For those with Newmans right hand technique

Mac Martine · From: Portland, Or

I've been watching Jeff Newmans Right hand Alpha video for a while, and trying my best to do what he suggests:

1) keep elbow tight to body
2) keep right arm straght from elbow to knuckles
3) keep line down palm in line with highest string that is currently being picked
4) keeping the 45 degree angles
...etc, etc, etc.

It's working out for the most part, but a couple things are proving difficult:

1) keeping back of and completely parallel with pickup. It's close, but not quite there.
2) and often the part of the pick that wraps around my finger catches on another string.

Do many other people have these problems? Any suggestions? I'm really trying to do everything he says, and I have faith in it, but I need to solve these issues. I have bent the picks to wrap around my finger as close as possible and I still catch other strings sometimes...
I think I'm continuing to catch other strings less and less, but I'm just wondering if anyone else has encountered these issues and if there are any suggestions.
Thanks.

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Mac,

Did you take Jeff's advice to get National or JF fingerpicks? The Dunlops will catch on other strings. When I switched to Nationals that problem went away. I use Jeff's right hand technique, and find it great for control and tone. After a while it will feel natural to you; it just takes a bit of practice and concentration. You will also probably find a little personalized niche in the midst of this technique, a spot where you feel comfortable that's deviating just a little from the instruction.

Jack Latimer · From: Ontario, Canada

As a new player in the past year I too purchased Jeff's Alpha program. It's great, but I also experience the same problems you mention. As I work on the weak areas I have, such as keep my arm straight and the hand line at the right string it gets better, but I too have the same frustrations. I think it's just focusing more and keep at the practice that will get us through. One thought is your pick. I purchased some Propiks from Guptill Music which allows a little more adjustment to prevent hooking strings. (The picks have a split adjustment sleeve.) Although snagging the odd string still happens to me at times, the new picks improved this problem in a big way. Here's the link for the picks. http://www.guptillmusic.com/index.html Good luck and please share anything that helps you out as I can also use the assistance.

[This message was edited by Jack Latimer on 14 January 2006 at 04:55 AM.]

[This message was edited by Jack Latimer on 14 January 2006 at 04:56 AM.]

Justin Brown · From: Chicago, Illinois, USA

I had the same problem with my picks (Dunlops) catching on adjacent strings. My teacher, Ken Champion, advised me to use some needle-nose pliers on the them. After some reshaping (and some practice), they don't catch anymore. The key for me was bending them so they don't stick out on the sides of my fingers.

Rick Kornacker · From: Dixon Springs, Tennessee, USA

Hey Mac! Just couldn't resist on this one. So far as "hand parallel to the pick-up..obviously your hand isn't square..it is meant as a reference point. There is no one right way to wear your picks! You can waste LOTS of valuable time getting too obsessed with this notion. As for brands of picks..try a few, then decide, although Jeff was partial to the ones he designed. Getting your picks caught in the strings? It is absolutely a matter of your technique..as this develops(in time)you will become much more steady and consistantly accurate. Jeff definitely had a "grip" on it..he taught me and MANY others a lot. Glad to help out, and by the way, that's my hand in the video! Say "hey" to Ken for me....I'm a former Illinoian(is that a word?) Regards, RK

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Rick Kornacker · From: Dixon Springs, Tennessee, USA

Hey Mac!
Disregard the reference to Ken Champion..I thought it was a part of your post. Good luck...and play good!RK

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Willie Crisel · From: Charlotte, Tennessee, USA

I catch myself letting my fingers roll foward,like a claw ,,often in the middle of a fast solo,,i will correct myself and push my palm down,while pulling my elbow closer to my body,,this projects the tips of my fingers ahead of my knuckles and gives me much better control of my picks, hope it helps,this is just something i have found on my own,,

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MId seventies Push Pull D10 8 and 4, Peavey LTD Peavey Session 400 Ibanez analog delay

[This message was edited by Willie Crisel on 14 January 2006 at 09:06 PM.]

Larry R · From: Navasota, Tx.

Ditto's what Rick said.
I still catch a string from time to time when my technique gets too aggresive.

Rich Weiss · From: Woodland Hills, CA, USA

It takes a couple months to get it, and even then it'll still seem a little unnatural. Overall, it will be quite while until it feels right.

I'd say you are right there, alll you need to do is relax now and make the grip your own, based on his model. As soon as you get the strings to pop when you pluck them, you'll be there.

Dean Richard Varga · From: Arizona, USA

Hello Dudes

I am a little nervous about saying anything at all, but, here goes:

.... and I think I would like to start off by saying that back in 1978/79 I atteneded three all day seminars of Jeff's....He was the greatest.. not just an awsom steel player, and the best teacher that ever was, but a wonderfully kind man. He always had good things to say about everybody.

I am himmin'hawwin'......

I just could not do it. I tried his right hand technique back then, and I tried I not too long ago again.

A lot of things I do, I did learn from his seminar's, but the positioning of the right hand was not something I could do.

Perhaps a disipline problem of mine or something, but I just couldn't get use to it.
Steel is hard enough as it is, and it just seemed like one more obsticle that I was not prepared to hurdle.

I remember,shortly after the seminars in 1978, going to the Palimino Club and seeing J.D Maness play. I looked closely at his right hand. I seemed to remember that it looked like a fairly traditional hand posistion but with his baby and ring finger tucked under along side of the first two fingers.

I tried for weeks to imulate it but could not.

I remember seeing a young steel player in that same time period that played for "Dotsy"(remember her from the late seventies) and he looked like he must have been trained by Jeff, and he was hot.

I tried again to get use to the right hand technique but found it so distracting that it was taking the fun out of playing.

All that is just me, however, if someone is really struggling with that hand technique, it is possible that it is not for you, and don't dispair if you have to let it go.

I hope I did not offend anyone, I just thought it might be of help to someone.

Thanks, Dean

Chris Brooks · From: Providence, Rhode Island

One way to avoid the wraparound part of the finger pick catching on the next-highest string is to cut it off in line with the first hole in the pick.

This removes about the last 1/4 inch from the wraparound section.

Then file smooth the contours and edges.

The pick stays on but doesn't catch.

Tom Quinn · Posted 16 Jan 2006 11:31 am

It took me a year to change from how I started out picking = lousy technique, to a good right hand. I never used Dunplop picks -- they are the worst in my book. I had some old Nationals, but now use 45s from a guy in Texas.

I can only play the instrument with the technique I learned from Jeff. It's like riding a bike -- some guys can get it the first day, it took me forever, same as the right hand palm-blocking style. But boy-howdy was I a happy camper when it finally came... -L-

[This message was edited by Tom Quinn on 16 January 2006 at 11:32 AM.]

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

Different players have different physiology. What works best for Jeff, or Buddy, or Lloyd (or whoever) simply may not work for you.

quote:
"I was told over and over again that I would never be successful, that I was not going to be competitive and the technique was simply not going to work. All I could do was shrug and say 'We'll just have to see."

- Dick Fosbury

(The man who won the Olympic Gold Medal in '68 by doing it his way, instead of the traditional way.)

Darrell Owens · From: California, USA

I find it so interesting that some of the best players in the world do it "wrong". Which proves there is no right or wrong, it is about what works for you. If you are a beginner, find fomeone you admire and imitate them as much as you can, then develop your own style from their influence.

John De Maille · From: On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.

Well Said, Darrell !!!!

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