Members simplygoodmusic Posted October 30, 2007 Members Posted October 30, 2007 Well, I've been listening to Rodrigo y Gabriela a lot these past few days, and I'm constantly suprised at the tone Rodrigo gets. Whenever I try to flatpick a classical, the tone is horrid. Anybody else does what Rodrigo does? I'm just curious to be honest (yes, I know, it killed the cat). But can anyone fill me in a little about the basics of flatpicking a classical? Its just that I hardly ever see it around.
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted October 30, 2007 Members Posted October 30, 2007 You first have to find the "sweet spot", the place between the end of the fingerboard and the bridge where the tone is the best...after that, it's just working on how hard you hit the strings.
Members dhoenisch Posted October 30, 2007 Members Posted October 30, 2007 You can probably use felt picks. They sell those in different hardnesses as well. May sound a lot nicer than plastic. Dan
Members simplygoodmusic Posted October 30, 2007 Author Members Posted October 30, 2007 Its not really a question of me, actually. As a matter of fact, I don't even own one!
Members Sisyphus2 Posted October 30, 2007 Members Posted October 30, 2007 Ive got a vague memory of Rodrigo talking about his picking technique - he come from a metal background and thats where he draws his picking style from. If i can find the interview I will let you know.
Members riffmeister Posted October 30, 2007 Members Posted October 30, 2007 The Classical Guitar Police will be on you like a moth to light if you use a pick!! P.S. I use a Fender heavy turned on its rounded side.......
Members Sisyphus2 Posted October 30, 2007 Members Posted October 30, 2007 yep look them up on youtube they have several lessons there that are interesting to watch. Rodrigo explains his picking and the lovely Gabriella her technique. Im too stupid to be able to post a short cut or I would!!
Members guitarist21 Posted October 30, 2007 Members Posted October 30, 2007 My friend uses his index fingernail on the downstrokes and his thumbnail on the upstrokes and it sounds really good. The song I have in mind isn't on his Myspace right now, otherwise I'd point you in that direction. Ellen
Members larry50 Posted October 31, 2007 Members Posted October 31, 2007 I read an interview of Rodrigo and I think I recall him saying that he uses felt picks and that he doesn't fingerpick at all. Gabriella is an unbelievable rhythm guitarist.
Members simplygoodmusic Posted October 31, 2007 Author Members Posted October 31, 2007 Interesting ideas all around. Again, I'm only asking because I'm curious. I don't really need to flatpick a classical at all! I forgot about Willie Nelson actually. Ellen...that actually sounds really interesting. I think I've heard of that technique before, though. Where escapes my mind though.
Members Pascal Posted October 31, 2007 Members Posted October 31, 2007 Rodrigo y Gabriela? You might want to check out John McLaughlin. His trio with Trilok Gurtu is a great place to start. Live at the Royal Albert Hall, Que Alegria... There are plenty of vids on youtube too. A remark, though, if you're going to play fast single lines on a nylon string, you might want to get one with a narrow fretboard, rather than a standard classical.... not that wide necks ever prevented any classical or flamenco virtuoso from playing fast, of course... I play a Takamine EAN60C with pointy wood picks myself (could be John Pearse sarod picks... not sure). Rest-stroke technique a la gypsy jazz. Wegen Gypsy Jazz picks work also quite well, IMO. But experiment to see what works best for you. From my experience playing with a fully acoustic band with other guitars, accordions, violins, clarinets, etc, I think that nylon strings actually work better than steel strings for flat picked single line stuff (but not as well as manouche guitars). And TAH is right.
Members Pascal Posted October 31, 2007 Members Posted October 31, 2007 Here's another exemple of flatpicking on a classical: Sylvain Luc plays Night and Day with Florin Nicolescu
Members Phlat Phive Posted October 31, 2007 Members Posted October 31, 2007 I sometimes flatpick on my flamenco guitar. I use a regular (heavy, rigid) plastic pick. While I prefer the sound of playing with my fingers, I think a good tone with a pick is also manageable is you use an aggressive attack and play closer to the bridge than you would on a steel-string. I've been trying the manouche-style pick rest-stroke to try to emulate the sound of the flamenco thumb rest-stroke... I can't really do it yet though.
