lazy thumb

[derek evans 15]

ANYBODY OUT THERE KNOW ABOUT LAZY THUMB .THE REASON I ASK IS I HAVE DAVE HARTLEY,S ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL TUTOR ,AND AFTER A LOT OF PRACTICE I AM GETTING TO GRIPS WITH IT .MY PROBLEM IS PICKING I.E TWO STRINGS WITH MY FIRST AND SECOND FINGERS ,WITH MY THUMB PICKING ALTERNATIVE STRINGS. IF DAVE HARTLEY READS THIS, OR ANYONE WHO HAS THIS ARRANGEMENT , MY PROBLEM IS ON PAGE 4 LINES 3 + 4. IS THERE A SPECIAL PICKING SEQUANCE. REGARDS DEREK EVANS.

[Paul Brennan]

Hi Derek. Do you mean you have a problem coordinating the alternating thumb picking with the other two fingers? If so, the answer, as with all these type of issues on any instrument, is to break everything down very slowly. Try to understand how everything works together very slowly. Gradually build up the speed. It takes patience and determination but you'll get it eventually.

[David Hartley]

Hi Derek.
Keep the thumb rigid and move the whole hand. You will naturally do a palm block like this. The speed gets there with practice, but start slowly. Keep the grip of the thumb and the two fingers rigid and over three strings together. There will be a slight bit of movement in the thumb when the speed gets faster but not much. Don't bounce off the strings too much, just a millimetre is enough to clear the strings for the notes to ring out before blocking. Closer the better. Keep palm near the changer too where the blocking action doesn't make the strings bend towards the fretboard with the blocking action otherwise your hand will bounce too much.
I hope this helps.
David.

PS.. It's the first time I have been on here for weeks.
I've been hibernating all winter and haven't played much either, especially now John S. has gone...
I might come out of my hibernation bed when the warmer weather gets here.

It's better having a lazy thumb than a lazy C#%K....Ha

[derek evans 15]

THANK YOU TO PAUL AND DAVE FOR A PROMPT REPLY TO MY QUESTION ON PICKING. DAVE COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT SPEED YOU PLAY AT ON O.B.S AS I HAVE AN OLD YAMAHA SEQUENCER THAT I CAN SLOW DOWN AND PRACTICE WITH AT ANY STAGE OF THE TAB. REGARDS DEREK.

[derek evans 15]

Thank,s to you Dave Hartley ,your advice has been a big help to me . I am playing a lot better on my blocking .regards derek.

[acerod]

[quote="derek evans 15"]ANYBODY OUT THERE KNOW ABOUT LAZY THUMB "
I have 2 of them. They're attached to my lazy body.