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Joined:
July 2013
Posts: 98
Location: Des Moines, Iowa | Just thought I'd throw out a topic for discussion to see how others play their Ovation acoustics. I rarely ever use a pick even when it comes to strumming and the capo is my best friend. I wouldn't fully call my playing "fingerstyle" since I'm not quite playing ALL the fancy bass runs and such, but I'm using all my fingers and plucking away.
I've been trying to use a pick more and more as I'm working more on my lead skills, scales, and such... but then again there are many lead players including Jeff Beck who play lead guitar pretty darned good without the need for a pick.
I'm wondering now if I maybe got myself into somewhat of a bad habit by using my thumb to strum, because I can strum out some pretty fast and decent rhythym that way, but when I pick up the pick... I'm not able to do those same rhythyms quite as well or quite as fast. Plus, since I'm not used to holding a pick and strumming I find that my pick often comes loose from my grasp and ends up either flying across the room or straight into the hole of my guitar. Don't you just hate it when that happens?
So... I'm standing there holding my guitar upside down (hole facing downward) and lightly shaking it up and down to get that pick to come back out. Usually I end up grabbing another pick if I don't have any luck getting the other out right away. So, it's not rare to pick up one of my guitars and find a pick inside of it.
I'm working right now on learning "Sultans of Swing," since that plays to my finger plucking manner and it's got some great solo and chord plucking (is that the technical term for it?).
Anyone else care to chime in with their preference, method, or comments? All constructive critisism is appreciated, since I know I'm not always doing things the way I should with my playing/practicing and I too often fall back on the old ways, even when I'm trying to learn some new ways.
Thanks for helping out a...
SillyLittleBoy |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Hold the guitar with both hands so that the top is level with the floor and you are looking in the sound hole...
Shake and rattle the guitar until the pick is on the Ovation label inside the bowl...
While looking in the hole... Keeping your elbows locked and swing the guitar away from you in a big arc until it level with the ceiling...
The pick should drop out onto your face... Keep your mouth closed.
I can't help you with the other stuff.
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Joined:
July 2013
Posts: 98
Location: Des Moines, Iowa | Thanks Old Man... I'll have to try your trick. I had to read it a few times before I finally got it... DUH! I was trying to figure out how I get the pick to land on the label when it's upside down... but it ISN'T upside down... DUH!
Oh... and you can too help me with the other stuff, because my main goal was to start a discussion and hear how others play their Ovation. In looking at your small Avatar pic I'm giong to bet you do some fingering yourself and don't always rely on a pick to play. Of course the picture is rather small and my eyes ain't what they used to be, because actually I'm an OLD MAN myself... I just act like a...
SillyLittleBoy (sometimes) |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Frankly some days I kinda wish I never used a pick. I stated out with what I guess now is called finderpicking or fingerstyle... but the closed minded folks I grew up with pointed me toward "finger picks" which were horrible (for me) and then because I started to play electric I forced myself to use a pick. It wasn't until many years later that I actually saw that many of my favorite guitarists, playing my favorite tunes... Jeff Beck, Mark Knopfler, Richie Blackmore, Lindsey Buckingham didn't use a pick. One thing I have learned is that there are no rules in music, just guidelines. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Do whatever suits you. I do both. Somethings were written for picks (hitting the same string quickly in succession) and other were made for finger picking (e.g., playing two non-adjacent strings at the same time). Sometimes, they've been done both ways - Nancy Wilson used to do the intro to Crazy on You finger picking, then she worked out a plectrum version.
The trick with a plectrum is to hold it firmly while staying relaxed - think of the sound of one hand clapping while you do it.
And I've never dropped a pick into a multi-hole guitar, which is lucky, because I think it would be a PITA to get out if it doesn't have a man hole (and my favourite guitar doesn't).
Edited by TAFKAR 2013-08-01 5:50 PM
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Like TAFKAR, I do both. But I don't excel at either.
I use a medium thin pick for really fast strumming and a medium pick for flat picking or 'normal' strumming. I don't know HOW people use the really thick picks. I lose all control when using a thick one. Thin ones sound to 'clacky'.
Finger picking - I'm trying to limit my finger picking songs to be played just on my Folklore, but it's not working out very well. I play everything on everything, if that makes sense?
I've tried growing my fingernails with varied success, but my active pale-bluecollar lifestyle inevitably breaks one, so for the moment, I've gone back to bare fingertips. I've just started concentrating on playing bass again too, and the fingernails gave it a harsh 'pick' type tone, so the fingernails are staying short for the forseeable future. |
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Joined:
July 2013
Posts: 98
Location: Des Moines, Iowa | Now that's what I'm talking about... getting a little discussion going and sharing personal preferences, personal styles, and maybe a personal problem or two (HA!). I agree with Mr. Ovation in that in music, there are no rules, unless you're taking piano lessons from old lady McAllister, who used to yell, "Young man, I don't know what you think you're doing with your feet up on the piano keys, but feet are supposed to be flat on the floor and only used on the pedals." Yea, tell Jerry Lee Lewis that one, lady!
I remember reading about an interview with Sir Paul McCartney where he was suggesting that someone interested in playing or writing music really shouldn't study music theory or any of the technical elements of music and/or music composition. Formal music training just had too many guidelines, and involved too much discipline and/o structure. It's hard to be creative and innovative when you're stuck inside "a box" with all your teachers telling you, "you can't do that" or "you're doing it wrong" or "Stop putting your feet on the piano keys.
So, to quote Mr. Ovation, "One thing I have learned is that there are no rules in music, just guidelines..." and I say, "Come on... give me a couple of rules so I can turn around and break them!
SillyLittleBoy |
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Unfortunately you're not going to get much of a discussion here, as only a select few 'full' members are allowed to post in the Welcome Centre. Only us softies are allowed to comment.... (To lure you into a false sense of security, then POW!)
Miles, could move this topic into the general discussion forum? |
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To Pick or Pluck, thati s the question....
