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Pino Clawhand


leroybasslines
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Just posted this clip in a thread about Fender Jag basses. The music isn't to everyone's taste, but the musicianship is stunning.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeLmVWzRiY0...be_gdata_player"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeLmVWzRiY0...be_gdata_player[/url]

Go to 1:23 in...

I've always loved Pino's playing and have nicked a lot of his ideas and techniques. But in this clip he's using a really unusual right hand technique: he seems to be playing the E with his thumb, A with his index finger, D with middle finger and G with his ring finger. I can see why this is a great way to be able to play, but I've no idea how he gets the attack that I can hear in his playing. When I try it, it sounds LAME!

Anyone mastered this technique or something similar?

Edited by leroybasslines
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[quote name='DanOwens' post='1113849' date='Feb 3 2011, 01:43 PM']Link doesn't work for me.. :)[/quote]

Sorry guys! I'm on my iPhone and out of my depth...

Try this: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeLmVWzRiY0&feature=youtube_gdata_player"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeLmVWzRiY0...be_gdata_player[/url]

The action starts about a minute or two in...

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I saw this clip a while ago. I usually can't stomach this kind of music for too long but I heard Pino's bass playing and it just reasserted why he's probably my favourite bass player right now. The guy is a complete machine, love his OC-2 octave pedal sound as well.

The technique Pino is employing evolved from his palm muting technique: he said that he found that when palm muting and just playing with his thumb, he couldn't hit certain notes as quickly as he wanted so he started to use his index and middle fingers in conjunction and later his ring finger. I've started doing something similar, I found that because I've been playing a lot of travis picking on acoustic guitar that it works for me when I'm palm muting on bass as well.

EDIT Check out Richard Bona at the back, he can barely believe the groove Pino's got!

Edited by risingson
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It does seem to be an economical style - he barely moves when playing what is a pretty busy line on the A sections. Interesting that he switches to an orthodox two finger style on the B and middle sections. I guess he's using the clawfinger thing (for want of a better name!) when he needs to make lots of jumps across strings, but when he needs to dig in he still goes for the normal finger style.

His versatility is staggering but subtle if you know what I mean. He doesn't do tricks (I don't think I've ever seen him slap or tap) and you rarely see him step into the limelight, but he can adapt his playing to a mind boggling range of situations with just a few tweaks to sound and style. I think he's my favourite player at the moment. Although, being a fellow Welshman, I'm biased!

It's not music that I'd normally go for, but I love it that Pino is really enjoying it! I've heard some of the PSP studio recordings and they don't make as much sense somehow - it seems like a live thing to me, watching musicians at the top of their game enjoying themselves. The recordings are too clinical and lack the character of this performance.

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[quote name='leroybasslines' post='1114020' date='Feb 3 2011, 03:49 PM']It does seem to be an economical style - he barely moves when playing what is a pretty busy line on the A sections. Interesting that he switches to an orthodox two finger style on the B and middle sections. I guess he's using the clawfinger thing (for want of a better name!) when he needs to make lots of jumps across strings, but when he needs to dig in he still goes for the normal finger style.

His versatility is staggering but subtle if you know what I mean. He doesn't do tricks (I don't think I've ever seen him slap or tap) and you rarely see him step into the limelight, but he can adapt his playing to a mind boggling range of situations with just a few tweaks to sound and style. I think he's my favourite player at the moment. Although, being a fellow Welshman, I'm biased!

It's not music that I'd normally go for, but I love it that Pino is really enjoying it! I've heard some of the PSP studio recordings and they don't make as much sense somehow - it seems like a live thing to me, watching musicians at the top of their game enjoying themselves. The recordings are too clinical and lack the character of this performance.[/quote]

Yep, agree with all of this. I struggle with the sterility of music like PSP (it is PSP right?), but to be honest you could plug Pino into almost any formula and I'd enjoy the sum of the music that came out of it all because he injects every tune he plays with an incredible amount of energy. I read Anthony Jackson singing Pino's praises recently in an interview, which is incredible considering how hypercritical Anthony Jackson is of music in general (and also another one of my favourite bass players, his stuff with Chaka Khan is epic!).

Worth checking out if you haven't already Pino's stuff with D'Angelo and Erykah Badu. Their music was brilliant anyway but again, Pino just fitted in with their music so well, like he'd been there all along.

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OK...this is where I admit to the true extent of my geekery on Pino.

If you're a spotify user, get involved with my Pino playlist: [url="http://open.spotify.com/user/owen_liam/playlist/4J0KMwu3HUz9u2joumbZ2Z"]http://open.spotify.com/user/owen_liam/pla...3HUz9u2joumbZ2Z[/url]

Feel free to add or contest as you see fit!

As far as I'm aware, Pino played on everyone of these tracks, from Sugababes to Manu Katche, Gary Numan to Daniel Bedingfield!

My fave at the moment though are his contributions to Roy Hargrove's Hard Groove. Awesome playing!

Edited by leroybasslines
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[quote name='leroybasslines' post='1114088' date='Feb 3 2011, 04:25 PM']OK...this is where I admit to the true extent of my geekery on Pino.

If you're a spotify user, get involved with my Pino playlist: [url="http://open.spotify.com/user/owen_liam/playlist/4J0KMwu3HUz9u2joumbZ2Z"]http://open.spotify.com/user/owen_liam/pla...3HUz9u2joumbZ2Z[/url]

Feel free to add or contest as you see fit!

As far as I'm aware, Pino played on everyone of these tracks, from Sugababes to Manu Katche, Gary Numan to Daniel Bedingfield!

My fave at the moment though are his contributions to Roy Hargrove's Hard Groove. Awesome playing![/quote]

Downloaded!

