How to pick or pluck

Hill Phillips · From: Alma Arkansas USA

Which is best to use while playing the steel, pick a single note, two notes or 3 notes
or mix it up? I am confused just what to do as I only play by my self or on occasion in church. And nobody there can help me.
Seams that church music for piano is written using 4 note chords, but hardly played that way?
So if I know what a few of you all pros do, I might Improve!!
Thanks

[This message was edited by Hill Phillips on 15 December 2005 at 04:49 PM.]

Rick Collins · From: Claremont , CA USA

"Mix it up" for sure Hill; and use all four. For me, single note playing is the most difficult (to make it sound smooth). But, it happens with a little practice.

Choose your places to incorporate the single notes and play a lot of double note, and three note grips, with a few four and five note strums.

Hill Phillips · From: Alma Arkansas USA

Thanks Rick.
You must be the only one that knows what he's pickin and pluckin on no Peddlers.
I though I read where Jerry Byrd stayed mostly on single strings which has me confused.
Thankis a bunch.
Hill

Steinar Gregertsen · From: Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.

Hill, I don't think there is a "best" way that involves choosing between single notes or harmonies,- Rick's advice "mix it up" pretty much covers it.
We all have our different styles, some leaning more towards single note lines while others play harmonized lines all the time. That's one of the great things about lap steel,- use it the way that feels most natural and sounds best to you.

Personally I play mostly single note lines, at least when playing leads and melodies - playing the steel almost like a saxophone, or a singer's voice - but when I back up someone else I play chords of course. I am slowly getting into a more complex harmonized style, and want to spend more time learning about that and experiment with more jazzy stuff... I have no idea about where it all will end, and that's some of the beauty of this instrument, as well as music in general...

Steinar

------------------
www.gregertsen.com

[This message was edited by Steinar Gregertsen on 17 December 2005 at 08:34 AM.]

Hill Phillips · From: Alma Arkansas USA

Thanks Steinar.
That is what I have been wanting to know.
What little I know I learned most here here on the forum.
Thanks Again.
Hill
Oh yes
I was impressed with your web site,

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Hill......... Jerry Byrd has recorded any number of tunes, both instrumental solo and with misc. vocalists where he chose to play only a single note, not to be confused with speed pickin' single notes.
Quite often, he would end the particular phrase with a two or three note chord which really gave the line of music a fullness to end with. Think of the "chord" following a full phrase of single note melody line, as a period or semi-colon to end the sentence.
Just a tho't. Remember...learning from what others play is like research and it will assist you quite often in becoming a much richer player. Some folks seem to think that if you do this, your giving up your own originality and creativity, but we all have to start somewhere.
Good Luck to you.

Randy Reeves · From: LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA

alot of times I grab two strings.

havent mastered a three note slant yet.

I do single note leads, but I like to throw in that two noter.

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