Help: flat top picking, how can you do that?

Subject: flat top picking, how can you do that?
From: GUEST,Steven G.
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 08:19 PM

Hello, all

How are you doing today. I have been playing for 18 years now, and I am always envious of people that can do flat top picking on the guitar, that can play like a Doc Watson, that can use all of the guitar to do any guitar picking.

For me, I can do a little flat top picking on the guitar myself, usually using the first 6 frets on the guitar, and do flat top picking using the strings of EADG. But I never was shown or experimented with the rest of the guitar.

If anyway knows any good places to learn on the net,or any books on flat top picking would be greatly appreciated.

Steven G.

Subject: RE: Help: flat top picking, how can you do that?
From: Arbuthnot
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 08:32 PM

Happy Traum does a good line in teaching tapes and videos

Subject: RE: Help: flat top picking, how can you do that?
From: Gary T
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 09:27 PM

It might be helpful to go to the Google search engine (click here) and enter "flat picking guitar," "flat picking instruction," etc. in the box there.

The technique of using a flat pick, or plectrum, (as opposed to using fingers or fingerpicks) is called "flat picking." There is such a thing as a flat-top guitar, as opposed to an archtop guitar, but I don't believe that "flat top picking" is a meaningful phrase. Knowing this may make it easier to find what you're looking for.

You may also find some previous discussions here on the Mudcat that apply. Enter something like "flat picking" in the "Digitrad and Forum Search" box and/or the "Filter" box, just above the list of thread titles.

Subject: RE: Help: flat top picking, how can you do that?
From: bigchuck
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 09:37 PM

Steve Kaufman has produced many good instructional materials suitable for guitarists of most any level, and also runs workshops in flatpicking around the country which are reported to be very good. If you really get into it, join the Flatpick List, which is a pretty good internet list. If you're interested, PM me and I'll provide the subscription information.
Sandy

Subject: RE: Help: flat top picking, how can you do that?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 11:58 PM

Steven, You'll find a whole bunch of tips and thoughts on flatpicking right here by searching the Mudcat forum. Just type “flatpick” into the small search box at the top of the list of threads.

Some useful links include:
Could I play like Doc Watson? seriously.
Help for pickers. Give us a tip.
Help for Pickers - Give us a tip II
Help for pickers young and old. part 3.

There are many more useful thread in which guitar technique is discussed. A great locater for these threads is Joe Offer's PermaThread™ at the top of the list called Mudcat Site Map and PermaThread Index. If you scroll down that thread, you'll find a whole section of links devoted to learning and playing.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Help: flat top picking, how can you do that?
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 10:03 AM

And practice a lot!!

Steve

Subject: RE: Help: flat top picking, how can you do that?
From: Willie-O
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 10:31 AM

Most of the best flatpicking is really done up to the seventh fret or so anyway. But sometimes you want to jump up and play a high part...you just have to learn the scale inversions all the way up the fret board.

Learning different chord inversions in the higher parts of the fretboard helps too, since you can play a lot of picking parts right off the chords, and you need to keep a close relationship between the single-note picking and the chords.

Search for flatpicking as a single word, or flat-picking hyphenated as well as the two words.

W-O
Watson worshippper

Subject: RE: Help: flat top picking, how can you do that?
From: Owlkat
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 02:33 PM

Scales in the major keys. (G,C,D,A,E).
Pentatonic scales, in every fret position.
Then more scales.
It may seem boring as heck, but it is great for dexterity, strength, and gives a good basis for putting riffs, licks, vamps, etc...together.
Also you can do it while watching tv or reading email.
Owl.

Subject: RE: Help: flat top picking, how can you do that?
From: 53
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 06:53 PM

yep that's right iread mudcat and practice my scales a lot since it takes a long time sometimes for the mudcat to load, practice practice practice. BOB

Subject: RE: Help: flat top picking, how can you do that?
From: GUEST,Fiver
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 08:50 PM

Scales are fingered the same all the way up the neck, Willie-O, they are just in different keys on different frets--and the chord inversions are the same, no matter what fret you are working from--

Subject: RE: Help: flat top picking, how can you do that?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 01:53 PM

The easiest way to pick on flattop is to watch carefully for his postings and then respond to them with a carefully chosen variety of insults, quips, criticisms, and witticisms. It's much easier than developing good flatpicking technique on a guitar, a skill which has so far eluded me. I use my fingernails instead.

- LH