| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic Scaler runs/alternating thumb and 1st finger?
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Scaler runs/alternating thumb and 1st finger?
Jonathan Neher


From:
Near Eugene, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 4 Oct 2009 1:52 pm    
Reply with quote

Hi,

When I used to play a lot of pedal-steel, I mostly
used pedals and arpeggios and when I played
single notes and pretty much used whichever
finger was convenient when playing single notes
outside of these patterns.

When I started playing dobro/resonator, folks used
alternating thumb and index finger like a
guitar flatpicker's up and down alternating strokes for scale runs.

Is that the right technique for non-pedal steel too?
It sounds to me like that is what Tom Morrell did
doing a lot when playing jazz.

It's a pain to get used to but it is
paying off on dobro/resonator guitar.

Thanks for any advice.

Jon
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Robert Murphy


From:
West Virginia
Post  Posted 4 Oct 2009 2:15 pm    
Reply with quote

Thumb and middle finger is the best, they seem to be connected that way?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Josh Cho


From:
New York, NY (orig. Honolulu, HI)
Post  Posted 4 Oct 2009 2:17 pm    
Reply with quote

Jonathan,

The quick answer to your question is that you can use any combination of right hand thumb-index-middle-and also ring finger, to pluck your strings.

Traditionally, lap steel pickers use thumb-index like you are describing, for scalar runs, but you can also try adding the middle finger, too.

Another right hand picking pattern that uses the middle:

index-middle-index-middle-index-middle-...

Hope this makes sense.

Josh
_________________
Lap-n-Console Steel Guitar Lessons
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron