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I have read in countless forums on the net that the faster you play, the lighter the pick attack should be. It's not necessarily so, and it leads to rather uninteresting dynamics as well. Listen to John McLaughlin or Al Di Meola, John in particular. He's got a strong pick attack even during very speedy runs. In my book it's important to practice alternate picking (or economy for that matter) with a decently strong attack. It's always possible to loosen up from there, but the other way round is hard when you haven't trained the muscles enough. I read a good advice from Ney Mello, an excellent alternate picker. He says the way to increase the attack is not to dig in, but to increase the pressure on the pick with the fingers. That way you can continue hitting the string with only the very tip of the pick, avoiding the pick getting stuck. Comments welcome.
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09-25-2016 10:28 AM
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What's more, practicing with a decent pick attack forces you to relax your hand in the right way, since trying to play fast and hard with a stiff hand is bound to cause pain sooner or later.
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On a side note, I have noticed that John McLaughlin supports the index finger on his picking hand with the middle finger for added stability and to minimize the sideways motion of the index finger, which isn't very good in the long run. He doesn't curl his index finger very much, most probably because that would cause the pick angle to become too big when he plays on the higher strings, since he anchors the palm of the hand at the bass side of the bridge, albeit loosely. This approach suits me pretty well, but it might not suit others of course.
Last edited by MatsP; 09-25-2016 at 10:53 AM.
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this has always been a big thing for me
i've never been prepared to give up the assertiveness of a strong picking method - this is a feel thing as much as a sound thing
i've been having success recently with playing fast passages forcefully and quite loud (acoustically) -
very light picking compensated for by the vol. on the amp. is not a vibe or a sound i'm into
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In my practice, I try very hard to retain that aggressiveness at higher speeds.
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Originally Posted by MatsP
I can play fast and loud. But I'm not an alternate picker - Gypsy Jazz picking.
You got to keep loose in the wrist. That's the tricky bit for me. You can practice tremolos maybe.
I doubt Meola or Jonny Mac would be as loud as Birelli etc acoustically. The point is perhaps not to develop volume (unless you want to be able to play without an amp) but to develop consistency. For some people that means making other areas of the playing quieter. For others it means making other bits loud.
But I think we all need to be relaxed.
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Originally Posted by Groyniad
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Originally Posted by AlsoRan
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Originally Posted by christianm77
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Can someone provide the examples of soft touch at high speed? Any players that we know?
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Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive
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It drives me crazy when I hear my volume decrease as my speed increases. When I play unplugged I notice it and when I am playing at a high tempo plugged in, I really notice it.
I immediately back off and practice the particular phrase at a slower tempo. But I do have to say that an amp and a compressor can hide a lot of that "lack of volume" or "lost volume."
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Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive
Not to mention metal guitarists, who often use a feather-light attack on speedy runs. That works because of the distortion that compresses the sound, and hence compensates for the attack. Unfortunately every note will sound more or less the same, the dynamics will suffer, and it will sound like crap unplugged.Last edited by MatsP; 09-26-2016 at 02:27 AM.
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Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive
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Originally Posted by AlsoRan
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Originally Posted by Thumpalumpacus
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Originally Posted by AlsoRan
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Originally Posted by MatsP
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Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive
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Originally Posted by MatsP
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Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive
EDIT: As I said before, it's easier to loosen up from a hard attack, than going the other way when you're not "ready for it". Sometimes you want to use a hard attack on a run of notes, and when your muscles aren't trained enough...Last edited by MatsP; 09-26-2016 at 02:51 AM.
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Read that Gilad Hekselman has his amp cranked and picks very lightly.
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Originally Posted by gggomez
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One benefit of at least practicing with a rather strong pick attack, in my book, is that it will make you use the optimum hand position and movement for picking in general. It will be fruitful when you're picking with less attack as well.
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Sheryl Bailey says she picks very softly, and suggests her students always practice with an amp for that reason.
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