Motown style fingerings

[devnulljp]

I don't see how you can play an octave with your hand in open C shape guitar chord position on a 4 string bass. Your 3rd finger is on the A string 3rd fret yes? The (nearest) octave is C on the G string 5th fret. That's a helluva stretch for the pinkie for no good reason. I wouldn't even try to do that on guitar. It'd hurt and you'd end up with an injury.

 

[phangtonpower]

The better technique is less, not more.

Not really "less" is it?

 

[Aidenn7]

Not really "less" is it?

can you do that with one finger? most can't- I know I need two fingers.. lol but it's a muted p bass direct into the board. that's simple as it gets.

 

[phangtonpower]

can you do that with one finger? most can't- I know I need two fingers.. lol but it's a muted p bass direct into the board. that's simple as it gets.

I meant his lines aren't really that simple.

 

[SteveCS]

I don't see how you can play an octave with your hand in open C shape guitar chord position on a 4 string bass.
...

@Swipter
I think trying to illustrate the point with the 'G' and the analogy of the guitar 'C shape' was a bit misleading. Using A instead of G, and putting guitar shapes aside, I think the question is this:

... or this:

Have a mess about with them and you will find, as I did, each to have pros and cons over each other. So as always, it depends on the demands of the music and what falls best under the fingers.

 

[TomB]

Motown or whatever, C or G, I’ll almost always play the 3rd fret with my middle finger, octave 2 strings up with the pinkie - not a big stretch at all (maybe I have big fingers?). As for picking, I’ll play the root with the index, octave with the middle finger. I’d never pop an open string unless I had an easy way to mute it - it wouldn’t occur to me. I hope this addresses the OP’s question - I’m not sure if it does.

PS - With a 5-string, I often play those shapes higher up on the finger board …easy stretches up there; it’s partly why I play 5-string.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

Have a mess about with them and you will find, as I did, each to have pros and cons over each other.

Steve,

You have correctly interpreted the OP's question.

 

[SteveCS]

Steve,

You have correctly interpreted the OP's question.

Phew! Hope you are keeping well, mt friend...

 

[Swipter]

I think the OP has meant to say the following.
It's about the Left hand fingering starting, resting, "normal" position.
The OP's left hand fingering position is more like, "Ready to move down the fretboard," therefore, the OP's standard left-hand fingers "rest" in a position as
Index on G (E string) and Pinky around G (D string).
View attachment 7229372


The OP has noticed that a lot of Youtube bass players, use their left-hand fingers resting, starting, playing in positions that reminded the OP of the guitar players' fingering of the C major chord where the Ring finger is on G (E string) and the middle finger is on E (D string).
It's like, "I'm going to utilize my left side of the fretboard."

(That's not my left hand fingers normal, resting, starting, usual, etc... position.)


View attachment 7229378

Exactly

@Swipter
I think trying to illustrate the point with the 'G' and the analogy of the guitar 'C shape' was a bit misleading. Using A instead of G, and putting guitar shapes aside, I think the question is this:
View attachment 7229930
... or this:
View attachment 7229931
Have a mess about with them and you will find, as I did, each to have pros and cons over each other. So as always, it depends on the demands of the music and what falls best under the fingers.

I use the second on guitar. I will work on bass but old habits are hard.

 

[dreamadream99]

I do octave pops. I always use my index on the low note, and pinky…on the octave

This is how most bassists play octaves.

 

[pepj]

If LH fretting, index and the low string and 3rd or pinky an octave up over 2 frets, 3 strings.
This is conventional because it offers greater muting control..which is required as playing octaves can be pretty fast...open strings on the octave is a recipe for disaster. Plus, I'd argue a wasted technique for anything other than D and G octaves.
Freeting pinky low, 1st high, just makes no sense. Not impossible..but its a bigger stretch and .....why the actual ...????

RH is index first and 2 finger second, although some might do 3rd finger second.

That's playing from the bottom octave.
If you want to play from top octave, I'd still play RH index first.

 

[brianrost]

I’ve always used index/pinky, two strings and two frets apart.

I never recorded for Motown

 

[SteveCS]

...
Freeting pinky low, 1st high, just makes no sense. Not impossible..but its a bigger stretch and .....why the actual ...????
...

Of course it makes sense. Try this both ways:

 

[bucephylus]

Of course it makes sense. Try this both ways:
View attachment 7231589

A good example.

Fingerings are always a significant concern for a bassist; even more so on the 42” scale instruments!

There actually are no “rules.” Certain pieces, and I’m dimly recalling the Mozart 32nd (?), actually require “non-standard” extensions. Best to be well grounded in the options, but open minded to serving the part.

Your example can certainly be played a number of ways.

At rapid tempo, I might have suspected Jamerson to ghost that first Ab with his open A.

OR, to be more accurate, one could alternatively shift the first two notes on the E string with the index, shifting back for the descent from the F. But, then I tend to revert to my Simandl schooling.

Guitar players will more naturally eschew shifts and look to play with extended fingerings; as you are suggesting, and which is equally valid.

I tend to experiment with all the options, and gig whichever makes the line flow best for me.

In any case, the OP seems to be primarily a guitar player. Aside from the fingering mental exercise, I fail to see the connection to the Motown parts I’ve studied. But, that’s me. Jamerson’s lines were generally based on upright fingerings; IMHE.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

... or this:

I've heard a beautiful and "energetically-lively" bass-line from Raquel Rodriguez's, "Housewife."
My TB friend LeeNunn has graciously agreed to transcribe it.

Submission Thread 'Raquel Rodriguez - Housewife'

Mar 2, 2025

Thanks to WUTP for suggesting this and editing it.

• LeeNunn

• 

The way I hear that bass-line, it requires a lot of shifting (and advanced technique) to play that bass-line playfully at 105 BPM.
And,
Your picture of the left hand position (see above) has given me an idea how to properly play several measures in Housewife's bass part.

In Measure 13, I've started using the left hand position as from your picture above.
Before I saw your posted picture, I used to play two (2) shifts in Measure 13:
1. Before the ghost note of E (A string) and
2, Before the last three 16th notes.

After looking at your picture, I've started playing the last 3 notes in Measure 13 as
G natural - the D string,
D natural - the A string, and
Cb (B natural) on the E string.

Next, I play the C natural note on the E string, followed by the notes G (on the D string) and C natural (on the G string.)
The new fingering leaves me with only one left hand shift.

 

[Paul New]

If you don’t know of it, there’s a book all about Jamerson and his style and it includes many transcriptions. If you can play what he played, more power to you! Standing in the Shadows of Motown. It’s a gold mine!

I don’t think Jamerson did, because he came from double bass, but a lot of bassists these days play motownish style with flat fingers and a lot of left hand muting, a la Rocco Prestia. Doesn’t work for me, but a lot of people play very well that way.