Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 22 Aug 99 - 12:49 PM

Kat, Seed, and Paw. Welcome to the picking tips corner. I'm going to have to use my psychic powers to divine what you REALLY wanted to know in your posts. Hmmmmm...OK. Got it!
Kat, the answer is: Mix 2 parts violin rosin, with 1 oz. Gin. Rub mixture on your bow, and play.
Seed, Marinate banjo and slowly bake at 350 degrees. Enjoy.
Paw, don't trade your pre-war herringbone possum-28 for less than a gross of plastecine dulcimers.

Glad to be of help.

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Aug 99 - 04:31 AM

I advised Cletus to send for the Crack Tipling Possum Intervention Team at once.

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 22 Aug 99 - 04:26 AM

I think he's pissed because I locked him and you other mad dogs in your cages so you wouldn't bite Fast Eddie the Figment. In his case, I forgot to pour the ale I used for marinating the beef into his water dish. I wondered what he was yowling about while I walked away. --seed

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Aug 99 - 03:06 AM

Brother Rick, could you come over to the Welcome Eddie thread and help Catspaw. He's blowing on clay and shaking seaweed. We're in jail,and if you can help Catspaw he could get us out, eh?

Your loving half brothers,

Reg, Reg, and Reg

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 22 Aug 99 - 01:24 AM

Jo and I talked about it, and we feel it's probably better if he posts his pics separately. my approach to teaching is radically different than virtually anybody else's and we'd probably be at odds immediately about what order things should be learned, and probably the fingering - which I consider crucial.

The important thing is that there are MANY approaches and I urge anyone who's interested in learning or improving to check them ALL out. Do what feels best to you. It could be my way or Jo's way or Stefan Grossman's way etc. We ALL have our opinions...but that's all they are. Just opinions!

Well, talk about controversial! Phil. I've always felt that a light touch with the pinky on the fingerboard helps to control your other fingers. Personally I often mute the strings with my palm when I'm doing blues, but don't when it's a ballad. With banjo, I think it's crucial that you always have the Pinky on the head. Not just for bluegrass, but any up-picking style.

Peter and Barry. With humour like that, you can post on our thread any time you like. A laugh or two makes people forget the blood pouring from their fingers!

Rick

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: j0_77
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 11:50 PM

Thankyou Kat and Rick and Seed and everyone - yup it did help and is pretty much what causes the problem. I learned that the biggie for some folks is trying too hard -w hen they realx a little - everything works fine. It is the same problem Finger Picking at speed. If tense the whole thing sounds mechanical and rough but if played with a relaxed attitude - smooth :)

Re the web pages - they are ready but I need Rick's permission to publish em - ie post the link here. 3 Pages with graphics and html took me 9 hours Phew. Max can I come to your puter school :)

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: joeler
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 11:19 PM

HI Phil Picking is a bitch! But, being a lefty playing right, if that old pinky isn't on the old pick guard, I'm in real trouble. (translation, I couldn't pick me nose laddie without the big P on the PG. Who cares. It's what comes out the counts. Forgive me. It's saturday night, and I'm half way through my first diet Miller lite.

Your Friend Joel, (formally known as Joely)

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: Barry Finn
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 10:30 PM

Hi Rick, I've asked my doctor about this but you being a musician & my doctor's not, maybe you could give me a better answer? After I've recovered will I be able to play my guitar? I certainly hope so but it doesn't look good seeing that I couldn't play it before. I'm so sorry, I thought I'd try a humor creep? I promise I won't post in this thread again. Barry, who sometimes can't help himself.

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: Phil Taylor
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 09:30 PM

It's true that when you start to learn fingerpicking you have to make some decisions as to which style to concentrate on. Not only whether you use fingerpicks or not (I'm a thumbpick and fingernails type myself), but also whether you want to anchor your right hand or not. Complex picking can be made much more accurate if you rest the palm of your hand on the front of the guitar, but the downside is that that affects the tone. If your hand is off the front you get a more sustained and ringing tone. Some people compromise by resting their pinkie on the fingerplate below the strings, but I find that seriously restricts the movement of my right hand.

