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Topic: Is it ok to give the finger? |
Bob Wood
From:
Madera, California, USA
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Posted 23 Feb 2004 7:31 pm |
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I have a burning question that I need to ask to all you speed pickers. I'm just getting use to picking my single notes with "pick-blocking", and keeping my palm up off the strings. (Doing real good too!) I've noticed here lately that I seem to favor playing with my thumb and middle finger on single note phrases. Is this a "bad" habit to get into? Should I stop doing that, and try to get comfortable using both index, and middle finger? Will using just my middle finger like I've described slow me down?
Sorry about the pun, but hopefully it'll catch your attentions.
Bob |
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Rich Weiss
From:
Woodland Hills, CA, USA
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Posted 23 Feb 2004 7:54 pm
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| Thumb and middle finger is how Jeff Newman teaches to speed pick. Very effective. |
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 23 Feb 2004 8:22 pm
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Buddy Emmons been doing it for 40 yrs. It does not get any better than that. Although he does not pick block that much.
But with palm blocking he mostly uses his thumb and middle finger. In addition he crosses over with them, IE, he does not always use his thumb do get the lower string, rather he continues to cross over in both directions. It will warp your mind at first, but allows for very rapid single string stuff.
The MOST important thing about speed is to be accurate and block the note cleanly with NO sign of bar gliss. I have seen some that are lightning fast but when you listen to the recording in a soft listening invironment, they are missin a bunch of them. Avoid this. Listen to greats like Buddy, PF and Doug Jernigan.
And shoot for accuracy and picking clean BEFORE you try for speed. Speed can always come but it should never come at the expense of the other two.
And remember bad habits are extremely difficult to break once they are rooted firmly.
May Jesus bless you in your quests,
carl |
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Bob Wood
From:
Madera, California, USA
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Posted 23 Feb 2004 10:47 pm
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Thank you Rich, and Carl! Restores my faith in doing just what comes natural!
Bob |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 24 Feb 2004 3:07 am
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| I think it's Jeff Newman who points out that the more choices you give yourself in how to pick a run, the more easily you can get fumbled up. |
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 24 Feb 2004 3:33 am
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Joe Wright teaches the opposite. I agree with him.
There's no answer that's right for everyone. |
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Jim Eaton
From:
Santa Susana, Ca
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Posted 24 Feb 2004 8:45 am
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Jeff Newman told me to "pick one". Thumb/Index or Thumb/Middle, which ever felt the best to me and take all the options out of the motion. I find that I use this method more on runs played up/down the neck.
On more "vertical" positions, I find that I bring both fingers into the mix in more of a T-I-M-T type pattern. Making those bigger reaches with the thumb crossing over 2 or 3 string to get to the next note its going to pick is very similar to b@njo picking rolls.
JE:-)>
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Emmons D10 8/4 P/P -75'
Fessenden SD-10 3/5
MSA SD-12 4/4 - 76'
76'Session 400
86'Nashville 400
Bandit 112
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Ben Slaughter
From:
Madera, California
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Posted 24 Feb 2004 9:39 am
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I'm a middle finger guy. My index finger is too close to my thumb (imagine that). Hence, there just seems like more room if I leave the index finger out of the equation. Part of it might come from my background of 6-stringin' where my index finger is occupied holding a flat pick.
I saw Bret Mason playing once, and it seemed that he didn't use his index finger when he did those incredibally fast runs on the tele with a thumb pick.
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Ben
Zum D10, NV400, POD, G&L Guitars, etc, etc. |
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