pick or fingers

kris · #1 01-12-2011, 03:07 AM

Usualy jazz guitarists use picks to create fast solos but some of them plays jazz lines and chords by fingers/i.e.Joe Pass,John Aebercrombie/.
more possibilites?
I know Wes Montgomery played his thumb.

Dad3353 · #2 01-12-2011, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris

...more possibilites?...

Good morning, kris...
How about Mark Goffeney...
Mark Goffeney - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
...there are many more with talent and imagination.

kris · #3 01-12-2011, 06:49 AM

Yes...
I thaught jazz guitarist...

franco6719 · #4 01-12-2011, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dad3353

Good morning, kris...
How about Mark Goffeney...
Mark Goffeney - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
...there are many more with talent and imagination.

What's the PROPER positiniong of the right foot though? I think he is just trashing the rules here!!

Dad3353 · #5 01-12-2011, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by franco6719

What's the PROPER positiniong of the right foot though? I think he is just trashing the rules here!!

Quote:

"...He would strum with his left foot and make chords with his right..." from Wikipedia...

...and lefty to boot..! (pun intended...) What's the expression? "I'd give my right arm to be able to play that well...". He sure beats me, anyway, jazz or no jazz. Respect.

CGKnight · #6 01-12-2011, 08:42 AM

Didn't quite get the topic - OP wants to discuss said styles (as written in the title) or discuss more possibilities (as written in the post)?

In the case of the former -
Fingerstyle ftw. Pick/single thumb is the absolutely worst way to play guitar. Hybrid I've never played but it's just lame straight from the concept.
(above statements are all opinions)

In the case of the latter -
There's also touchstyle, but that's by and large panned. I see where they're coming from, I can tell the sound difference between my fingerstyle (in which I've taken a few lessons) and touchstyle playing. Still...more pitch control, more polyphonic capabilities, and for those who mostly want one decent sound and then don't want to bother around too much with tone...touchstyle. *bow*

Meggy · #7 01-13-2011, 03:45 PM

If you have the right shape of fingernail, you can use your index finger nail in a pick-like manner with up and down strokes (I do this). It is possible to switch to and from this psuedo-pick technique to fingerstyle very rapidly.

I'm sure I'm not the only one out there that does this, although in my case it has come at a price, as I have lost the ability to use a standard pick very well through lack of practice (I remember I could use one OK once). But I like the technique I have now anyway.

Dad3353 · #8 01-13-2011, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meggy

If you have the right shape of fingernail, you can use your index finger nail in a pick-like manner with up and down strokes (I do this). It is possible to switch to and from this psuedo-pick technique to fingerstyle very rapidly.

I'm sure I'm not the only one out there that does this, although in my case it has come at a price, as I have lost the ability to use a standard pick very well through lack of practice (I remember I could use one OK once). But I like the technique I have now anyway.

A+, that's how I've always played (no, not the drums, you fool; the guitar, and bass...). Tried and given up many times with various picks (still have the Dugains in my pocket; my son was sponsored at one time. They're the closest I got...). At least I never have to ask 'Can you lend me a pick, please..?' This has at least the advantage of favouring my (by now, infamous, and much imitated...) 'technique' of 'throwing my fingers at the strings'.

CGKnight · #9 01-13-2011, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meggy

If you have the right shape of fingernail, you can use your index finger nail in a pick-like manner with up and down strokes (I do this). It is possible to switch to and from this psuedo-pick technique to fingerstyle very rapidly.

I'm sure I'm not the only one out there that does this, although in my case it has come at a price, as I have lost the ability to use a standard pick very well through lack of practice (I remember I could use one OK once). But I like the technique I have now anyway.

Ain't that called picado or something?

rongtr · #10 01-13-2011, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CGKnight

Didn't quite get the topic - OP wants to discuss said styles (as written in the title) or discuss more possibilities (as written in the post)?