Members simplygoodmusic Posted October 31, 2007 Author Members Posted October 31, 2007 I am well aware of both John McLaughlin and Sylvian Luc. I consider it a crime for any acoustic guitarist not to own at least Friday Night in San Fransico. If not Passion, Grace and Fire as well. And I am going to see him performing with the 4th dimension around here in a few months. And sylvian Luc I was introduced to this summer. BUT I never liked his (McLaughlin that is) tone as much. His playing...hell yes! IMO, his playing is more about allowing his fast licks to not the get lost in the tone, if that makes sense.
Members Pascal Posted October 31, 2007 Members Posted October 31, 2007 I don't know... I like McLaughlin's tone myself on his acoustic records from the 90s, when he was playing that Wechter guitar. Not sure I remember how he sounds on these trio records with Di Meola and De Lucia... wasn't he playing an Ovation at the time? I also like Pat Metheny's tone on nylon strings quite a lot... very warm.But I don't think he is a strict flatpicker on acoustic...
Members simplygoodmusic Posted October 31, 2007 Author Members Posted October 31, 2007 I don't know... I like McLaughlin's tone myself on his acoustic records from the 90s, when he was playing that Wechter guitar. Not sure I remember how he sounds on these trio records with Di Meola and De Lucia... wasn't he playing an Ovation at the time?I also like Pat Metheny's tone on nylon strings quite a lot... very warm.But I don't think he is a strict flatpicker on acoustic... I'm not sure on Friday Night either, but on Passion Grace and Fire he is using a yamaha classical, or so the album cover says.
Members Pascal Posted October 31, 2007 Members Posted October 31, 2007 I'm not sure on Friday Night either, but on Passion Grace and Fire he is using a yamaha classical, or so the album cover says. Yes, it does ring a bell, you must be right. I have to admit everything I've heard from Roberto y Gabriela so far (a bunch of youtube videos) bored me to tears... Can you recommend me something that could convert me? Thanks.
Members bsman Posted October 31, 2007 Members Posted October 31, 2007 Yes, it does ring a bell, you must be right. I have to admit everything I've heard from Roberto y Gabriela so far (a bunch of youtube videos) bored me to tears... Can you recommend me something that could convert me? Thanks. To me, there's nothing really special about the music of Roberto y Gabriela (sounds like a fine cigar, don't it? ) other than the fact that they are playing classically-influenced music on radio stations where such is quite foreign. If their music introduces the rock crowd to classical guitar, I think they perform a great service.
Members Phlat Phive Posted October 31, 2007 Members Posted October 31, 2007 McLaughlin played some kind of nylon strung guitar on Friday Night... It might have been the Yamaha, it might also have been a nylon string ovation, like he used on Paco's Castro Marin. I must admit I used to share simplygoodmusic's sentiments about his tone, but I've kind of warmed up to it. I feel the same about his tone on other types of guitars, actually. Expect for his tone on After the Rain, which I loved from the start. But I digress...
Members Pascal Posted October 31, 2007 Members Posted October 31, 2007 McLaughlin played some kind of nylon strung guitar on Friday Night... It might have been the Yamaha, it might also have been a nylon string ovation, like he used on Paco's Castro Marin. I only mentioned the ovation because I think I remember seing vids of the guitar trio where he played one. Could have been a different tour than FNISF, though.
Members jd-drafter Posted October 31, 2007 Members Posted October 31, 2007 To me, there's nothing really special about the music of Roberto y Gabriela (sounds like a fine cigar, don't it? ) other than the fact that they are playing classically-influenced music on radio stations where such is quite foreign. If their music introduces the rock crowd to classical guitar, I think they perform a great service. agreed- they are also playing alot of older metal tunes in a way that brings new life- this version of 'orion' by metallica is great- sadly there is no video- just sound- but good sound 8^) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7c2cHA5aNc here is a shorter video version- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSwCRgDCH4w personally- anything that can inject a bit of real music into the current culture- rather than over produced studio cheese puff blah- is a good thing-
Members simplygoodmusic Posted October 31, 2007 Author Members Posted October 31, 2007 Yes, it does ring a bell, you must be right. I have to admit everything I've heard from Roberto y Gabriela so far (a bunch of youtube videos) bored me to tears... Can you recommend me something that could convert me? Thanks. Like bsman, I agree that it does get pretty boring. BUT, being simplistic and banal, its great to have as background music when you are not particularly listening. I have the tendency to stop whatever I'm doing and listen if the music is too interesting. If it's simple and fun... then I can put it in the background.
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