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I use this technique (well something like it) when I want to play a root/octave line where I want an almost popped octave but a very smooth root. Pino uses this techique to great effect on John Mayer's Vultures (albeit no octaves).

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[quote name='ezbass' post='1114100' date='Feb 3 2011, 04:30 PM']I use this technique (well something like it) when I want to play a root/octave line where I want an almost popped octave but a very smooth root. Pino uses this techique to great effect on John Mayer's Vultures (albeit no octaves).[/quote]

I often do a similar thing - @risingson mentioned the palm muting technique earlier and I'm comfortable with that. However, he seems to have taken this technique to a different level with the speed and attack he gets.

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[quote name='leroybasslines' post='1114136' date='Feb 3 2011, 05:00 PM']Add new stuff in if you can think of any. I play along to this playlist as a practise session![/quote]

I'll have a think, but to be honest the playlist you put together really does showcase his stuff really well. I also had no idea he'd played for Phoenix?? Absolutely mental!

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[quote name='leroybasslines' post='1114136' date='Feb 3 2011, 05:00 PM']Add new stuff in if you can think of any. I play along to this playlist as a practise session![/quote]

The main album from his period on the Welsh language scene is actually available on Spotify, but as part of a 3cd compilation by the artist Endaf Emlyn. The songs to hunt out (just copy and paste them one at a time) are

Paranoia Endaf Emlyn

Un Nos ola' Leuad Endaf Emlyn

Nol i'r Fro Endaf Emlyn

Aros am y Dyn Endaf Emlyn

Cerona Endaf Emlyn

Dawnsionara Endaf Emlyn This one in particular for a rare actual solo between 2:38 and 2:56 with a frankly beguiling run out of it to lead into the following sax solo. I've been listening to it for over quarter of a century and I still get a real kick from it.

Saff yn y Fro Endaf Emlyn

Arwyr Estron Endaf Emlyn

'Rola Endaf Emlyn

He is also featured on the tracks

Ladi Wen Caryl Parry Jones

Saf ar dy draed Caryl Parry Jones

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[quote name='leroybasslines' post='1113844' date='Feb 3 2011, 01:37 PM']....I've always loved Pino's playing and have nicked a lot of his ideas and techniques. But in this clip he's using a really unusual right hand technique: he seems to be playing the E with his thumb, A with his index finger, D with middle finger and G with his ring finger. I can see why this is a great way to be able to play, but I've no idea how he gets the attack that I can hear in his playing. When I try it, it sounds LAME!....[/quote]
They're very good, but you won't get a live sound like that. They don't!!. This has been post processed, that is put through the desk and eq'ed afterwards in a studio.

Edited by chris_b
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[quote name='owen' post='1114357' date='Feb 3 2011, 07:24 PM']The main album from his period on the Welsh language scene is actually available on Spotify[/quote]

Wel mamo damo! I wasn't aware that he was active on the Welsh language scene. That's brilliant - and a whole load of new stuff to put in the playlist! Thanks!

I know he's a Cardiffian, but does he siarad dipyn bach o Cymraeg? Or is he so blummin good that he transcends barriers of language!

Diolch byt! :)

Hwyl.

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[quote name='leroybasslines' post='1114627' date='Feb 3 2011, 10:14 PM']Wel mamo damo! I wasn't aware that he was active on the Welsh language scene. That's brilliant - and a whole load of new stuff to put in the playlist! Thanks!

I know he's a Cardiffian, but does he siarad dipyn bach o Cymraeg? Or is he so blummin good that he transcends barriers of language!

Diolch byt! :)

Hwyl.[/quote]

Siarad Cymraeg? Dwn i ddim..

Pino speaks the international language of groove

Croeso!

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[quote name='leroybasslines' post='1114088' date='Feb 3 2011, 04:25 PM']OK...this is where I admit to the true extent of my geekery on Pino.

If you're a spotify user, get involved with my Pino playlist: [url="http://open.spotify.com/user/owen_liam/playlist/4J0KMwu3HUz9u2joumbZ2Z"]http://open.spotify.com/user/owen_liam/pla...3HUz9u2joumbZ2Z[/url]

Feel free to add or contest as you see fit!

As far as I'm aware, Pino played on everyone of these tracks, from Sugababes to Manu Katche, Gary Numan to Daniel Bedingfield!

My fave at the moment though are his contributions to Roy Hargrove's Hard Groove. Awesome playing![/quote]


FanTASTIC!!! Thanks for sharing the playlist!!

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I was aware of this programme some time ago but had forgotten about it. I just watched some recent stuff on here

[url="http://www.arte.tv/fr/Echappees-culturelles/One-Shot-Not/1494366.html"]http://www.arte.tv/fr/Echappees-culturelle...ot/1494366.html[/url]

it is the Later we all crave but will be destined to be denied.

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[quote name='leroybasslines' post='1114088' date='Feb 3 2011, 04:25 PM']OK...this is where I admit to the true extent of my geekery on Pino.

If you're a spotify user, get involved with my Pino playlist: [url="http://open.spotify.com/user/owen_liam/playlist/4J0KMwu3HUz9u2joumbZ2Z"]http://open.spotify.com/user/owen_liam/pla...3HUz9u2joumbZ2Z[/url]

Feel free to add or contest as you see fit!

As far as I'm aware, Pino played on everyone of these tracks, from Sugababes to Manu Katche, Gary Numan to Daniel Bedingfield!

My fave at the moment though are his contributions to Roy Hargrove's Hard Groove. Awesome playing![/quote]

Cool. I've subscribed following the previous BassChat playlist set up by dagooey. Can't wait to start listening to some smooth Pino grooves.

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