Pick Blocking and Palm Blocking

Robert Porri · From: Windsor, Connecticut, USA

For myself (and anyone else interested) I'd like to open up a discussion about these 2 techniques.

Stuff like which do you use and when? I know that faster licks often call for pick blocking. I know the basic concepts, but have a long way to go to be able to do either with any degree of proficiency. I would like to have more insight from seasoned players (or newer players who might have opinions).

Anything related would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Bob Porri

[This message was edited by Robert Porri on 16 June 2004 at 12:16 PM.]

[This message was edited by Robert Porri on 16 June 2004 at 09:11 PM.]

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

I would love to be able to pick block. But that is never going to happen. I have tried and tried. My tired old fingers were raised in a day when Pick blocking was not around.

And the ole saying, "ya can't teach an ole dog new tricks", was never more poignant than in my case.

I believe it is truly for the young and nimble. Time will tell. But I do admire more than I could ever tell you a Paul Franklin, Joe Wright and Mike Bagwell (and others) who do it so effortlessly.

Course one could hardly ask for a faster player than Doug Jernigan, and I seem to recall he palm blocks. Not sure.

may our Lord continue to nurture their awesome talents,

carl

Leon Eneboe · From: Sisseton, South Dakota, USA

I remember very well how blocking opened the door to being able to play a lot of good stuff. I realized this a long time ago when I was watching a friend play and his right hand was "bouncing" on the strings, the notes were crisp, and I was wishing I could do that. Well, of course it came after some determined effort and practice time. So...I learned to block with the fatty heal of my right hand. Now some extend their little finger, and some don't, so there is even a variation on that, but I doubt if it makes much difference. I never did make a determined effort to pick block...yes I would like to, but I suppose that is available too if I would work at it with the same dedication I used when I learned to block with my right hand. The sum total of my comment is...most of us will do whatever seems to come easiest, and if we are satisfied. You can do a lot with palm blocking. I would not say which is best for anyone else, but as for me...I am happy with palm blocking. Maybe some will remember a series of articles in the PSG newsletter...these articles were by Jeff Newman, and the title of the articles was "Blind Murdering Speed". I remember working on that series, and found much of it was quite usable with palm blocking. Just out of curiosity, how many of you guys remember those old "Blind Murdering Speed" articles? They are another example of Jeff Newman, always in there, helping us frustrated pedal pushers.

Leon Eneboe, Williams S12, ShoBud LDG, NVll2s, 400 and l000.

Keith Currie · From: Shellbrook, Saskatchewan, Canada

I learned to pick block when I started at 50 and now I really cant palm block, when I try to I find my hand is bouncing way to much. You do palm block some even when you dont try, but it gets me in trouble if I think about doing it.
I find pick blocking much smother and better tone for me. As for speed I will never be fast so it dont matter but it does tend to make you use three fingers which does help your speed for sure.
Hope this makes sence to some one.
Keith

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

Leon Eneboe · From: Sisseton, South Dakota, USA

One more thought on blocking...I think one of the early innovators on some snappy palm blocking can be found on "Charley Pride, Live at Panther Hall". This record is out of print long ago. You may be lucky like I was and find one at a record swapmeet or rummage sale. Anyway, the steel work is done by Lloyd Green, and it's sort of like he said "listen up and I'll show you some new sounds that you'r gonna like". How many have and enjoy this old album? I'll bet it has been an inspiration to many steel pickers.

Leon

Terry Hickey · From: Arroyo Grande, California, USA

I have been learning to play the pedal steel for about 1 1/2 years and have used Jeff Newman's Right Hand Alpha video as my sole source of palm blocking and I have progressed in a positive manner. I am curious about pick blocking and wonder what tapes or resources you have tapped to learn this style of blocking. Thank you much.

Terry Hickey

Keith Currie · From: Shellbrook, Saskatchewan, Canada

Terry the only one I ever had was called Pick Blocking By Paul Franllin, and he tells you very well hot to do it and gives you some excerises to practice. It is really very easy, but you cant hold your hand like Jeff tells you, you must keep your fingers down in the strings, that it the secret I think.
Keith

Robert Porri · From: Windsor, Connecticut, USA

Everyone, thanks.

Terry,
I'm taking lessons with Doug Beaumier who has material available on the Forum. He'd been showing me the basics of pick blocking during lessons, but he does have what I found to be a very good introduction to pick blocking booklet with audio. It's not a big book, but I found it and the audio very helpful. I'll have to look into the Paul Franklin offering.

In Jeff Newman's Pedal Steel Guitar Techniques Jeff Newman explains the basics of palm blocking with some great explanation and video example. That and the Winnie Winston book "Pedal Steel Guitar" is where I've been working on palm blocking so far. The Winnie Winston book and CD has some great song/exercises for that in my opinion. I'm sure I'll eventually get to the more dedicated Jeffran material also.

Bob P.

