DESCRIPTION:
John Patitucci (http://artistworks.com/john-patitucci) shows you 4 pizzicato techniques that will help develop your right hand playing.

Pizzicato is plucking or picking the string. There are several ways you can do it. The first thing Patitucci would like you to learn is to use two fingers together. Putting the index finger and the middle finger side by side and using the flesh side of those two fingers to produce a nice plush sound. Think of the motion as a using the entire weight of your arm then letting it drop, pulling the sound. After you pluck, rest your finger on the string below it. Practice this across all the strings and get a feel for where your fingers rest after the pull. This can be most prominently seen in Ron Carter's performances.

Another way you can do it is the one finger, using the index finger. Relaxed arms and the following the same pulling motion. This is very common in jazz.

To pluck multiple strings, you can also use two fingers, once again, using the index and the middle fingers. Placing the middle finger on the lower string and the index finger on the higher string to perform a pizzicato during string crossings.

Finally, for the faster passages, place your thumb on the fingerboard and use the two fingers on the same string, performing the same pull and rest motion.

Check out more free jazz bass lessons from John Patitucci at http://artistworks.com/jazz-bass-lessons-john-patitucci