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Topic: blocking |
Carroll Hale
From:
EastTexas, USA
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Posted 30 May 2007 10:58 am |
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being fairly new to the SGF and to steel playing, I often see "blocking" mentioned...I see " string blocking....pick blocking" and I would like to know the difference and get some info on how to do both of these techniques..
thanks,
ch
texas |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 30 May 2007 11:14 am
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'search' the archives, mainly in the old 'no peddlers' section.
Tons of info that rehashing here will only touch the surface of. |
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Carroll Hale
From:
EastTexas, USA
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Posted 30 May 2007 11:18 am
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| Ron Whitfield wrote: |
'search' the archives, mainly in the old 'no peddlers' section.
Tons of info that rehashing here will only touch the surface of. |
[b]...not sure how to do that...only been on here a few months....any guidelines appreciated...  [/b] |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 30 May 2007 11:38 am
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It can be done, but my method won't help you.
Someone here 'may' give the simple instructions.
There is a bit on the topic from recent times, but the load is found in 'no peddlers'.
To do a search of the 'steel without pedals', the search button is at the top/right of the page, under links.
Not meaning to squelch your question, as it may lead to a worthwhile discussion, but... |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 30 May 2007 12:00 pm
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Click "Search" ... Next to FAQ (upper right)
Then click "here" where it reads ...
| Quote: |
| NOTE: Messages prior to 30 Dec 2006 are not indexed for keywords. Click here to search the old Steel Guitar Forum messages by keyword. |
Then select "No Peddlers" in the Search Forum/Archive ... enter your keyword ... hit Perform Search
Thats it ...
Direct link ... http://steelguitarforum.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?action=intro |
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Randy Reeves
From:
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 30 May 2007 12:16 pm
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pick blocking means you use the pick to stop a string from vibrating. I have heard it is used in pedal steel.
string blocking ,I imagine, is where you stop the string from vibrating or sounding by touching it with a finger, palm heel, but not the pick.
when I tried pedal steel a kind instructor showed me how to make the claw and bounce the strings while playing. he also showed me pick blocking. you pluck the string, it sounds, then you stop the vibration with the pick, a the while you are moving to the next string/note.
with this method runs of notes do not blur. |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 30 May 2007 4:11 pm
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Hi Carroll,
Palm blocking is the most important method of muting the strings. You briefly touch all the strings lightly with the side of your palm when you go down to pick - a nano second before you pick. This method is good for single note passages, and for changing grips (string combinations) to eliminate unwanted sounds.
Sometimes you will want to mute just one string and let the others ring. Finger blocking with the 3rd or 4th finger of the right hand can accomplish this.
Pick blocking is good for muting during fast riffs and rolls.
Bar blocking is done by lifting the bar off the strings while the 3rd and 4th finger of the left hand remain laying across the strings.
You can also use the left thumb to block.
I sometimes use a small cat trained for the purpose . .
This method is called kitty blocking.
RA
BIG STEEL |
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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Posted 30 May 2007 4:36 pm
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| Rick Alexander wrote: |
...
I sometimes use a small cat trained for the purpose . .
This method is called kitty blocking. |
LoL ... best belly laugh I've had all day  |
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Chris Drew
From:
Bristol, UK
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Posted 30 May 2007 11:46 pm
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I have a blocking "issue"...
I recently started playing with fingerpicks (1st & middle fingers), and wondered why my playing got real sloppy sounding.
Then I realised I do a lot of blocking with my right-hand middle finger...
It made me really look at how I seem to block with my right hand without really thinking about it, using my fingertips and/or palm-heel.
Did you play much guitar ( & what style? ) before you started on the steel?
I played guitar before ( with a regular flat plectrum ) , lots of Death Metal, so my palm-muting is spot-on!
My middle-finger muting comes from when I played bass with a thumbpick & just my 1st finger.
Now I'm trying steel with just thumb & 1st finger-picks & getting on fine ( although it's kinda wrong I guess )
My advice ( for what it's worth, I ain't been playing long! ) is to pay attention to your playing where you have unwanted notes ringing, and apply whatever blocking/muting method you find the best.
You probably do a lot of blocking already without realising.
Choose a short lick which requires a note on one string to stop when a note on another string is plucked. Practice real slow until you've got the sound crisp, with no gap or overlap, or pick noise: if you're blocking with a fingertip that has a pick on it! (I recently found that out!)
Good Luck!
BTW, digging that kitty! How big is he/she now? I'm hoping that's a habit your cat's grown out of! |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 31 May 2007 3:49 am
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| Quote: |
| How big is he/she now? I'm hoping that's a habit your cat's grown out of! |
Chris, he's somewhat bigger now, that pic was taken about a week/10 days ago. His name is Cool Cat.
He only blocks when I want him to . . |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Carroll Hale
From:
EastTexas, USA
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Posted 31 May 2007 6:40 am
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| Rick Alexander wrote: |
Hi Carroll,
Palm blocking is the most important method of muting the strings. You briefly touch all the strings lightly with the side of your palm when you go down to pick - a nano second before you pick. This method is good for single note passages, and for changing grips (string combinations) to eliminate unwanted sounds.
Sometimes you will want to mute just one string and let the others ring. Finger blocking with the 3rd or 4th finger of the right hand can accomplish this.
Pick blocking is good for muting during fast riffs and rolls.
Bar blocking is done by lifting the bar off the strings while the 3rd and 4th finger of the left hand remain laying across the strings.
You can also use the left thumb to block.
I sometimes use a small cat trained for the purpose . .
This method is called kitty blocking.
RA
BIG STEEL |
thanks rick.....this is not only interesting info, but humourous also.....thanks, I needed a good laugh on a down day....and I surely needed help with blocking ...love the kitty....have 4 cats and 4 dawgs and a Pomeranian....3 pigs, and a boatload of bambi's on my property....ch |
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Mark Vinbury
From:
N. Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA
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Posted 1 Jun 2007 6:45 am
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For those visual learners-- there is a lot of great blocking info ,pick and palm, to be gleaned from the 2005 SUPERSLIDE SLIDE OFF video of Bobbe's.
I think it is available here on the SGF.
Randy,Bobbe and Maurice playing and improvising over a lot of standards with the camera out front,close up, at fretboard level.
You can see their hands clearly and really get a lesson in the picking,blocking and bar handling of these experts.It is also a wealth of improvising info.
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