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Fingerstyle Speed


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Posted

I use my fingers instead of a pick. I I have been serious about playing for about the last 6 years and Have been taking lessens every week for about 1 1/2 years now. Have tried a pick several times and it just does not feel right. Blues and classic rock is what I like mostly. I am a huge fan of Jeff Becks playing. (He uses his fingers too). I guess I am fairly good at what I am able to do But I would like to learn how to play faster with my fingers. Any ideas?

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Posted

Either get serious with finger style and study classical technique, or else breakdown and adopt the pick technique.

it's really the best idea to use both

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Posted

I play fingerstyle too. When I want to play something that requires picking speed I have two options as it is...

1. I hold my thumb and index finger together as if I am holding a pick, but use the tip of my index finger as the pick. Works pretty good but takes a little practice to not use too much of the flesh on the upstroke... have been thinking about getting a fingerpick to see how that would facilitate things...

2. Have been working on using thumb for downstroke and index finger for upstroke on fast single note lines... again, can be done, but it's a little trickier when trying to do cross-picking..... takes practice to get smooth

I'm practicing scales both ways now to see what progress I can make... I've been doing (1) for years now, only when I really need to pick fast, but never diligently practiced it...

I may pick up a book in classical finger picking etudes, because I have seen some of those guys play faster and cleaner than most people can with a pick... so it definitely can be done

I used to play with a pick, but now I am in the same boat as you... I have been playing finger style long enough that I don't like to go back... I'm actually more coordinated finger-style, and I used to be pretty good with a pick

Edit/Add-on: Thinking about Beck's playing, he doesn't play stuff that's fast that requires a pick usually... if it is fast it's hammer-ons and pull-offs, so practicing those is a big help with speed in that style

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Posted

Classical guitar studies are an ideal choice! Giuliani's 120 right hand studies are an effective place to start, though one can only take so much of the same C-G7 progression before they find themselves posting pictures of David Hasselhoff on guitar forums.

hasselhoff.jpg

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Posted
Originally posted by Auggie Doggie

Classical guitar studies are an ideal choice! Giuliani's 120 right hand studies are an effective place to start, though one can only take so much of the same C-G7 progression before they find themselves posting pictures of David Hasselhoff on guitar forums.


hasselhoff.jpg



I see your Hoff and raise you one evil Hoff

moblog_e41fa62eabdea.jpg

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Posted
Originally posted by Knottyhed



Far from it, although you could've attempted to counter with a Chuck Norris
:thu:



Overkill. :p

Chuck should be kept in reserve for moments of desperation.

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Posted

Originally posted by mccoyson

I use my fingers instead of a pick. I I have been serious about playing for about the last 6 years and Have been taking lessens every week for about 1 1/2 years now. Have tried a pick several times and it just does not feel right. Blues and classic rock is what I like mostly. I am a huge fan of Jeff Becks playing. (He uses his fingers too). I guess I am fairly good at what I am able to do But I would like to learn how to play faster with my fingers. Any ideas?

 

 

Study Mark Knopflers technique. He gets pretty good speed with thumb, index and middle only.

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Posted
Originally posted by 335clone



Study Mark Knopflers technique. He gets pretty good speed with thumb, index and middle only.



I've gotta admit to not being a Dire Straits fan - but my dad has a couple of albums :D, I can't think of a single song where i've noticed him playing fast?

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Posted
Originally posted by Knottyhed



I've gotta admit to not being a Dire Straits fan - but my dad has a couple of albums
:D
, I can't think of a single song where i've noticed him playing fast?



Sultans of swing, second solo. Lady writer.

Not ungodly speed, but try playing along.

Also, check out Neck 'N' Neck with Chet Atkins/Mark Knopfler:eek:

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Posted

Originally posted by 335clone



Sultans of swing, second solo. Lady writer.


Not ungodly speed, but try playing along.

 

 

I'll have a listen tonight...

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Posted

Given your style and goals, you may want to look at 'fingerpickin' techniques as addition to (or perhaps even primarilly) classical fingerstyle technique

stuff like the Happy Traum material, etc could be useful

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Posted

You should really be using Thumb plus 3 fingers, avoiding droping the thumb to the G string for convenience, and practise your scales aternating Index and Middle and Index and Annular for each note. It'll build your speed and make your playing smoother and more intuitive.

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Posted

If you're not using a pick and don't like it, I suggest you don't try.

If you're serious about playing faster remember you don't have to pick every note in a run on the same string - hammer-ons and pull-offs don't require that you pick every note.

But if you're serious about it, you may need to change the pick type you've tried. there are a number of different pick types that suite finger players - I suggest a small Jazz pick, you could use this pick in your thumb/for finger and still finger pick the with the rest of your fingers.

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Posted

Originally posted by fingerstyleman

You should really be using Thumb plus 3 fingers, avoiding droping the thumb to the G string for convenience, and practise your scales aternating Index and Middle and Index and Annular for each note. It'll build your speed and make your playing smoother and more intuitive.

 

 

To clarify.... you mean use BOTH the index and middle to pick a note, alternating with BOTH index and ring finger?

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Posted
Originally posted by 335clone



Study Mark Knopflers technique. He gets pretty good speed with thumb, index and middle only.



Banjo technique!

Practice those rolls baby! :cool:

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Posted

Grow your nails and use a thumbpick. I suppose you can also you fingerpicks instead of the nails, but they aren't as fast.

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Posted

Originally posted by Terje



How so?

 

 

The general theory is the greater contact area with fingerpicks

 

how universally true thi is? dunno - personally? I find this to be the case BUT that could be biaed by a number of factors

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