Benson Picking technique on Gibson L5 Wesmo

[Groyniad]

he also says that its easier to control the whole thing if you hold onto more of the pick

that he finds that he can tidy up his picking and solve any issues by grabbing onto more of the pick and using less flex and flip

[destinytot]

my interest - which is huge - in benson is based on the tiniest bits of recorded output.

I'm curious to know which bits interest you most. There's very little I don't like. Cue:

[destinytot]

This guy really has it down:

[destinytot]

(Just finished my second set. Not many tables tonight. Used a looper and played lines over ballads at double tempo - never felt better.)

Really pressed HARD with left-hand fingers. Once I'd locked the pick - D'Andrea Pro-Plec 351 - by the very top, both hands really worked together wonderfully.

Great feeling. Hungry for more. Practise, practise, practise...

[destinytot]

Next time I read the put-down 'Benson-clone', I'll remember what someone shouts in this video: "Happy in the house!"

[destinytot]

[destinytot]

[destinytot]

[nunocpinto]

The Tuck Andress article deconstructed with pictures: https://fretboardanatomy.com/picking/

[MarkRhodes]

The Tuck Andress article deconstructed with pictures: https://fretboardanatomy.com/picking/

I found the pictures helpful.

[This part is the morning after the "I found the pictures helpful" comment, which is true but might come across as dismissive and that was not my intent.] Started reading the article last night after an initial glance that prompted the above remark. I do find the pictures helpful. What turned out to be more helpful was the remark about Sheryl Bailey wearing her guitar high. (This in relation to the palm-below-the-strings posture.) If this has been talked about much before, I missed it. Right off the bat, it sounds like a home run. But only time will tell if it's just another fly ball out to center field (for me, anyway). Hope not.

[JazzMuzak]

Just a PSA...you guys might want to try these out for Benson picking. I was using Benson's signature picks, but tried these and haven't looked back. I prefer both the tone and feel. They're still warm, but are flexible enough to snap.

[MarkRhodes]

Never tried one of those. Might pick one up---the great thing about experimenting with picks, it's cheap! ;o)

[JazzMuzak]

Weekly Workout: How to Pick Like Jazz-Great George Benson ? Acoustic Guitar

[MarkRhodes]

Thanks for posting that.

[destinytot]

Been using a D'Andrea Pro-Plec (for what seems like several months) and working on left hand. But...

Last Saturday I decided to try out the Fender Medium aagin - with some electrical tape to help with the grip.

HELLO!!! I'm really enjoying the flex. I love it.

[ChuckCorbis]

Been using a D'Andrea Pro-Plec (for what seems like several months) and working on left hand. But...

Last Saturday I decided to try out the Fender Medium aagin - with some electrical tape to help with the grip.

HELLO!!! I'm really enjoying the flex. I love it.

I special ordered the Fender medium/light type gauged picks from D'Andrea. They are 58mm celluloid. D'Andrea was sold to Rotosound so, I don't know who's who. I use them turned around on the round side. I find the extra flex helps me come across the strings even though I am not using the Benson angle and grip all the time. Seems more forgiving. Hard to describe.

[destinytot]

I special ordered the Fender medium/light type gauged picks from D'Andrea. They are 58mm. D'Andrea was sold to Rotosound so, I don't know who's who. I use them turned around on the round side. I find the extra flex helps me come across the strings even though I am not using the Benson angle and grip all the time. Seems more forgiving. Hard to describe.

Thanks, ChuckCorbis. Yes, hard to describe - but it helps get the 'right' articulation.

I only tried the Medium because I was finding Thomastik-Infeld GB 14s a bit heavy with the 1.5mm Pro-plec, and I remembered reading a comment about 'heavy strings + thin pick/ light strings + thick pick'.

Also I think I can harness that flex when using pick and fingers.

[MarkRhodes]

Been using a D'Andrea Pro-Plec (for what seems like several months) and working on left hand. But...

Last Saturday I decided to try out the Fender Medium again - with some electrical tape to help with the grip.

HELLO!!! I'm really enjoying the flex. I love it.

Do you put the tape on both sides of the pick? If only on one side, is it the side that touches your thumb or the side that touches your index?

I have found recently---talk about a "Doh!" moment---that when the grip is on the index side (rather than the thumb side) my picking problems are solved. This doesn't mean my picking is great, only that it is at last consistent. As Etta James put it, "At last!"

[ChuckCorbis]

Do you put the tape on both sides of the pick? If only on one side, is it the side that touches your thumb or the side that touches your index?

I have found recently---talk about a "Doh!" moment---that when the grip is on the index side (rather than the thumb side) my picking problems are solved. This doesn't mean my picking is great, only that it is at last consistent. As Etta James put it, "At last!"

Supposedly Hank Garland used to do pick excercises where he would practice pushing down the pick with his thumb joint. I can't rememeber where I read that. I watched some videos of him and it looks like his pick is attached to his index finger sometimes. Like he had tape or something.

[destinytot]

Do you put the tape on both sides of the pick? If only on one side, is it the side that touches your thumb or the side that touches your index?

I have found recently---talk about a "Doh!" moment---that when the grip is on the index side (rather than the thumb side) my picking problems are solved. This doesn't mean my picking is great, only that it is at last consistent. As Etta James put it, "At last!"

Yes, tape on both sides. It's very late now, but I'll post a video after my porridge tomorrow.

[Philco]

Hank Garland's technique was incredible. I have transcribed some of his lines and they are without doubt the most technically challenging I have ever attempted.
I can see why he opted for a shorter scale neck.

On topic.......I keep coming back to the Fender Medium.
I hate the grip.....it takes at least 10 minutes before I can stop it sliding around. I tried Monster grip and I find it uncomfortable and actually it inhibits the movement that you eventually need.

I find that licking the pick helps at first and when it eventually sticks.....due to heat I think....that it stays put very nicely.

There are 2 reasons I love this pick. Articulation and sound. For my taste I can't find any pick that sounds better than an FM.
The closest is a Medium 0.75 Cool celluloid. It also has a grip.....great pick.....but the FM still sounds better.
The Ibanez Benson is my 3rd fave.
Whatever......we all find a pick that we like and we make it work.

This GB tech that we've been talking about for so long is surely an illusive phenomenon.
Given that we all know that even if we could do "it" it would only really open the door and then the hard work would begin.
I now firmly believe that it cannot be described in words. That there are so many small elements of the tech that have to be discovered by dogged persistence and that each player will adapt it and change it to suit their own physiology.

[destinytot]

The Tuck Andress article deconstructed with pictures: https://fretboardanatomy.com/picking/

Outstanding presentation of right hand - THANK YOU!

[nunocpinto]

Outstanding presentation of right hand - THANK YOU!

Yeah, and in particular all the info regarding "oscillation" which is the most "elusive" aspect of this technique

[destinytot]

Yeah, and in particular all the info regarding "oscillation" which is the most "elusive" aspect of this technique

Very well-organised and clear. Helpful recap, too.
"Translation––side-to-side motion, like casting a fishing line
Rotation––the motion you use to turn a door knob
Oscillation––the motion you use to knock on a door"

Love it!

[destinytot]

And there's a follow-up.
https://fretboardanatomy.com/pickingprinciples/