Pizzicato practice at 200 and above

[jnathanj33]

Mr. Lynn Seaton:

First, let me say it was a pleasure to be in your master class at the UCO Jazz lab a while back!

Lynn, I would like your advice regarding pizz at 200 or above. My right hand and rfinger gets so worn out, I feel I am too heavy on my pizz/fingering. What are some techniques I can practice on to be more agile, and not worn out?

Thank you in advance for your consideration and time.

Nathan

 

[Lynn Seaton]

Hi Nathan, You may have answered your own question by saying you are too heavy on the pizzicato in the right hand. I like to say: "If you want to speed up, you may need to lighten up". If you are pulling with all your power like you might on a shout chorus, it is very difficult to maintain that for a long time. I often go back and forth between the classic 1 finger, what I call the "wave" and 2 fingers alternating plucking. When using the two fingers alternating, my fingers are perpendicular to the strings like one would on electric bass. The wave is still just using i finger to pluck, but all my fingers are together like I am waving bye-bye. Many classic bassists including Sam Jones did this wave technique a lot. It is common place that bassists use a variety of techniques to produce tone. Having a large pallet that includes a variety of pizz techniques to draw from will allow you to choose and give you some relief.

Here is a video of me with pianist Stephen Anderson and drummer Ross Peterson where you can see me changing up the right hand a lot on a fast tempo.

Here is a video of Sam Jones with Oscar Peterson and Bobby Durham where they show his hand doing the wave:

 

[Joshua]

That is a smokin' take on Oleo!