[gravitas]

If you're a guitar player (bass or otherwise) you should already know the mighty Vic. If not, you should at least know Béla Feck, who is one of the premiere banjo players in the world. Did I mention that Victor kicks some mighty behind as well? Victor has been with Béla for quite a while now supporting B and his band of Flecktones.

Anyone learning fingerstyle guitar should benifit from this slap bass video.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...=victor+wooten

It'll teach you how to grab double bass notes with your thumb, as well as some exercises that will strengthen your index and middle fingers even if you choose not to apply this technique.


Also, check out these videos of him in action:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...=victor+wooten

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...=victor+wooten

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...ictor+woote n

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...=victor+wooten



In one of those, he plays a purely harmonic version of Amazing Grace, using only four strings. Someone know his instrument.

[nowhere-man]

Thanks gravitas, that's sensational, reminds me of Stuart Hamm, even better.

[gravitas]

Man, you havn't seen good 'til you've seen Vic and Steve Gadd. Definitely the best rhythm section this world has ever seen. I'd kill to play leads over that (so long as they don't make a production ofshowing me up at every second note )

I'm really benifiting from that double bass idea. Like he says in the video, fluidity is key. Once you can play a note in rapid succession, try some basic exercises (ie, chromatic runs) and it will definitely get the cops in your thumb much higher than they ever would have been just playing straight. It'll also provide greater accuracy when changing strings if you can get used to this kind of thing.