[This message was edited by Robert Porri on 16 June 2004 at 09:17 PM.]

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

Joe Wright has a video on pick blocking which I believe is called, "Pick Blocking"; it's included is his set of videos. The theory of it is really simple, but there's no magic secret instant trick besides practicing correct technique.

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

I saw Joe Wiorght in Enlgand last month with a video camera right...
er Wright on his hands.
Man was that a master class in pick blocking.

Never seen the like of it.
I learned so much I can not yet do at speed, but can do to some extent.

I can pick block better in finger groups than single fingers, but eventually I will get faster.

I can do single finger blocking pretty fast without picks on C6 now.

Palm blocking will always have a place, as well as left hand blocking.
But pick blocking is the route to speed.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 17 June 2004 at 04:15 AM.]

Winnie Winston · From: Tawa, Wellington, NZ * R.I.P.

BoB is right. Pick blocking has been around for ages. Anyonme who has every tried playing single note stuff on a regular guitar but using thumb and index instead of a flat pick, know how to do it.
The problem is that on the steel, your hand is in a different position.
Pick blocking is completely natural. Just grab three notes, play them and then stop them from ringing. Do it with your fingers by gabbing the strings again and NOT hitting them? That's Pick blocking-- and I did it before I knew that it had a name.
That's the problem-- too many names and too many rules.
I remember some IQ Deficent banjo player asking me to play some Scruggs tune, and commenting, when I was done, that "Earl NEVER pulls him thumb don to the 2nd string!" And then he wondered why HE couldn't get it like Earl. He was lost in the rules.
If you stop worrying abouit what ity is called, you'll find that pick blocking is VERY natural and palm blocking isn't.
That's why I spent time in my book teaching "blocking"-- because it is a learned technique.

JW

David Doggett · Posted 17 Jun 2004 8:00 am

In previous threads on this, the consensus among the top guys seemed to be that pick blocking, palm blocking and left hand blocking all have their place. Some use one more than the other, but the top guys seem to do it all. The point is to get the music to sound the way you want, whatever it takes.

Moon in Alaska · From: Kasilof, Alaska * R.I.P.

I agree with Winnie.....I started out pick
blocking, and did not learn good palm blocking until a few years ago.
I think we might be guilty of "putting names"
to all of the blocking !!
When you rest your palm on the big strings to
keep them from sounding, I guess that could be called palm blocking.
I use all the techniques, and really don't think too much about it when I am playing.
I can pick block a lot faster,probably because of years of it. I also like the sound of pick blocking on some fast tunes, each string sounding just a little after the next one is picked. It seems to create little short bursts of tension.

When teaching steel, we are surprised at the questions from the students.
We do so much automatically, we have to do some serious thinking to answer the questions
I have seen steel players who can palm block
a heck of a lot fasterthan I can block, so
I know I am not a speed demon !!

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Bob Snelgrove · From: san jose, ca

What about "ring/pinky finger" blocking? I tuck my fingers in and block with them (I think

bob

Robert Porri · From: Windsor, Connecticut, USA

Moon, it's funny that I can relate 100% to what you wrote about having to think about how I do something when a student asks. But that's when related to 6 string guitar which I've taught for many years. It is an interesting experience being a new player on a different instrument myself. I've always related to student's questions about things, but it's strange to be fully standing in their shoes now.

Bob P.

Moon in Alaska · From: Kasilof, Alaska * R.I.P.

Yes, Robert.....
I have had students say you did etc, etc,
and I said I did not. He asked me to play it again, low and behold, he was completely right.
It took me a while to realize how much we do
automatically and we are totally unaware until
someone asked !!!
And on the finger blocking....I block some with my ring finger and little finger.
On some long slides, I mute the 9th F# with my ring finger.
I have allways used my left thumb on the bass
strings.
Moon

------------------
<< Moon Mullin in Alaska >>
==Carter S-10==
<< Old Fender-400 >>
== Evans FET 500 Custom LV ==

CLICK HERE FOR MOON'S ALASKA WEB SITE

Larry Robbins · From: Fort Edward, New York

I guess I just play and the blocking takes care of itself.If I think about it I'll have problems.I use three finger picks,and I think this helps me pick block as well as palm block a little easier because for me the angle of my right hand changed when I went to three finger picks makeing the fleshy part of my palm closer to the strings than it was before.However being self taught,its probubly just a compensation for poor tech. in the first place.I also find that I curl my little finger under as well as block with my thumb and all three fingers much of the time. Its hard to explain because as I said,if I think about it Ill confuse myself.(and now,your probubly a bit confused as well!)

------------------
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TC Electronics M300.
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Robert Porri · From: Windsor, Connecticut, USA

Thanks for the responses everyone. I take it that it is whatever works for an individual and it's something that develops sort of automatically if you prod it along just a little bit. There have been some interesting suggestions and it's all been helpful.

Bob P.

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