Spend a lot of time watching other guitar players and experimenting to find out what suits you (and the kind of music you want to play) before you commit yourself to a habit that will last you a lifetime.

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: Peter T.
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 08:07 PM

I've got those can't play the guitar bluuues, (mama)
Got those can't play the guitar bluuues
I'd sell my soul right off of my shoes,
If I could lose those guitar bluuues...."

(sound of cardboard train laughing away off in the distance)

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 07:31 PM

Peter, start with an absolutely generic blues pattern. No specific song. A straight 12 bar pattern with a simple chord structure. Just hum over top of it until you've nailed the timing. Every musician needs to be able to play the 12 bar pattern correctly. (and without thinking about it) It is the ONE universal musical language on the planet, that is spoken by every good musician. No matter how simply you play it, if your timing's right even Clapton will welcome you.

E(4 beats) A7(4 beats) E(4 beats) E7(4 beats) A7(8 beats)
E(8 beats) B7(8 beats) E(4 beats) B7(4 beats)

Play it over and over and when you're ready to end, just substitute "E" in the last bar. This a VERY simple pattern, but if you can do this with the right timing you can go on to much more complicated ones. Remember, NO specific song, just make up words or la,las while you're learning it.

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: Peter T.
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 06:44 PM

Question, oh Rickissimus -- what is the easiest basic blues style to start off on, or copy off records, or from books -- e.g. Mississippi John Hurt? -- and why? (I mean acoustic blues) I know it is partly a matter of taste, but still.... I forget why I haven't asked you this question in person.
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 06:14 PM

I've tried Seed. Certainly it works for Doug Kershaw. My friend from Cape Breton Jaimie Snyder does a brilliant job of it. It's worth a try.

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 05:22 PM

I'm not a fiddler (but I play one on TV), but it seems to me that a thousand years of fiddlers tucking their instruments up under their chins and holding them with the face horizontal is a thousand years of lousy ergonomics. Old time fiddlers who hold their instruments at midchest level probably have a lot fewer problems with shoulders, elbows, wrists, etc., than do players who hold them in the classical style. But I think there is an even better way: if you could adjust your chin and shoulder holder end piece (whatever it's called) so the fiddle's face is at a 45 degree angle you could saw away at the sucker all you want without ever raising your elbow from your side. In addition, your left hand wouldn't have to do quite as much twisting to work the strings. Does anyone play like this? --seed

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 05:21 PM

Re fiddle questions: someone once advised me to practice bowing in front of a mirror and make sure the bow stayed the right distance from the bridge, and perpendicular to the strings. These things are vital to a good tone. (And I need to pay more attention to them myself.)

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 04:55 PM

Kat's mention of something being "inherited" makes sense. I've often heard people who should know , like Doc Watson and Lester Flatt say that a "fiddle wrist" is "born" not "made".

Let's try to keep this thread only for music tips, or it'll fill up fast with "chat", and folks who want to know something technical will get frustrated.

Rick (who's filled a lot of other threads with "chat")!

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 04:44 PM

Joel...search the forum; there are several worthy threads on that subject, but of course you are welcome to start a new one about it:-) Just know there is NO breaking the addiction. Once a Mudder....always a Mudder!Heeheehee

katlaughinguproariously

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: joeler
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 04:37 PM

I love you girls and guys. Please look for a new thread from me in the next couple of days when I ask the question, "how can I break my new found addiction to the Mudcat"

Joel signing off (formally known as Joely)

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 04:25 PM

Well, I got top scores in school competitions, esp. for my bowing, many years ago. It was classical, but the one thing I remember as far as fiddling goes, was to keep a good watch on my bowing arm elbow. It should not be flying out at all angles and being raised above your shoulder. Most of the action should all come from the wrist and lower arm.

