I use p m & i for playing lines and can get fast enough without the clacky sound of a pick. I played classical and flamenco for decades so that probably helps. The flamenco thumb technique (pulgar) is also very effective
I had never thought of my right hand as an "equaliser" before. What a difference this makes to bringing out the melody in chord/melody style. Thank you for the great tip
Peter Berstein, along with Bobby Broom, are among the swangiest players that I can think of that are still among us (and Benson, of course). They all comp mostly pick style. I used to comp only with fingers. Once I switched to mostly pick style comping, I noticed a bunch of improvements with my comping. One, my dynamic variation become more varied and more nuanced. My forte was loud enough to balance with horn swells and drum hits (when needed) and my piano was soft enough to accompany flutists. Two, my rhythm became more precise. Many (not all) guitarists get way too delicate and vague when they comp with fingers. As a result, the definition of the rhythm dissipates. A master of rhythmic definition with fingers, your friend and mine, is Mr. Ed Bickert. He was incredibly precise with his comps when he played with fingers and with a pick. Although you can't be as intricate with a pick as with your fingers, you can get pretty close (especially if you listen to the early plectrum stylists). When I comp, I want to think like a pianist, a guitarist, and most importantly--like a drummer. I even find myself comping with a pick on Brazilian tunes. Like you suggested , if Jim Hall did it, then why not? I love hearing both approaches of comping when I listen to jazz guitar, but too many guitarist default to fingers because they think it's the "right way to comp". Most of the horn players love it when I comp with a pick as well. Barry Galbraith's books taught me the art of comping, and he comped with a pick as well.
Thanks for your feedback...personally I resort to hybrid picking for the most part when comping. This is really what Ed Bickert did. However, I don't believe that there is a best choice. Like I said, they all have their pros and cons and it's a matter of how you personally feel the music and what you ultimately want to achieve.
Great video, Richie! This is a subject that is seldom discussed in detail and deserves even more attention. Surprisingly, even classical guitar methods don't say nearly enough about how the right hand should organize itself to play any given piece.
Hi Richie, this is an old lesson I checked out a while back and again today, very timely for me. Need to practice them all! I tend to like finger style better as my pinky finger is not quite good for playing melody lines along the chord... so practicing putting the pick aside is also required... As usual, all your lessons although simple at first sight are profound and it takes time to fully digest and incorporate.
Thanks for a very good presentation on these different picking styles. I've been picking mostly with fingers, but seeing this video, I'd like to learn the Hybrid picking.
Great video Richie! Regarding thumb picks. I’ve also tried several, including the variety that has basically a strap around your thumb holding a conventional pick. Although there are some very accomplished players who can make this work musically (across varieties of tune styles and soloing) I’ve never been able to get the “correct feel” with a thumb pick and and that’s after spending years practicing with a plectrum and formally studying classical finger style. I’ve settled on some combination of hybrid or “hiding” the pick from between I and M.
Use the pick and really like the finger style but had to think again when I accidentally cut off the top of my middle finger. It's now about an inch shorter without a nail. Can't seem to get decent results now, with finger style so I am limited to the pick. Good video though...thanks
I've developed a hybrid technique over the years without giving it much thought, but lately I have been impressed by some players who are able to place the pick between their fingers. I've tried it a little bit, but find it awkward so far as I'm always at risk of dropping the pick, and the rest of my fingers feel hampered, not to mention my brain.
Idk how you feel about your pick but I got an 8mm purple plectrum and it made tucking it 100x easier because of the thickness, not too thick to where it hinders my fingers but thick enough I can relax my right hand and the pick won’t go anywhere
I like the sound with just fingers so much that I've been working towards doing single note lines with my thumb and index finger. It's a challenge building speed and precision like that, but I can still do 16th note runs. Really I can do anything melodic like that. The thumb acts like the downstroke of a pick, and the index acts like the upstroke.
Hi Richie and thanks for a fine lesson. I mostly use the hybrid technique, but also sometimes switch over to strumming chords (a little like in your first example) just with the thumb. It is a nice variation that gives a softer sound. I have also started to use an Ernie Ball Pickbuddy when I really need to get rid of the pick, just to use the fingers. If you have enough time it works pretty good and with some luck I just might get used to it. I don't ever put the pick in my mouth - I'm too afraid of swallowing it...
I'm going to loop fishing wire through a hole in my pick and put the fishing wire over one of my fingers. This way I just need to open my hand slightly to have the pick drop so I can use my fingers.
Personally, I'm like a cripple I use a crutch 99% of the time(picks of various thickness/composion), i have very little round about use of the thumb since a motorcycle accident several years back. The most amazing thumbpick user I can think of is Chet Atkins, any style and there is the thumb pick.
I use p m & i for playing lines and can get fast enough without the clacky sound of a pick. I played classical and flamenco for decades so that probably helps. The flamenco thumb technique (pulgar) is also very effective
I had never thought of my right hand as an "equaliser" before. What a difference this makes to bringing out the melody in chord/melody style. Thank you for the great tip
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for this. Very helpful and informative.
