I had one very similar (without the mods), but it is long gone...

...at least I know all the notes to a Larry Graham (Sly and the Family Stone) song: Everyday People.

G

 

[Killing Floor]

A little insight. You may not like it but since you asked...

Brightest rounds available. Not a P bass.

Don't ban me bro

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

A little insight. You may not like it but since you asked...

Brightest rounds available. Not a P bass.

Don't ban me bro

Actually, I am a fan of the sound of slap on flat-wounds! I don't slap much on the bass in my avatar, though. It's a 5-string with a wide neck.

I'm learning slap on nickel rounds, with humbuckers: a Yamaha TRBX304. Plenty bright, but not a J bass, to be sure. Action is great though: just did my own fret-job. The weak-link is my playing, not my gear. Having fun...

 

[Swamp_Ronin]

Had the joy of seeing Marcus play twice a few months ago. I can’t begin to explain how good he sounded and how many truckloads of ass he kicked.

I would say that he double-thumbs about 10% of the time, and you can tell because of the two different volumes of the up and downstrokes. His single thumb technique is very fast.

I’ve been trying to play like him for years, and I used to play too hard, because it sounds like he’s playing hard, but he’s just gliding. Don’t beat yourself up- Marcus is a very special player, a gifted person. Nobody can catch the dude!

 

[Les Fret]

I see him double-thumb on one run in Blast!, but if he is double-thumbing much on most songs, I just don't see it. For comparison, it is obvious when Victor Wooten double-thumbs.

Here is an example, Blast!. See 9:50


I don't see anything much except slaps and plucks, but I am probably just slow.

That part you mention has no double thumbing. It can be played with normal slap. A good example of Marcus’ double thumbing is his version of What is Hip? Or the intro from Power. That pentatonic scale run down.

 

[JonathanPDX]

Tackling "Power" would be a great way to get yourself into double thump technique. Victor Wooten's "Pretty little lady" is a pretty simple tune with a very manageable double-thumb line.

Both Vic and Marcus can slap and pluck across all strings. The old-school slap school guys would focus on the lowest strings, but the really great ones can get a perfectly clear slap tone with the same technique on any string. You might have to buckle down and do some practice experimenting with angles and pressure to find the sweet spot with your own hands/bass. But you should be able to thump, pluck, and double thumb on any string at any position.

Once you can do that, work on being able to thump and pluck on the same string, then go down/up/pluck (or down/up/pluck/pluck). It takes some practice to develop the muscle memory, but getting your right hand comfortable using the same technique on any string really opens things up and makes it worlds easier to learn the tougher technical tunes like Vic's "Classical Thump"

 

[WrapRough]

I'd like to suggest also looking at Lessons in Love, by Level 42. It's all thumb, and covers all strings. I think it will help with honing your technique.



Also, you can simply thumb your scales instead of plucking. Move around the circle of 4ths to cover all strings and positions on the neck. It really teaches you to slap harder on the D and G to get a consistent volume across all strings.

 

[Rhythmman535]

Stuart Clayton - Bassline Publishing: Home Page - Bassline Publishing

 

[Spirit of Ox]

When I slap I use a tight wrist and a loose thumb. I pretend my thumb is dead, the looser the better. This will allow your thumb to bounce of the string.
I do double thumb but when I do it sounds more like I'm using a pick.
I really want to learn Alain Caron's technique. It's similar to double thumb but a cool approach to it.

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

I'd like to suggest also looking at Lessons in Love, by Level 42. It's all thumb, and covers all strings. I think it will help with honing your technique.



Also, you can simply thumb your scales instead of plucking. Move around the circle of 4ths to cover all strings and positions on the neck. It really teaches you to slap harder on the D and G to get a consistent volume across all strings.

Absolutely! Mark Smith is my "go-to" for breaking things down!

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

BTW, for slowing down videos, I wanted to give a shout-out to "Transcribe!". Transcribe! - software to help transcribe recorded music

It is software for slowing-down audio while keeping things at pitch: it works really well. The latest version comes with a video plugin that used to be a separate download. It works very well. Some software mangles the audio when you slow the video, which this does not.

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

When I slap I use a tight wrist and a loose thumb. I pretend my thumb is dead, the looser the better. This will allow your thumb to bounce of the string.
I do double thumb but when I do it sounds more like I'm using a pick.
I really want to learn Alain Caron's technique. It's similar to double thumb but a cool approach to it.

Thanks!

For double-thumbing, loosening up on the thumb but keeping the wrist straight seems to be the missing link for me. Keep that thumb tight did not feel good. My thumb isn't that strong as I noticed when thumbing while palm-muting (old school thump, not slap), but for double-thumbing, loosening-up on the thumb seems to be the "secret sauce".

Thanks doc!

 

[6-3-2]

Probably light gauge strings, very low action, boost the high end, preferably a jazz bass w/70s pickup spacing. These things all help to bring the nuances in his playing out loud and clear.

Low action helps A LOT, but from trying his strings I can also say that they are very bouncy and low tension: a dream to slap. A bit too scooped sounding for other techniques, IMO, but no surprise they sing with slapping.