There are some really good simple exercises which help to keep those upper arm and shoulder muscles in good shape and from becoming too sore. They really work, I know, from experience! If anyone is interested I could email a picture and description of the ones I those for (if I can find them) and I could decribe the others. The shoulders and neck is where my family traditionally carries their stress, I am convinced it is inherited, so this has always been an important thing for me.

Hope it helps. Oh, as for getting a sweet sound? Watch how you drag the bow, keep it in that area between the neck & the bridge (sorry if that is too obvious of an observation) and also don't choke the neck. Relax. And, watch that elbow, too. Really come around and over the neck with your hand, so that the elbow stays pretty much under the right edge to the middle of the fiddle. Does that make sense?

kat

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 03:42 PM

Joel: Yeah it helps if you know that bluegrass banjo is played with picks, classical is without. And everything in between is an option. Personally, I use picks when I want a loud crisp sound (and when I want to use thumb and index and middle finger.) I use bare fingers for mellower stuff and find myself often using the ring finger as well in that style.

Banjo man. 'fraid I don't know what the box roll is (I stay away from books) Time for things to feel comfortable really varies. If you're lucky, maybe a week. If it's longer than a month, I usually find that someone may be relying too heavily on tab. It's your "ear" that teaches you to play smoothly.

Jo, I'm a lousy fiddler, although I've never had arm miseries. Any good fiddlers out there to help us?

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 02:52 PM

This thread was inspired by: Help: Learning to finger pick

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: joeler
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 02:40 PM

Take the above finger pattern and put it in a vertical pattern. It's much easier that way.

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: joeler
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 02:37 PM

Banjoman Here's a basic picking pattern that I learned years ago. I practiced the hell out of it and all of a sudden it turned into a rhythm that I could play Freight train with. Start in G 1. T-6 2. T-3 and middle finger together (pinch) 3. T-6 4. I-2 5. T-4

Good Luck

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: j0_77
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 02:25 PM

Well Rick here's one for ya - fiddle - What can I do about tension in the bowing arm ? Especially the upper arm and shoulder? 2 How can I get a good sweet sound out of a fiddle?

I am asking for me and lots of folk I met that had the problem. I sorta found a way around it but I will psot that later.

To get the link to work to the other thread (help Max/Joe) I think you copy the Page addy off the browser box tingie and then paste that on the thread.

Ps I have an idea about chording etc., so I will message you :) You can set up the 'holds' and I will do some graphics - but in the long run Max will have to be in on this one - it will take me all day to set up but as there is so much interest, it is well worth the effort. TTY in a bit

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: Banjoman_CO
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 02:20 PM

Question! I finger pick very little. I do know some patterns and use them with a little success. I use mostly the 'square roll' and variations off of that. My question: When does it start to feel natural instead of mechanical. And what about syncopation? Does it develope out of patterns or something else?

Fred

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: joeler
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 02:11 PM

I think it's important, when you decide to learn how to finger pick, to commit to how you want to do it. I.E. Fingerpicks, your nails, Alaska picks, fingers. This is my opinion only. I know for myself, (I play with fingerpicks) that I could no more learn how to fingerpick with my nails then I could strum with a thick pick. (I'm left handed, so it is not a natural movement for me.)

Subject: RE: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 02:04 PM

I'm so damned rude! A hell of a lot of folks contributed great suggestions to the "finger picked guitar" thread. I didn't mean to imply that it would just be my opinions here. Please ALL tips welcome! Everyone who teaches knows that they also keep LEARNING every day as well. That's the fun part.

Rick

Subject: Rick's Pickin' tips. Questions & Answers
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 21 Aug 99 - 01:58 PM

Hi. A few folks have suggested this in the last couple of days, so I'll give it a try. If anyone has any queries about "how to play stuff" on any of the folk instruments, let's do it here. I'll do my absolute best not to waste space with bad jokes, puns and general baloney.

There's been a lot of stuff in the "finger picking guitar" thread, and if anyone knows how to transfer it here that would be great, 'cause, God knows, although I can pick fast, I type REALLY slow! Perhaps if it gets unwieldy, we'll just start "tips #2, etc, as long as there's interest.

Rick