JayDee Technique: Hello Trouble

Alan Judson · Post by **Alan Judson** » 5 Feb 2018 10:40 am

Hello,

At about 0:39 JayDee changes his hand position and does some rapid-fire staccato playing. I *think* he's double thumbing each of the lower notes in the double-stops, but I'm not sure how he's getting that overall sound.

Any thoughts on this technique? Does it have a name?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21qANTsBmAw

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 5 Feb 2018 12:14 pm

Looks like he is "double thumbing" as you thought. Very, very common. I do it all (maybe not all) the time. I've never heard an actual name for it.

Jerry Erickson · Post by **Jerry Erickson** » 5 Feb 2018 8:23 pm

He's picking a note on the 8th string and then sliding up one fret and then picking strings 7 and 6, also with his thumb. The previous notes being palm blocked when picked to give the staccato effect.
Before watching the video, I assumed that you were talking about alternate picking with the thumb.

Mike Wheeler · Post by **Mike Wheeler** » 6 Feb 2018 9:07 am

JD made that fast double thumb picking effect famous in his solo on Ray Stevens recording of Misty. When I first heard it I thought it was a recording engineer's trick...some kind of double tracking. Then I saw JD play it live and it blew my mind all over again!!! It was no trick...he actually played all those notes!!!

That was one iconic solo I'll never forget.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 6 Feb 2018 9:32 am

Jay Dee Maness is a national treasure.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 6 Feb 2018 10:08 am

Alan, Jay Dee has two courses where he explains a lot about some of his most recognizable solos. Check with Jim Palenscar at Steel Guitars of North County, he usually has them available, and was involved in their production.

Jay Dee is one of he tastiest, smoothest "flat hand" pickers and blockers in the world, and the reason I preface my E9 101 curriculum with the admonition, "There's nothing written in stone for pedal steel."

Please contact Jim Palenscar:
Email SteelGuitars@cox.net
<mailto>
Steel Guitars of North County
3375 Mission Ave. Suite D
Oceanside, California 92058
760-754-2120
Hours: Tues-Sat 10AM-5PM

Alan Judson · Post by **Alan Judson** » 6 Feb 2018 11:24 am

It's funny, John, how his hand changes shape so dramatically when he goes into staccato-mode.

I can play it at about 50%-65% of the speed of him, and I've tried it with palm and pick blocking, but it feels like I'm missing some percussive sound that he's making. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 6 Feb 2018 6:39 pm

There is a video of J.D. playing Hello Trouble with the Desert Rose Band on the old Church Street Station TV show that is just spectacular. J.D. is the one who sends me to my steel to find something more than anyone else. His tone on those DRB recordings can't be beat, pure steel guitar attitude.

Jeff Harbour · Post by **Jeff Harbour** » 9 Feb 2018 6:46 am

John McClung wrote:Alan, Jay Dee has two courses where he explains a lot about some of his most recognizable solos. Check with Jim Palenscar at Steel Guitars of North County, he usually has them available...

I got both DVDs from JayDee's website, www.jaydeemaness.com . Might be good to check there too.

Bengt Erlandsen · Post by **Bengt Erlandsen** » 12 Feb 2018 10:15 am

Did these tabs many years ago. Might be of interest.

https://steelguitarforum.com/Forum8/HTML/001952.html

B.Erlandsen
Zumsteel S12extE9 7+7