Naked thumb slide

Subject: Naked thumb slide
From: Marion
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 04:11 PM

Hello all. I was recently at a workshop led by Josh White Jr. in which he demonstrated Josh White Sr.'s style. One thing that caught my attention was using his left thumb, with nothing on it, as a slide. He hooked his thumb over the top of the neck and used the inner side of his thumb (i.e. the side facing his index finger). He commented that he found it quite painful since he didn't do it often enough to have a callous, and that it's a delicate matter touching the strings firmly enough not to mute them but softly enough not to fret them.

So I'm curious - who else uses this technique, Mudcatters or otherwise? What redeeming qualities does it have to make it worth the pain and finickiness?

Marion

Subject: RE: Naked thumb slide
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 04:20 PM

Moi!

Yes it hurts. Yep, used to see Josh Sr. do it.

That's why I use a slide!

Rick

Subject: RE: Naked thumb slide
From: Cluin
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 07:36 PM

Richie Havens?

Subject: RE: Naked thumb slide
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 07:47 PM

Never saw Ritchie Havens do it, but considering he used thumb for so many things he may have. It really has everything to do with Josh Sr.'s treatment of #12 Train, John Henry, and a few others in E.

He was my favourite guitarist and I've always put double pickguards on my various axes over the years in tribute to him. For many years he played Martin "New Yorkers" and then became the first player/endorser for Ovation. At least a year before Glen Campbell.

Rick

Subject: RE: Naked thumb slide
From: Mark Ross
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 08:16 PM

I use the opposite side of my thumb. It hurts at first, but you get used to it. I used to see Josh SR. do it as well as a lot of other people.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Naked thumb slide
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 08:16 PM

I've been playing Number Twelve Train for awhile. I am trying to do a Josh White thing with the intro where he makes the guitar sound like the train starting, then slow staccato E chords strumming and muffling almost immediately. Then you pick up speed. He does this thing with a steady flow of eighth notes on the E string using his thumb. Then he throws in a series of 'train-whistle' double stops played on the E and B strings with the first two fingers. That takes manual coordination! Then he slows the train down and goes into the song. Like I said, I am attempting this, I am no where near his expertise on the guitar!
Peace. Rustic

Subject: RE: Naked thumb slide
From: Marion
Date: 21 Feb 03 - 04:44 PM

Interesting, thanks.

Marion