Shimmy

[negninegaw]

Can anybody explain how to play the simultanious 2 a' s
(which are an octave apart) at the end of the last line of the 'verse' of
"I wish I coud shimmy like my sister Arthur" ?
The lower a is on the d string and the higher a on the e string.
Some time ago David explained to me that it is possible to play the double stops
on the g and e strings by damping intermediate the b string with the left hand
(which works very well, thanks again!), but the mentioned 2 a' s have 2 strings between them!
(I would prefer not to use other right hand fingers).
Or was the original overdubbed?

[flingelbunt]

It is quite possible the original was overdubbed- a lot of the Shads material at that time featured overdubs, but it is possible to play the octave notes by using your plectrum held as usual between thumb and first finger to pluck the lower note and using your third finger to pluck the higher register note, probably using your nail as a 'plectrum'. The technique is easy once you've got the balance of volume right between the 2 plucked strings- practice will help!!
'Blue Sky, Blue Sea, Blue Me' also has an 'B' octave double played lower down at the end of the chorus part, which I play by using my LH index finger on the 5th string 2nd fret, and my third finger on the 3rd string 4th fret and using the technique I described above.
Jazzers such as George Benson use this style a lot- I first became aware of it years ago when I began listening to Wes Montgomery, the American jazz guitarist, (he was known as 'The Thumb' due to using his thumb as a plectrum). If you ever get a chance, listen to his track 'Bumpin' on Sunset'- full of octave runs and a superb example of the art!!

Maurice
Lord Flingel of Buntshire

[negninegaw]

Thanks for explaining, Maurice.
I guess if I don't want to use other fingers of the right hand
I'll have to find a way to mute both g and b strings.
I remember having heard an outtake on which the last note of the verse
sounds somewhat different.
Coming to think of it, it did not sound overdubbed,
yet there were 2 voices at the same time.
I think the verse has great qualities, it is a pity that the rest of the song
is not so great.

[Martin Page]

It is quite possible the original was overdubbed- a lot of the Shads material at that time featured overdubs, but it is possible to play the octave notes by using your plectrum held as usual between thumb and first finger to pluck the lower note and using your third finger to pluck the higher register note, probably using your nail as a 'plectrum'. The technique is easy once you've got the balance of volume right between the 2 plucked strings- practice will help!!
'Blue Sky, Blue Sea, Blue Me' also has an 'B' octave double played lower down at the end of the chorus part, which I play by using my LH index finger on the 5th string 2nd fret, and my third finger on the 3rd string 4th fret and using the technique I described above.
Jazzers such as George Benson use this style a lot- I first became aware of it years ago when I began listening to Wes Montgomery, the American jazz guitarist, (he was known as 'The Thumb' due to using his thumb as a plectrum). If you ever get a chance, listen to his track 'Bumpin' on Sunset'- full of octave runs and a superb example of the art!!

Maurice
Lord Flingel of Buntshire

I always play the last verse of The Hunters' The Storm that way. Once you get the hang of it, it's quite easy. For effect I also play the last verse of The Dakotas' The Cruel Sea that way also.

Martin.

[cockroach]

If you listen to as many styles of playing as possible, you will always pick up techniques and tricks which you can use to play in other styles, and you also become a better musician yourself!

[noelford]

I play octaves using the four top strings F chord shape, picking the D string with pick held between index finger and thumb and simultaneously picking the top E string with the middle finger. It's a lot easier than it sounds!

[geoff1711]

I've not heard the track but I don't suppose it was played at least in part on 12 string? Instant double stop an octave apart

Geoff

[roger bayliss]

Equinox is another this technique is useful on as most of it is double stopped and you can either use plecky and finger or tuck pleck away and use two fingers

[cockroach]

Wes Montgomery used to stop both octave notes and the curve of his fretting finger would mute the intervening strings.

Then he played picking strokes with the meat of his thumb, UP as well as down- and he had incredible speed and accuracy!

In an interview , he once admitted that when he first played this way, he used to get headaches until he mastered the technique...

If you check out video of him playing live on YouTube it will astound you- and I've also seen George Benson do the same technique live on stage, although he usually uses a plectrum.

Django was also a great octave player on acoustic of course..

This is a useful technique which can also be used in other styles than jazz...

[Bluesnote]

I dont know the validity of the quote, but I read somewhere years ago the Wes adopted this way of playing due to his neighbours complaing about the noise off his guitar when he was learning the instrument, so the thumb gave a nice quiet and soft sound and peace was restored once again.
If true, it really did give his playing some real originality for us all to listen to and learn from.
His technique was amazing
Hugh.