The Secret Jazz Voicings Behind Malcolm Todd's 'Earrings' Revealed
By Chloe Bennett
The groove in "Earrings" falls flat if attacked with a standard nylon pick. Todd relies on hybrid fingerstyle, using the thumb for the bass string while the index, middle, and ring fingers pluck the D, G, and B strings simultaneously. This claw-style grip guarantees that every note in the chord sounds at the exact same millisecond, mirroring the punch of an electric piano chord.
The rhythm operates on a syncopated 16th-note bounce:
- Beat 1: Pluck the bass note on the downbeat, followed immediately by the upper triad on the sixteenth-note upbeat ("one-and").
- Beat 2: A percussive palm slap lands dead on beat two. You slap the strings against the fretboard using the side of your right-hand thumb.
- Beat 3: Slide down into the Dm7 chord, plucking bass and melody together.
- Beat 4: A muted ghost strum sets up the push into the Gm7 on the offbeat.
The secret to matching the studio track is keeping the duration of each chord short. Let the notes ring for an eighth note at most, then release tension in the fretting hand. Staccato playing creates the rhythmic pocket. If the chords sustain across the full measure, the song loses its head-bobbing bounce.
Chloe Bennett explores the intersection of pop culture, streaming entertainment, digital trends, and contemporary lifestyle. Her weekly commentary reaches thousands of culture enthusiasts.
