The Steel Guitar Forum

i have serveral how to play books. but none of then
answer my needed question. i have blocking down pat,
however none of the books state when or where to
block. (after each note-after each measure-after your mother-in-law goes home)? when?

everyone does it, but no one knows

Larry, everyone who does it knows when to do it. Otherwise, how could they do it at all?

The video clearly demonstrates the how, when and why of blocking.

You block after every note or chord - when you go down to pick, a nano second before you pick the next note, chord or double stop.
The reason you block is to mute unwanted notes from ringing if you are changing strings or grips (string combinations) - or if you just want the note to end.
The only time you don't block is when you want the strings to keep ringing and decay naturally.

Try watching the video a few times and imitate the exercises. No need to make it more complicated or mysterious than it actually is. It's real simple - you block anytime you need to stop notes from ringing.

you block anytime you need to stop notes from ringing.

True. It's just that simple. If two notes will clash when played one after the other, you need to block the first one before picking the second one. Or you might want to block the strings just before moving the bar to another fret IF you do not want to hear the sound of the strings sliding to that fret. Some songs require little or no blocking. It depends on the song and the style. Your Ears will tell you when strings need to be muted. Blocking mutes unwanted notes, and it's also used for staccato picking, or speedpicking.

The only time you don't block is when you want the string(s) to keep ringing.....

...as in creating and/or tying 64th, 32nd, 16th, 8th, quarter, half and whole notes (or their equivelant rests), ...rather than allowing picked notes to ring their own timing until interrupted, which they will do without blocking / timing.