Quick tip re: dynamics and picking

[JakeAcci]

Something I've been lately that I've found very helpful for dynamics and control:

I take whatever picking exercise I might be working on (something very short and repetitive works best for this), set the metronome to a very accessible tempo relative to the exercise and my own abilities, and I play the exercise as soft as I possibly can, gradually getting louder every measure until I'm playing as loud as I possibly can, then gradually back the dynamic down to my softest, and then back up, etc.

Seems pretty simple, I know, a few things to note:

1. It's difficult to avoid rushing the tempo at the loudest point and dragging at the quietest point.

2. I think the average guitar player isn't sensitive enough to dynamics. Just my opinion.

3. The amount of effort and type of effort required to execute a certain passage is very different at different dynamic levels. For example, when I'm playing at my loudest I find it takes more effort to keep all my movements small and economical. The transitions can be kind of confusing because of this...hard to explain via text.

Just something I've been doing about 5 minutes a day for the past few months and have found it helpful, felt like sharing.

[kris]

Interesting exercise.
Thanks

[AlsoRan]

Good exercise, Thanks.

Loved your comment about speeding up when picking harder and emphasizing a note, or slowing down on softer notes.

I happened to notice this in me a while back. Good point to make for everyone to be aware of and watch out for.

[mr. beaumont]

Originally Posted by JakeAcci

2. I think the average guitar player isn't sensitive enough to dynamics. Just my opinion.
.

Don't be too diplomatic on this one Jake, you know you're right

I think this is an excellent exercise. One I need to work with after playing a few nights of gypsy jazz!

[Diederikeggenkamp]

good stuff man!

[JakeAcci]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Don't be too diplomatic on this one Jake, you know you're right

I tend to be right about most things, but that's also just my opinion.

[Pat Clare]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Don't be too diplomatic on this one Jake, you know you're right

I think this is an excellent exercise. One I need to work with after playing a few nights of gypsy jazz!

Back when I was studying with Karl Berger he used to talk about "note for note dynamics" as a way to really make your lines have meaning.

[JakeAcci]

Hmm interesting Pat but I'm not familiar with the phrase "note for note dynamics." What are you referring to? An awareness of the dynamic level of each note one plays?

[Pat Clare]

Originally Posted by JakeAcci

Hmm interesting Pat but I'm not familiar with the phrase "note for note dynamics." What are you referring to? An awareness of the dynamic level of each note one plays?

Karl developed a rhythmic system while at the Creative Music Studio. Rather than count using numbers he would use syllable's broken into either 2 or 3 notes, and then combine them into various patterns that would be used at the 8th note level. The idea is to give each beat equal attention, not just the strong beats. During workshops he will have people sound out the patterns, then only clap or play on either the 1st, 2nd or 3rd beats, creating unique sounding rhythms. As people begin to master this concept, it allows you to treat each note equally and apply dynamics to them. It's not that hard to do and it can help you find new ways to play your lines.

[raylinds]

Great exercise Jake, thanks for sharing. About a week ago I was listening to some Grant Green and noticed how much dynamic variation he was using. That prompted me to work on my dynamics more and this exercise is perfect.
Ray

[mattymel]

there has been enough GB picking talk to make us all throw up, BUT...he is one of the few i have ever heard play 16ths at about 300 bpm and its so QUIET you can barely hear it. the first time i heard him do that i freaked out. THATS control. 99% of guys you hear do that look AND sound like their arm is about to fall off. the fact that he can do that is all the proof i need that playing softly and staying relaxed is the ONLY way to ever get REALLY fast.

[mattymel]

right not I'm doing this GB solo and its fast for me. a blues at round 270 bpm. as I'm sure you can imagine, he rips it. i never thought id be able to get it up to speed, but just starting at around 70% and inching it up staying relaxed, I'm at about 97% within a week. it can be done.

things like this are huge because when you have it in your head that "i can't cut it above 250" thats hard to shake. its all about just being able to relax with something on many different levels...

[JakeAcci]

True, tempos can be so mental sometimes.