In the case of the former -
Fingerstyle ftw. Pick/single thumb is the absolutely worst way to play guitar. Hybrid I've never played but it's just lame straight from the concept.
(above statements are all opinions)

In the case of the latter -
There's also touchstyle, but that's by and large panned. I see where they're coming from, I can tell the sound difference between my fingerstyle (in which I've taken a few lessons) and touchstyle playing. Still...more pitch control, more polyphonic capabilities, and for those who mostly want one decent sound and then don't want to bother around too much with tone...touchstyle. *bow*

I think that whatever enables you to get whatever ideas you have from your brain and heart to the guitar will work just fine. I've used hybrid picking for over twenty years, and it's not "lame" for me. Doesn't hurt country pickers (who can also play jazz, by the way) such as Brad Paisley or Albert Lee. Wes Montgomery said that he wished he had learned to play with a pick, but one listen to him makes us glad he didn't.

Aristotle · #11 01-14-2011, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CGKnight

Ain't that called picado or something?

I thought that was one of those bullfighter guys.

cosmic gumbo · #12 01-14-2011, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CGKnight

Ain't that called picado or something?

Pizzicato is when you pluck the strings on an instrument played with a bow.

ksjazzguitar · #13 01-15-2011, 12:07 AM

"Picado" is a flamenco picking technique. And for the record, you can do it [correction - "it" should have been pizzicato - ty CGKnight] on classical guitar too - we do it as what electric guitarists call "palm mute." And of course, there is the Bartok pizzicato, where we pull the string away from the guitar and let it snap against the fretboard.

As to pick and finger technique, for me it all depends. Most of the time for playing single note lines I like the pick. When comping, I might use pick, I might use hybrid technique (pick and fingers), or I might use my thumb (alla Wes.) For solo guitar, I might use any of those or might use just fingers.

Just experiment and figure out what works for you.

Peace,
Kevin

CGKnight · #14 01-15-2011, 02:07 AM

Isn't palm mute = pizzicato? (pizzicato in guitar, not as opposed to 'arco')

I thought picado meant using the 'i finger as a pick', but it's something else now that I see it. 'Alzapua done with i' describes it better. See here.

Fingerstyle works for everything. Can do practically anything in it. IMO it's the best and going pickstyle or hybrid is just crippling your options. I consider myself lucky to have run into it. Pick is useful only when doing some of that pop-esque cowboy-chord-strummin' stuff (and rock and metal rhythm playing), which I do way too rarely to care. To each their own.

"Guitarists should be able to pick up the guitar and play music on it for an hour, without a rhythm section or anything."
- Joe Pass
^Kind of what I go by, so you can see where I'm coming from.

Meggy · #15 01-17-2011, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dad3353

A+, that's how I've always played (no, not the drums, you fool; the guitar, and bass...). Tried and given up many times with various picks (still have the Dugains in my pocket; my son was sponsored at one time. They're the closest I got...). At least I never have to ask 'Can you lend me a pick, please..?' This has at least the advantage of favouring my (by now, infamous, and much imitated...) 'technique' of 'throwing my fingers at the strings'.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CGKnight

Ain't that called picado or something?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksjazzguitar

"Picado" is a flamenco picking technique.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CGKnight

I thought picado meant using the 'i finger as a pick', but it's something else now that I see it. 'Alzapua done with i' describes it better.

In fact I have to admit that I have already come across other guitarists using the "index fingernail pick" technique before, so I know for a fact that myself and dad2253 are not the only ones. I think you need to have a certain shape of fingernail - straight without too much of an inward curve, for one thing, and also I have fairly tough/thick nails which may help. One benefit is that there is no audible click on the initial attack of a note, giving a very clean sound. I like it anyway, which is a good job, as (as mentioned) I can't use a pick very well now! I'm slightly disappointed to see that it is not an official flamenco technique, though "alzapua using i" has a certain ring about it! For the record, when picking this way, I do place my thumb against the index finger, very like the way a normal pick is used. Cheers for the information though chaps!

dr. frums · #16 01-17-2011, 07:53 PM

I try like doing both. Sometimes I want the sound that my fingers bring out of the strings, but when i want to play a "Santana" like run I will break out the pick. I also like strumming with a light pick. I have just recently been trying to incorporate a hybrid type playing, using both. It's going to take a little while to get it down, but I think it will be worth the effort.