Pickblocking "the rest of it"

Bo Legg · Posted 31 Jul 2010 1:15 pm

So! Don't argue with me about.....

"Let's talk about the rest of it"

Rick Abbott · From: Indiana, USA

For a long time I thought I was unusual for using my bar-hand thumb to block strings, especially in the change from chords to single note runs. Your pictures make sense, but only touch on the complexity of pick / bar-hand blocking. Adding a thumb to block one note, on the fly, in between two ringing notes, is tricky!
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RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

My friend Chirs Middaugh in Seattle has been blocking with his bar hand thumb forever and he's got a way of doing a little flutter technique which is really cool,My hands don't move that fast. Laughing

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David Griffin · From: Jimmy Creek,Arkansas via Cowtown, USA

I forget who showed me this,but,if you happen to hit a bad note(don't we all occasionally?) you can use your bar-hand thumb to reach over & kill the bad note! It becomes a reflex after doing it a while.
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Bo Legg · Posted 31 Jul 2010 11:58 pm

Sorry Rick I can't block one string in between two ringing strings with my picking thumb either.
The drawing should have looked more like the one below.
The idea is as you pick across the strings from low to high your thumb will just naturally block the string you just picked as you move from string to string.
This will not work for a strum which will have to be blocked with the bar hand thumb.

Rick Abbott · From: Indiana, USA

I actually meant bar-hand thumb. I was unclear Alien

_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon

Bo Legg · Posted 2 Aug 2010 9:09 am

I'm giving away to many trade secrets here.
I suggest if you have any interest in this technique at all that you purchase the instructions from any of the many sources available. (I don't have one for sale)
I just wanted to present it and perhaps generate some interest.
It seems that the pick blocking and bar hand blocking technique as a whole is not used by many, but many use some of it mostly by accident.

Brett Lanier · From: Hermitage, TN

I find it extremely difficult to play the conventional way (blocking with the side of the hand). I'm no expert (or expert teacher) but for someone trying to learn these techniques, I'd discourage them from blocking too much with the bar hand. You don't want to hinder your left hand bar technique and tone by blocking with that hand if it can be done with the right. Not to say I don't use the two bar hand techniques shown here. Smile

Tom Campbell · From: Houston, Texas, USA

I've played regular six string guitar for 40+ years using all the fingers on my right hand (electric not classical). In doing so, I developed a style of pick-blocking much like Bo's picture. I can't effectively palm-block, so I'm happy to be stuck with my quasi pick-blocking method.

Thanks for posting the picture Bo!!

Bob Kagy · From: Lafayette, CO USA

Bo, those are damfine illustrations man.

I'm one of the guys that washed out of pick blocking "school", (Joe Wright, Paul Franklin) but I admire people that do it.

Rick Winfield · From: Pickin' beneath the Palmettos

I can effectively palm block, & I do use my left hand much as Bo has suggested. The pick blocking courses I've looked at seemed to require a lot of "counter dexterity", which turned me away.
i.e. pick with the M and block it with the I. It's interstring to me, but I think it's a difficult technique. Fortunately the left hand blocking came easy to me, although there is always room for improvement.
Rick

Bo Legg · Posted 2 Aug 2010 6:28 pm

Brett you may be right about losing a little tone. I don't notice if I have lost some tone because I have nothing to compare to, I've always played this way.
I've found that it actually helps my bar control.

Tom I kind of went the other way in that the pick blocking on the steel changed the way I play the standard guitar.

Rick Winfield you're right this stuff aint' easy. Takes a lot of practice.

Bob Kagy are you saying you studied pick blocking so you wouldn't?! Laughing

Clete Ritta · From: San Antonio, Texas

Great topic Bo, and illustration says lots.

Fact:
My left thumb is used to block strings much of the time.

Q:
Why is pick blocking so much easier for me on non adjacent strings?

Clete

Rick Winfield · From: Pickin' beneath the Palmettos

Gotcha Bo,
This is gonna "kill" my arthritis, but... no pain/no gain...
You've some worthwhile, and interesting techniques, & those illustrations, say a lot !
thanks
Rick

Brett Lanier · From: Hermitage, TN

These pictures are great. I especially like the one at the top!

This got me thinking more, and I realized that I learned most of this stuff (the right hand thumb, and back of the index & middle finger techniques) from playing Mississippi John Hurt songs. Didn't put that together before now...

Bo, I think the bar hand blocking is effective, but if it's done too much, it could develop bad habits. Anyway, Doug Jernigan told me "NO!" to that, and I see his point. He also said that pick blocking is better if you can do it.

Bob Kagy · From: Lafayette, CO USA

Bo said

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