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Topic: palm blocking technique question for speed pickers |
Karen Sarkisian
From:
Boston, MA, USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2012 6:41 am |
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I have been working on my palm blocking technique and am wondering what the general rule (if there is one) is about picking the same string twice and whether or not to use the same finger to pick if so, for instance, there is a blocking exercise in the winnie winston book as follows
string 3 ---- 8-------8--8------8--
string 4 ----------8---------8-----
string 5 -------8----------8-------
do you use
m p i p m p i p
or
m p i m m p i m
i hope this makes sense  and thanks for your help !
_________________
Emmons PP, Mullen G2 and Discovery |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 4 Jul 2012 6:50 am
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| No "rules". Play it the way that it is easiest for you, and the way that allows you the cleanest execution. Using multiple fingers on the same string is really only "necessary" when the absolute fastest execution is required. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 4 Jul 2012 7:14 am
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I agree with Donny.
I love that advice from Paul, which paraphrases to: familiarize yourself with the guitar. Your hands can play the notes faster than you can think them.
Or: Your fingers ain't the problem.
Drill that exercise both ways for an hour a day. I bet you find they both work
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Karen Sarkisian
From:
Boston, MA, USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2012 7:25 am
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yeah i have been going back and forth with the exercise, i want to get faster with my palm blocking. so much to learn !
_________________
Emmons PP, Mullen G2 and Discovery |
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Dick Sexton
From:
Greenville, Ohio
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Posted 4 Jul 2012 8:47 am The Crossover...
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This works for me, but may not for you. Also may not be the fastest way to play it...
3__5______5__5______5__5_
4_______5_________5______
5_____5_________5________
___M__T_M_T__M__T_M_T__M
M,T,M,T,M |
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Kirk Eipper
From:
Arroyo Grande, Ca.
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Posted 4 Jul 2012 9:41 am
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Once again I must say: Speed is the byproduct of accuracy. use whatever is most comfortable and you will get there. Practice with a metronome.
_________________
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www.kirkeipper.com |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 4 Jul 2012 10:03 am
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| What Dick said. Alternating M T M T M T M etc. [Middle, Thumb] If you only have 2 digits going, the other one is always next. Less confusion. |
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Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 4 Jul 2012 10:17 am
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| What's "p"? |
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Brint Hannay
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2012 10:47 am
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| Paul Sutherland wrote: |
| What's "p"? |
Thumb. It's from classical guitar terminology, from Spanish "pulgar" = "thumb." |
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Sonny Jenkins
From:
Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx
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Posted 5 Jul 2012 5:19 am
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| What Dick said,,,,a very typical alternating pattern,, |
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Wayne Quinn
From:
Cape Breton.NovaScotia
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Posted 5 Jul 2012 5:09 pm
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| i think Paul.. Karen is saying. P. is for palm blocking. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 5 Jul 2012 5:13 pm
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Wayne, that wouldn't have enough notes.
Pretty sure P=thumb. I was taught that before.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Russ Wever
From:
Kansas City
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Posted 5 Jul 2012 5:33 pm
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The notation p-i-m-a represent
the fingers of the right hand.
It comes from Latin designating:
pollex (thumb)
index (index)
medius (middle)
annularis (ring).
_________________
www.russface
www.russguru |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 5 Jul 2012 7:26 pm
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Yes, "p" means thumb (pulgar)
| Quote: |
From Wikipedia:
The classical guitar also has a fingering notation system for the plucking hand, known as pima (or less commonly pimac), where p=pulgar (thumb), i=índice (index finger), m=medio (middle finger), a=anular (ring finger) and, very rarely, c=chico (little finger).[4] It is usually only notated in scores where a passage is particularly difficult, or requires specific fingering for the plucking hand. Otherwise, plucking-hand fingering is generally left to the discretion of the guitarist. |
_________________
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Karen Sarkisian
From:
Boston, MA, USA
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Posted 6 Jul 2012 5:40 am
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p = thumb 
_________________
Emmons PP, Mullen G2 and Discovery |
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Franklin
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Posted 6 Jul 2012 6:40 am
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Hi Karen,
"Blocking" is the key word.....
First......Whether its pick or palm blocking you have to find the best fingering for your physicality. You have to teach yourself the correct fingerings. There is no right or wrong here that applies to all....Only a right and wrong for you to discover through trial and error.
Blocking is a muscle memory procedure....If you're thinking about it, you need more practice.
Also its important to critique within yourself this fact.......If the notes you play have the same ringing value and are ringing up to or into the next note while pick or palm blocking you are actually not blocking very well......
Second.....Practice the technique extremely slow and practice mostly staccato notes......Once you can control every mute or block as a staccato note you can than start deciding to let some notes ring longer than others for dynamic expression.....
Just incase, about pick blocking........I believe some youtubes that promote pick blocking don't block much at all. I say this because when I listen to their examples I hear their notes ring at the same length value all the way up to the sound of the next string...That sound is what happens when players don't perfect the control of the block.......It is for that reason practicing muting has to be done extremely slow so control of the technique is mastered.
No matter what blocking technique........Listen to pianists, guitarists, mandolin, players, etc....to hear the correct blocking sound for all instruments........Their fast lines have all types of lengths to each note including sharp staccato stabs throughout for expression......The steel guitarist is a musician the same as all others and we should express musical lines the same way.....Buddy Emmons is a great example of someone who blocks for expression.
Paul |
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Karen Sarkisian
From:
Boston, MA, USA
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Posted 6 Jul 2012 9:18 am
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Hey thanks Paul !! I'm actually working on your speed picking course as well today ! Great advice fro m everyone. I love the steel guitar forum 
_________________
Emmons PP, Mullen G2 and Discovery |
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Wayne Quinn
From:
Cape Breton.NovaScotia
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Posted 6 Jul 2012 1:25 pm
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| Hey Lane . i'am 65 and still learning.didn't know that.P= thumb. :oops] no wonder i can't pick right.lol thanks for the heads up .kind of embarrassing though. especially with Mr Franklin here. |
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Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 6 Jul 2012 1:55 pm
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| I'm sure glad I wasn't the only one thrown by the "P". |
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Wayne Quinn
From:
Cape Breton.NovaScotia
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Posted 6 Jul 2012 2:26 pm
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| That's the thing with the Dang steel guitar Paul .it never ends.if i remember right .think it was Bruce Bouton once said if he lived to be a hundred he would never know everything about steel guitar.all though i find that hard to believe when i here him play .lol |
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