Hybrid Picking

[davidarlette]

I know this is not a metal technique, but can anyone out there do hybrid picking? (ie picking with the thumb and fingerpicking at the same time). Any tips or links to visit?

[the EDGE]

I sometimes pick with a pick and finger just to try to get an abnormal sound, but who does it, and how to....man that is out of my mind!

[Lunkwill]

Here's a link to some alternate picking lessons involving the pentatonic scale.

http://www.pentatonic-guitar-lessons.com/hybrid-picking.html

[pop sucks]

Maybe I'm off topic, but I saw a vid of Jason Becker play something that involved string skipping that was so fast he used a pick plus his ring finger during the solo and it was quite cool. So, I guess you can use hybrid picking in metal as well...

[the EDGE]

I think that is what David was talking about....Mark Knopher....wooops did it alot too!

[Lunkwill]

Maybe I'm off topic, but I saw a vid of Jason Becker play something that involved string skipping that was so fast he used a pick plus his ring finger during the solo and it was quite cool. So, I guess you can use hybrid picking in metal as well...

Vernon Ried of Living Colour also uses this technique. It's mostly used by country and rockabilly guys like Setzer, but it's found a home in some other genres as well.

[pop sucks]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3fvB4QO1qo

there you have it, at 5:15

[the EDGE]

VR man is a phenominal guitarist man!

[davidarlette]

I am just loading the links to watch. Yes, Brian Setzer is my hero ATM. It is interesting that it can be used in metal too.

I notice that the youtube link is a classical piece. Classical has always used finger picking( I did it for a while)....hang on then he goes into Yankee Rose by Van Halen.

Impressive player.

More after this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgUCs72RDHs but slower.

(Sorry if too off topic for a metal forum)

[Gollum]

Yea, I use combined picking like this all the time, even in metal, worship, lead, etc. It makes a big difference when you think of chords more than notes, and when you play a single note you can see and feel the 3rd 5th and 9th and can play them at will. When you think of playing in this fashion and see the fretboard like this then many times it's easier to use your middle finger or ring finger instead of moving the pick around.

Another thing brian setzer will do a bit is just hold the pick in hand while finger picking. That's easy and a good skill to learn too. Oh, and stairway to heaven is properly played with combined flat picking and finger picking.

[axeman2415]

Both Zakk Wylde and Jake E. Lee used hybrid picking w/ Ozzy.

Edward used hybrid Picking on "Finish What Ya Started" and the main rhythm of "Little Guitars".

Satriani does it numerous times. So did the late great Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Oh and the late Danny Gatton, who you must hear if you can find his "88 Elmira Street".

[davidarlette]

Yea, I use combined picking like this all the time, even in metal, worship, lead, etc. It makes a big difference when you think of chords more than notes, and when you play a single note you can see and feel the 3rd 5th and 9th and can play them at will. When you think of playing in this fashion and see the fretboard like this then many times it's easier to use your middle finger or ring finger instead of moving the pick around.

Another thing brian setzer will do a bit is just hold the pick in hand while finger picking. That's easy and a good skill to learn too. Oh, and stairway to heaven is properly played with combined flat picking and finger picking.

That's a fantastic way of looking at it. How can you possibly know that at your age? You're incredible!

[davidarlette]

Finally a vid where he shows how he does it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=najQdStFXfo :)

I can't find that Hotlicks vid anywhere.

[Gollum]

Also notice that brian is keeping his hand floating even while lead picking? I've heard lots of arguments on both sides, weather to put down a finger to help support and such, but regardless of what's BEST, it's a good ability to have.

Oh, and age has nothing to do with knowledge. Knowledge is gained by learning, some people can go decades without learning anything useful ;)

Though I just met a guitarists that's only been playing a year and a half and he was better than me... VERY sick. Made me want to slit my throat. Though I do the same thing enough to other people, since I'm only coming up on 5 years this summer.

It's about passion and time spent learning. When I have lulls in my practice time I tend to read more and learn more about other things so that I've got new and fresh things to think about when I play.

[davidarlette]

Ha, I just noticed that naturally when I strum and pick (playing a bassline too) that when I hit an individual bass note my pinky goes straight down onto the guitar even for one note! Thanks for pointing that out.

I meant no offense by referring to your age (I did say you were awesome). It's just that when I was 19, all I cared about were power chords, thought all music should be played at vol 11. It is only as I have gotten older that I've come to appreciate the tonal colours made availbale by extended/ polychords. I used to even try and cheat by not playing the bass note in a poly chord until I played for a professional singer at church acoustically. She tore through me, saying, I need that note, I need to be able to pick it off!

I still like your idea of actually going to the effort of knowing for each voicing of a chord, which note is which (eg is the ninth on the 3rd or first string) and having that information at your command. It's just a cool way of thinking about it. Usually it is only the note I am changing I am aware of (eg b7, sus4,etc) from a basic chord.

[pop sucks]

I notice that the youtube link is a classical piece. Classical has always used finger picking( I did it for a while)....hang on then he goes into Yankee Rose by Van Halen.

well, you have to watch it a 5:15, it's not a classical piece, it's a scale pattern that Jason Becker used a lot, he takes 6 notes from a scale but mixes them up and he has to use his pick + another finger to play it fast.

[davidarlette]

Yeah, he shows that HE can do it quick, but he can also play the solo from Yankee Rose (by Van Halen) too, and realistically I will never be able to do that. My fingers aren't long enough for a start to play it like he did, and especially the fingers over the top of the neck thing! But thanks for the watch. It was worth it just to see the Yankee Rose solo up close. Very impressive.

The guy is a guitar demigod. Maybe I should look up that thread on how to play faster.:o

Hang on a sec, I always thought Yankee Rose was Van Halen, but it's David Lee Roth playing with Steve Vai !?

[VIA DOLOROSA]

some intense acoustic playing
http://youtube.com/watch?v=W10O6wxTcrA

justin king

[ToddB]

you want a great example of hybrid (aka chicken picking) check out Brian Setzer. in some circles I believe this is also known as "flat picking", though i could be wrong.

I know satriani uses it in a few songs.

[Lunkwill]

you want a great example of hybrid (aka chicken picking) check out Brian Setzer. in some circles I believe this is also known as "flat picking", though i could be wrong.

I know satriani uses it in a few songs.

All the Nashville country tele gurus are great at it as well.

[davidarlette]

I always thought flatpicking meant using a plectrum only.

Check out this guy, he's great and is so happy he nails what he is playing. Nil ego:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4hSCZiP7rA

What I am after is, are there any general rules of thumb. Like to use only one finger and the pick, or use one finger per string like classical?