Matthew Garrison 4 Finger Technique - Groove Applications 

Yeah. We old.

At the time I started working on this it was around 1993/94, very difficult to find videos or info related to what I was trying to accomplish aside from full on books on the subject from a classical and Flamenco standpoint and that wasn't where I was leaning. Much to my disadvantage, I never studied with a Flamenco teacher (in later years have played with many masters of that instrumental culture), so no... it is not created according to a clear skillset that is found in those techniques. As a matter of fact, that skillset is so much more advanced than my approach, I'd be a fool to say it's similar! That aside, because I couldn't find anything that was exactly what I was trying to do, I wrote down every detail of how to develop the technique for myself. Still to this date I have not found anything exactly matching what I built mainly for my own uses. Others have tried to associate my tech to the master Abraham Laboriel, Sr. I wish I had seen it from him when I was trying to figure this out! He had a video showing the use of 4 fingers, but never got as specific as I needed. Dead end albeit a beautiful one. Anyway, as many times as someone has tried to assign this technique to others, it still has not been possible. I can tell you for sure that at the time I was conceiving of the process, there was nothing available matching this technique. Definitely the use of multiple fingers on stringed instruments has been around for centuries, just haven't found something documenting THIS approach. So, I'll claim it and let everyone argue as they must... I'm proud of the foundation I created and love seeing others take it much further than my initial input.

@@matthewgarrison2262 Wow! Nothing in music blows me away more than someone inventing their own technique, because it takes a long long time to see if it actually will work. It takes courage, boldness and massive persistence to do what you did by inventing your own technique. I wondered if you had doubts if it would work, in the end? That ring finger can feel weak, for a long time, especially early on, even with lots of practice, right? I am thrilled you wrote this, I just discovered your response 5 months later. I got to say I am amazed by not just your exquisite bass playing but your mind, I hear you are quite the philosopher and community builder. You have a lot of brilliant inspiring skills that go beyond the bass and I just think on many levels Sir, you are the bees knees. Your story of starting technique from scratch is rare and a mind-blower. How did you know it would work and not be a dead end? Sometimes that can happen. Gratitude for you sharing your journey of inventing a technique and responding so generously to my previous comment. You are invited to our homestead for dinner! 💝

I was 41 at the time we shot this

Def Thumb, 1, 2, 3 but you can create a series of direct combinations depending on what you're trying to accomplish.

That's correct. T, I, M, R.

Not necessary but helps.

He got it from me... Love that cat!

Glad!

A little late to the technique discussion party, but sure, let's go with that explanation.. Happy New Year! 🎉

not exactly, but interesting observation. the fact that I never studied classical guitar, does not negate the idea that it may be similar, but... I never studied classical guitar, so I don't really know what the similarities or differences are. This requires a much larger discussion of course, but I appreciate your observations. A little dismissive for my taste, as I put in a lot of work to make it come together, but I do see your point.

Thanks for the reply. Have you ever checked out Aaron Shearer's supplementary book on slur and ornament techniques?

gimmeagig i think it does

If you like it then great. It sure is something that requires total commitment for a lot of years and if you don't nail it you will lose all kinds of gigs. Besides, In any regular musical context , who needs that kind of speed anyways. Unless you are playing with Al DiMeola or John McLaughlin. Even Matt states in this clip that two fingers sound fatter He shows nothing musical, not that he couldn't. But here Matt is just rattling off a bunch of meaningless fast notes. If you do that on an audition you're out the door faster that you can play the first bar of What Is Hip. LOL

gimmeagig Have you missed the part where he said he needed to keep up with Joe Zawinul tempos ? I have seen a Zawinul show with Linley Marthe on bass and it's super fast and of course very musical. Also this technique might be usefull for metal, i am trying. It's only a technique you have to use when it's right, of course. I know some people who tend to overdo it and i don't like it. You are right that it's not about showing off.

It wont matter much in a band at full volume.

That's subjective bitch.

You dont sound like a musician lol that technique isnt as easy as it looks...most ppl cant use 4 digits on the fret board so i understand but it is an advanced skill...not for pick using turds like you.

Funny you should write that... I actually used it on stage in front of 50-60,000 audiences in full on pop environments and they all seemed to enjoy it. Also, what is proper? We all live on a planet floating through the void of possibly infinite space at the speed 67,000 miles per hour... in theory anything we build, conceive of, create, is of little to no consequence. What the heck defines proper in the grand scheme of things? Think bigger... Life is more fun that way!