Peter Berstein, along with Bobby Broom, are among the swangiest players that I can think of that are still among us (and Benson, of course). They all comp mostly pick style. I used to comp only with fingers. Once I switched to mostly pick style comping, I noticed a bunch of improvements with my comping. One, my dynamic variation become more varied and more nuanced. My forte was loud enough to balance with horn swells and drum hits (when needed) and my piano was soft enough to accompany flutists. Two, my rhythm became more precise. Many (not all) guitarists get way too delicate and vague when they comp with fingers. As a result, the definition of the rhythm dissipates. A master of rhythmic definition with fingers, your friend and mine, is Mr. Ed Bickert. He was incredibly precise with his comps when he played with fingers and with a pick. Although you can't be as intricate with a pick as with your fingers, you can get pretty close (especially if you listen to the early plectrum stylists). When I comp, I want to think like a pianist, a guitarist, and most importantly--like a drummer. I even find myself comping with a pick on Brazilian tunes. Like you suggested , if Jim Hall did it, then why not? I love hearing both approaches of comping when I listen to jazz guitar, but too many guitarist default to fingers because they think it's the "right way to comp". Most of the horn players love it when I comp with a pick as well. Barry Galbraith's books taught me the art of comping, and he comped with a pick as well.
Thanks for your feedback...personally I resort to hybrid picking for the most part when comping. This is really what Ed Bickert did. However, I don't believe that there is a best choice. Like I said, they all have their pros and cons and it's a matter of how you personally feel the music and what you ultimately want to achieve.
Great video, Richie! This is a subject that is seldom discussed in detail and deserves even more attention. Surprisingly, even classical guitar methods don't say nearly enough about how the right hand should organize itself to play any given piece.
Thank you for this valuable lesson comparing styles. Helpful!
Hi Richie, this is an old lesson I checked out a while back and again today, very timely for me. Need to practice them all! I tend to like finger style better as my pinky finger is not quite good for playing melody lines along the chord... so practicing putting the pick aside is also required... As usual, all your lessons although simple at first sight are profound and it takes time to fully digest and incorporate.
I know what you mean...thanks for your feedback!
Thanks for a very good presentation on these different picking styles. I've been picking mostly with fingers, but seeing this video, I'd like to learn the Hybrid picking.
Thanks for the comparison, use pick a lot, but also pick and fingers
Excellent overview, Richie!
Great video Richie! Regarding thumb picks. I’ve also tried several, including the variety that has basically a strap around your thumb holding a conventional pick. Although there are some very accomplished players who can make this work musically (across varieties of tune styles and soloing) I’ve never been able to get the “correct feel” with a thumb pick and and that’s after spending years practicing with a plectrum and formally studying classical finger style. I’ve settled on some combination of hybrid or “hiding” the pick from between I and M.
Thanks! I feel the same way regarding my experience with thumbpicks...
Use the pick and really like the finger style but had to think again when I accidentally cut off the top of my middle finger. It's now about an inch shorter without a nail. Can't seem to get decent results now, with finger style so I am limited to the pick. Good video though...thanks
I've developed a hybrid technique over the years without giving it much thought, but lately I have been impressed by some players who are able to place the pick between their fingers. I've tried it a little bit, but find it awkward so far as I'm always at risk of dropping the pick, and the rest of my fingers feel hampered, not to mention my brain.
Idk how you feel about your pick but I got an 8mm purple plectrum and it made tucking it 100x easier because of the thickness, not too thick to where it hinders my fingers but thick enough I can relax my right hand and the pick won’t go anywhere
@@mynamejef7963 Cool. Thanks for the advice!
Thanks Mr. Zellon
I like the sound with just fingers so much that I've been working towards doing single note lines with my thumb and index finger. It's a challenge building speed and precision like that, but I can still do 16th note runs. Really I can do anything melodic like that. The thumb acts like the downstroke of a pick, and the index acts like the upstroke.
I do that sometimes too...it actually works good. Whatever works under the circumstances right?
Hi Richie and thanks for a fine lesson. I mostly use the hybrid technique, but also sometimes switch over to strumming chords (a little like in your first example) just with the thumb. It is a nice variation that gives a softer sound. I have also started to use an Ernie Ball Pickbuddy when I really need to get rid of the pick, just to use the fingers. If you have enough time it works pretty good and with some luck I just might get used to it. I don't ever put the pick in my mouth - I'm too afraid of swallowing it...
Thanks for the tip Poul! I didn't know about the pick buddy. Will get my hands on one of these soon!
I'm going to loop fishing wire through a hole in my pick and put the fishing wire over one of my fingers. This way I just need to open my hand slightly to have the pick drop so I can use my fingers.
Personally, I'm like a cripple I use a crutch 99% of the time(picks of various thickness/composion), i have very little round about use of the thumb since a motorcycle accident several years back. The most amazing thumbpick user I can think of is Chet Atkins, any style and there is the thumb pick.
I had to laugh.... I'm sitting here with my guitar in hand playing along.....with my pick in my mouth. Thanks Richie! !!
They should start making edible picks in different flavors...just in case😀
What kind of Guitar are you using in this video?
That's a custom "Phoenix" by George Leach
Nylon has only been around for one of those centuries of course ;-)
True, and many cats are great full
@@jumemowery9434 HaHa. They didn't really use cat gut of course, it's usually from sheep ;-)
wanted to add that flatwounds are the only things that sounds jazzy with nails. everything else use flesh
Finger nails :)
You forgot to mention the guys that like to play with their teeth.
Ooops...I forgot my all time guitar hero....good ole Jimi!!!😄