alternate picking

[henry]

cheers Steve, i will have a go with that

[Arcada]

p.s. Is there a spell check on this site?- Can't seem to find one.

Not built-in with the forum software, but you can install a spell-checker addon to Internet Explorer (http://www.iespell.com/) or use Firefox (www.mozilla.com/firefox/) which has a built-in spellchecker.

[The Invisible Man]

Thanks Arcada for the spell check - works fine - well worth having.

Anyone any thoughts on the Maurice Anderson question?

[henry]

@Invisible Man - dunno, but BJ Cole uses three finger picks - the one on his ring finger he uses for grabbing extra notes in chords. i dont think he uses the extra one for general picking. Maybe Maurice uses his third one in the same way

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

I had a conversation with an American player at Dallas Last March.
He was taking lessons from Maurice Anderson,Reece told Him to put a third pick on His ring finger and (moer or less)forget about it.
My friend said it slowly came into His playing without it being an obvious must do.
Hope this is of interest.
Billy

[The Invisible Man]

Thanks Billy

[Steve Broatch]

@Invisible Man - dunno, but BJ Cole uses three finger picks - the one on his ring finger he uses for grabbing extra notes in chords. i dont think he uses the extra one for general picking. Maybe Maurice uses his third one in the same way

I play the C6 neck like that (badly). I've got a Herb Steiner Western Swing course/songbook. Right from the start he has you using the third finger for those big juicy 4 string grabs. It surprised me how quickly I got used to incorporating the third finger. A lot of the time it's not used but it's great to have the choice. I've never used it on E9 mind.

[Tony Russell Davis]

Hi - we've gone a bit off thread here and onto the thumb+2 vs thumb+3 options. However many picks you have on, you still use thumb plus one other (often middle finger but a lot use the index) for alternative picking. Otherwise it's "something else" picking. If you try to improvise or have some rapid stuff to play, "alternative picking" cuts down the options and therefore the choices of next finger as there is only the "other" one - thereby, less to think about so you can concentrate on the notes. Use more fingers and you then need to plan ahead. Some guys can plan ahead fast enough, but most of us can't. I must remind you that aternative picking is not meant to be your only method, it's your way out of a jam when you're going f a s t. All best, T

[Paul Brennan]

It never made any sense to me to only use Thumb + Index or Thumb + Middle. Sure some people pick this way including many famous and successful players. But then Merle Travis picked guitar in a highly unorthodox manner didn't he. But that doesn't mean we should ape these players.

It may take a little time but I strongly recommend working at the alternate picking style. You may drift away from strict alternate picking "in the hear of battle" but the process of working at it will be highly beneficial. You'll build up strength and control in your fingers. And that's where good tone comes from, isn't it.....?

[henry]

Hi Paul,

I'm confused now. in your first para you say thumb/middle or thumb/index doesnt' make sense to you. in your second para you recommend alternate picking.
I thought going alternate thumb/middle... etc was alternate picking.
have I misunderstood?

or are you recommending thumb/middle/thumb/index...?

Cheers,

Henry