Picklejuice Duce
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- Feb 18, 2014
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I'm trying to establish some good technique for picking a jazz melody, but I'm not sure if there are reasons to stay away from doing certain things. My goal is to lay a foundation for jazz improv, and I'm seeing and hearing a wide variety of players picking down with the thumb only, up with the middle only, on E and A strings, up with index only with G and C strings, using alternating thumb and index, etc. But I'm not seeing any "ring, middle, index" patterns for successive notes (4/4 time) on the same string. I've seen it used in chord picking such as a roll, but not the melody. I am gravitating towards this, and I'm also finding that it's not so difficult for me to change strings mid-pattern, and keep things fairly smooth.
I've looked at jazz guitarist for direction, but they're all using alternating picking, with a pick in hand. I'm trying to develop a style using only my fingertips, with no pick or fingernails used in picking.
My intention is to learn all the above, but because I'm seeing much more single finger being used, and not really seeing a R-M-I picking pattern being used for melodic lines, I am thinking there is a good reason for this, and there might be a long term detriment. I should also mention that I have some muscle memory already built in on this type of movement from studying piano years ago, which might explain a natural gravitation to get the ring finger more involved. Doing this also seems to make the swinging 8th pattern easier to handle at a higher tempo, with less fatigue.
Anyone able to comment on this? Bad habit, or run with it?
I've looked at jazz guitarist for direction, but they're all using alternating picking, with a pick in hand. I'm trying to develop a style using only my fingertips, with no pick or fingernails used in picking.
My intention is to learn all the above, but because I'm seeing much more single finger being used, and not really seeing a R-M-I picking pattern being used for melodic lines, I am thinking there is a good reason for this, and there might be a long term detriment. I should also mention that I have some muscle memory already built in on this type of movement from studying piano years ago, which might explain a natural gravitation to get the ring finger more involved. Doing this also seems to make the swinging 8th pattern easier to handle at a higher tempo, with less fatigue.
Anyone able to comment on this? Bad habit, or run with it?