Jeff Newman 2 finger approach

Gerald Shaw · From: Florida, USA

I'm looking at an old Steel Guitar magazine and there is a column by Jeff Newman where he discusses a 2 finger approach, Thumb and middle. He says you always follow a note picked with the thumb with a note picked by the middle. I'm not sure he means always though. Suppose I just used the thumb to pick string 4 and the next note was on string 8, I would still use the middle? or more extreme, Say I picked string one with the thumb and the next note was on string 10? It feels akward to pick a lower note with the middle rather than thumb. There is a n example in the article where he does that, but wasn't sure if he followed this approach 100%. Wish he went into more depth in the article, but before I try practicing I wanted to get some clarrity. Thanks.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Generally, you can't take advice like this too literally. My first question would be "Why am I doing it this way?" There would be very few occasions where I'd pick the first string with my thumb. I'd be far more likely to play it with my middle finger (I use only 2 fingerpicks and a thumbpick). For most runs or rolls, you would alternate between the thumb and a finger, with some players using both fingers with the thumb, instead of just one. In order to develop speed, you should always practice "economy of motion". This simply means it's usually best to do things the easy way, the easy way being to alternate the movements between thumb and finger. There will be occasional exceptions, but you just have to realize when to do the regular patterns (probably 99% of the time), and when to employ that "something" that feels awkward.

Luckily, the awkward stuff doesn't present itself that often. Oh Well

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff Newman on several occasions and found him ALWAYS to be 'a perfect gentleman' and an exceptional "teacher" of steel guitar. However.......

Jeff taught that one should use "the CROSS OVER" method of picking utilizing the thumb and both fingers........for speed, etc.

On at least one video recently posted here on SGF of Jerry Byrd, it's clear that Jerry often used ONLY the THUMB on some of his rapid fire single string runs.

I never mastered either of those techniques but both should be given due consideration and study.

Paul E. Brennan · From: Dublin, Ireland

I never understood why someone would say you should only pick with the thumb and one other finger. This is dogmatic and extremely limiting. I say explore all possible techniques and eventually you will discover what works best for you.

I think a lot of Jeff's teaching materials were intended for complete beginners or folks stuck in a hopeless rut. He therefore found it necessary to impose some strict rules at that stage of the learning process. It seems a lot of people have interpreted these teaching aids as Jeff's edicts on how one should play throughout one's career.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

The Thumb/middle finger "crossover" method is used by some fast pickers. Bruce Bouton, is his E9th Video stresses using this method and uses it himself. Buddy Charleton was one of Bruce's teachers. Buddy Emmons also uses the "crossover" method.

I've got some material from a seminar that Scotty had (with Buddy) and it stressed the "crossover" method.

It's not the only way to pick and many others do not use it or not primarily use it.

I've also been to a Jeff Newman seminar and he was teaching the Paul Franklin "pick blocking" technique and that does not use the crossover method.

Don Sulesky · From: Citrus County, FL, Orig. from MA & NH

I've been to many of Jeff's seminars in the 90's and also was at Paul's seminar back in 1987 as well as Emmons' in 1988. I've learned both pick blocking and the crossover method. I don't think of either method when I'm playing... what ever the move or run I'm doing at the time didctates what method will be used. It all happens automatically over years of playing. This is hard for my students to understand and many times becomes a block in their playing.
Don
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"Steel guitar is like playing chess in the dark with three players". Jeff Newman quote from 1997 seminar

Gerald Shaw · From: Florida, USA

I guess what I'm hung up on is that if it's strictly alternating between thumb and middle, Then it would mean that it's possible to pick the 10th string with the middle, or the 1rst string with the thumb. I'm guessing that he doesn't use this approach for everything, so I'm trying to find out where to draw the line, ie only use this approach where the lick is layed out in such a way where it works well. I've come across situations where you kind of need to "cross-under", ie after you pick with the thumb on say the 5th string, I'd have to pick the next note on the 8th string with my middle, which seems incorrect. So at this point I'm trying to understand if he only uses this approach for certain types of licks, and where you would use 2 thumb strokes or 2 middle strokes in a row to avoid awkward picking moves. THanks for the advice.

Tucker Jackson · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

I don't think you need to strictly alternate between thumb and finger. If you're a crossover picker, use it when it makes sense. Maybe that's 90% of the time you're playing fast passages, but I doubt it's 100% of the time.

If you suddenly have to play something where crosspicking is too awkward -- and you have time to reasonably get, say, the thumbpick down to play two low notes in fast sequence, do that rather than trying to get the middle finger down to the 10th string after using it on the 3rd.

The whole point of the 'rules' coming from people like Newman is to make picking (and blocking) easier and more efficient. Once you hit a musical situation where the rule is no longer the easiest route based on how your hands work, it can and should be ditched, IMHO.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Jerry Jones · From: Franklin, Tenn.

Generally speaking thumb/middle in a crossover pattern is best, but I have an old “Steel Guitar Workshop” article published in “Guitar Player Magazine” Vol. 4 #7 where Buddy Emmons suggest thinking of your thumb and middle finger as the left and right hands of a drummer. There are several examples given using a “paradiddle” pattern....such as T-T-M T-M-M.

I think thumb/middle crossover is a good general concept to follow, but in the end, you should be able to execute whatever pattern is necessary to play the notes desired. Winking

Paul E. Brennan · From: Dublin, Ireland

In this video Doug Jernigan starts to explain his fast picking technique:

http://www.mikeihde.com/djernigan.htm

I haven't bought the book so I haven't seen the complete video. However, it looks very interesting if you want to study one of the best fast picker's technique close up.

Dale Hansen · From: Hendersonville,Tennessee, (USA)

Here is an excellent view of Tommy White's - middle, and thumb technique. > FF to just before 5:37. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZXm2YxbIuc&sns=em
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John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

You do what you need to do. I don't even think about it. It just happens.

Ransom Beers · Posted 11 Mar 2012 3:11 pm

When I was playing 6 string I used thumb & middle finger sans picks so when I started playing steel it just came naturally for me & I didn't even have to think about it,the difference is now I use picks.

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