Where's he hiding his pick?

FatJeff · #1 01-26-2010, 05:46 PM

I was checking out a Youtube video of Jack Pearson playing Body and Soul. His comping is all fingerstyle (much like I used to do, coming from a classical background), but then at 2:19, he whips out a pick for his solo. Where the hell was he hiding it? I've watched this section like 10 times and I can't figure it out.

YouTube - Jack Pearson Jazz Trio perform Body and Soul samba

JimBobWay · #2 01-26-2010, 05:59 PM

It's hard to tell from the video, but it looks like he's using one of those picks with a loop that attaches to a finger, so you can palm it without dropping it and then twist it up in a pinch grip. I think I have one, but I never really used it. I'll see if I can find it & post a photo.

musicjohnny · #3 01-26-2010, 07:08 PM

I have one, and know exactly what you're talking about, but I don't think he's using one of these. Because most of those normally have a curl in 'em and he couldn't get that smooth sound with those kind of picks.

Well, from my observations, I think he's hiding it between his ring and pinky finger. He never separates those two fingers when doing the fingerstyle comping, so I think it's tucked iin there somewhere.

I'm going to try that out right now actually, and damn! This guy is phenomenal.

FatJeff · #4 01-26-2010, 08:03 PM

I'm going to test out that method right now, too. I've been trying to figure out how to combine fingers and pick for a frekin' year now, and I've tried a lot of things. Maybe the best solution is the low-tech one?

fep · #5 01-26-2010, 08:25 PM

Looks like he's holding it between the i and m fingers, I think it's hard to see because of the low quality of the video and he's using a small pick...

I do the same thing. I do excercises to develop the technique which is to play scales, arps, or classical style arps and switch back and forth between pick and fingers. You can pick it up (no pun intended) quickly if you practice it.

I find it best to tuck the pick up high in the fingers which allows the fingers to move a bit more independently.

FatJeff · #6 01-26-2010, 08:53 PM

Eureka!!! It works! Thanks fep. By holding the pick up above the second knuckle, in between my i and m fingers, I can comp just like the old days - and then the pick just comes right out with ease whenever I need it! And now I can do the Wes Montgomery octave thing like it was meant to be done. That was impossible when I was playing around with the Herco pick (which I abandoned months ago).

Looks like chord-melody will be doable this way, too.

I still need to work on "hiding" the pick when it comes time to comp again. I think I'll just start carrying the pick around in my hand with me all the time at work in order to practice the transition.

JimBobWay · #7 01-26-2010, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fep

Looks like he's holding it between the i and m fingers.

This other video of him workin' out on a nice lp shows it clearly, starting @ 2:10. YouTube - Jack Pearson Performance And Style Part 1 of 5

FatJeff · #8 01-26-2010, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimBobWay

This other video of him workin' out on a nice lp shows it clearly, starting @ 2:10. YouTube - Jack Pearson Performance And Style Part 1 of 5

Yup, there it is, clear as day. Looks like it's time to grown my nails out again. :-) Thanks everyone for this great tip.