The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic Scaler runs/alternating thumb and 1st finger?
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Scaler runs/alternating thumb and 1st finger?
Jonathan Neher


From:
Near Eugene, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 4 Oct 2009 1:52 pm    
Reply with quote

Hi,

When I used to play a lot of pedal-steel, I mostly
used pedals and arpeggios and when I played
single notes and pretty much used whichever
finger was convenient when playing single notes
outside of these patterns.

When I started playing dobro/resonator, folks used
alternating thumb and index finger like a
guitar flatpicker's up and down alternating strokes for scale runs.

Is that the right technique for non-pedal steel too?
It sounds to me like that is what Tom Morrell did
doing a lot when playing jazz.

It's a pain to get used to but it is
paying off on dobro/resonator guitar.

Thanks for any advice.

Jon
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Robert Murphy


From:
West Virginia
Post  Posted 4 Oct 2009 2:15 pm    
Reply with quote

Thumb and middle finger is the best, they seem to be connected that way?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Josh Cho


From:
New York, NY (orig. Honolulu, HI)
Post  Posted 4 Oct 2009 2:17 pm    
Reply with quote

Jonathan,

The quick answer to your question is that you can use any combination of right hand thumb-index-middle-and also ring finger, to pluck your strings.

Traditionally, lap steel pickers use thumb-index like you are describing, for scalar runs, but you can also try adding the middle finger, too.

Another right hand picking pattern that uses the middle:

index-middle-index-middle-index-middle-...

Hope this makes sense.

Josh
_________________
Lap-n-Console Steel Guitar Lessons
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP