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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Hi,
just throwing out this to the group. I appreciate that its horses for courses but was wondering if anyone had any firm ideas about this...
See the following. Bars 1 & 2 use a strict alternating M & I pattern, whereas bars 3 & 4 "breaks" the M & I pattern by 'reusing' the I finger as it moves to the B string. Pattern #1 is more correct perhaps but Pattern #2 is more effecient as the I finger is there ready to play the B string already! So I'm adjusting my technique to employ this. Any thoughts?
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Joined:
March 2003
Posts: 127
Location: Corvallis, OR | Do what is easiest.
This reminds me of an interview I heard on PBS, many years ago, with Doc Watson and his son Merle.
Doc was asked why he played with two fingers. He replied,"'cause that's the way Merle Travis plays."
Then, the interviewer asked his son Merle why he played with three fingers. Merle answered, "because it's easier."
Myself, I always found it easier to play with four fingers.
(the above interview was on the "Howard and Roz Larmon Folk Music Show", in Los Angeles and the year I have completely forgotten.) |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | My pinkie is always braced against the guitar when I fingerpick, so I guess I'm a 3 fingerer. But then again, I use my thumb too, so am I a 4? |
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Joined:
October 2008
Posts: 489
| If you're doing it as an exercise to develop facility or finger independence or whatever, do what they tell you to do to achieve the desired objective. If you're playing an actual song, use whatever damn finger you want to get the job done. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Sometimes I'll use the same finger twice in a row. Sometimes I have to, because of the way the song is. But as a general rule I'd say that strict alternation is likely to produce a smoother better timed piece, so do that if you can. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | smoother better timed piece That's it in one! I think using this technique of "economising" will produce a smoother, better timed piece. As I said I know there isn't a hard and fast rule just thought I'd throw idea open to a wider audience.
I'm getting to a point where I'm really fine tuning my technique, sorting out these 'little' nuances are paying dividends. I once read (was it Adrian Legg?) that at any point you should know what each left and right finger should be doing. By having a "heck just grab the note any old how" might work for some but I would prefer a more clinical approach so rather than having to worry about what each finger is supposed to be doing I can concentrate on the tone, flow, feel of the piece. |
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Joined:
October 2008
Posts: 489
| Originally posted by dweezil:
rather than having to worry about what each finger is supposed to be doing I can concentrate on the tone, flow, feel of the piece. Exactly. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | Darn!
I use a pick. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Originally posted by AlanM:
Darn!
I use a pick. Which is what I'd use if I had to play what Dweezil posted and there were no other bits that needed two strings at once. |
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | It could be a typo... |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | The above is just an example, the actual part is...
Play that with just a pick! Oh and if you really want to try this at home kids rememeber to tune to DADGAD and capo at the 5th fret. |
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Fingerstylists ONLY : I & M picking pattern?
