The hook (James Jamerson)

[Clarky]

This popped up on instagram and it's a really nice edit of a couple of clips of Jamerson's playing that shows his unique 'hook' style. Incredible musician who never got the recognition he deserved while alive (and sadly succumbed to a foreshortened, alcoholic life).

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5tsepCOOBp/?igsh=MW45c2FqaThoeXcybA==

[chris_b]

45 minutes ago, Clarky said:

This popped up on instagram and it's a really nice edit of a couple of clips of Jamerson's playing that shows his unique 'hook' style. Incredible musician who never got the recognition he deserved while alive (and sadly succumbed to a foreshortened, alcoholic life).

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5tsepCOOBp/?igsh=MW45c2FqaThoeXcybA==

 

I know you mean in terms of the general public, but he did get recognition. Motown knew he was critical to making their hit records and paid him $1000 a week, in today's money that's just under £7300. A week! That's £380000 a year!!

[Baloney Balderdash]

3 hours ago, chris_b said:

 

I know you mean in terms of the general public...

Also, which mainly studio musician did that at that time, let alone studio bass player?

 

Edited April 22, 2024 by Baloney Balderdash

[Clarky]

I stand corrected. Maybe we can talk about his technique now,l?

[Reggaebass]

To widen my bass vocabulary I started learning some jamerson songs a few years ago, it wasn’t until I started breaking them down that I realised just how great he really was, and to play them with one finger is remarkable 

[NikNik]

1 hour ago, Reggaebass said:

To widen my bass vocabulary I started learning some jamerson songs a few years ago, it wasn’t until I started breaking them down that I realised just how great he really was, and to play them with one finger is remarkable 

It's taken that Insta vid for me to note that he rested his second and third fingers on the pup cover as an anchor.

[Lozz196]

My intention is to learn a whole load of JJ/Motown material when I retire, give me something to aim for. 

[Dan Dare]

JJ started out on upright, so his right hand technique was adapted from that.

[Len_derby]

46 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

My intention is to learn a whole load of JJ/Motown material when I retire, give me something to aim for. 

I can recommend the book Standing in the Shadow of Motown, if you can get a copy. It’s got notation for the bass lines of several of his classics. I found it invaluable when I had to learn a couple.

[Baloney Balderdash]

Although I use a vide variety of finger "plucking" techniques, including 3 finger technique, I do sometimes just use 1 finger, depending on the pieces I play, however not exactly the hook, which is pretty far from how I relatively gently stroke or flick the strings, depending, with the outmost tip of my fingers/quite specifically trimmed nails.

 

Edited April 22, 2024 by Baloney Balderdash