Can't seem to get a clear pull off

[Cecil6243]

On the intro line of the Boxer by Paul Simon before the fingerpicking instrumental starts. No issues with fingerpicking the rest of the song.

The fingers are placed in a chord pattern on the third fret of the high e, b, and g strings with a pull off on the first string. The other two fingers seem to get in the way. Any tips? I can do a nice pull off by not making the chord until the next two notes, but that eliminates the the initial notes ringing together

As you probably know the intro line is actually played differently far up the fretboard with a capo on the fifth fret on the recording, but being one guitarist that's not really possible.

Thanks!

[TBman]

Originally Posted by Cecil6243

On the intro line of the Boxer by Paul Simon before the fingerpicking instrumental starts. No issues with fingerpicking the rest of the song.

The fingers are placed in a chord pattern on the third fret of the high e, b, and g strings with a pull off on the first string. The other two fingers seem to get in the way. Any tips? I can do a nice pull off by not making the chord until the next two notes, but that eliminates the the initial notes ringing together

As you probably know the intro line is actually played differently far up the fretboard with a capo on the fifth fret on the recording, but being one guitarist that's not really possible.

Thanks!

I looked on YT and its a pinky pulloff. It just takes practice. Practice doing the pull off without the other fingers there at first.

Go to about 1:07 in the video.

[rick-slo]

What version does that?

Original studio recording below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3LFML_pxlY

[JerrysGuitarBar]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

What version does that?

Original studio recording below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3LFML_pxlY

Hi Rick
No version does it exactly like that, but the idea was to get as close to the original as possible without re-tuning or capoing, so that you can play the intro and the song on one guitar.

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by JerrysGuitarBar

Hi Rick
No version does it exactly like that, but the idea was to get as close to the original as possible without re-tuning or capoing, so that you can play the intro and the song on one guitar.

You can play both the intro and and song with one guitar without retuning.

[Cecil6243]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

You can play both the intro and and song with one guitar without retuning.

Yes you can by playing the intro in the first position and the song in the key of C without retuning. However the originally recording is different.

I think the following explains what I mean?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1KHWQJcnHs

[Cecil6243]

Originally Posted by TBman

I looked on YT and its a pinky pulloff. It just takes practice. Practice doing the pull off without the other fingers there at first.

Go to about 1:07 in the video.

Thank you. Yes I will keep at it.

[Cecil6243]

Originally Posted by JerrysGuitarBar

Hi Rick
No version does it exactly like that, but the idea was to get as close to the original as possible without re-tuning or capoing, so that you can play the intro and the song on one guitar.

Exactly!

[MartinGibsonFan]

It sounds the OP is using bare fingers?

When I execute pull offs, I lift ALL FRETTING FINGERS from the fret board and use my picking hand to finalize the PULL OFF.

My technique is probably not a pull off per se, but it accomplishes the same acoustic result.

MGF

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by Cecil6243

Yes you can by playing the intro in the first position and the song in the key of C without retuning. However the originally recording is different.

I think the following explains what I mean?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1KHWQJcnHs

I am going off the original studio album release.

[Cecil6243]

In the intro lick to The Boxer- Paul Simon, I have come to the conclusion. -- with the chord used to produce the intro lick -- I need to keep my second finger up in the chord used until needed for the next note to be able to do a nice clear pullout with the pinky on the first string. My third finger stays in position as an anchor on the third string though, so there is no wasted time assuming the full chord portion. Otherwise no matter what I do, my second finger wants to deaden the first string. And I do not have big hands or fingers so I can't use that as an excuse.

I tried to cantor my left hand back a little to keep the second finger from interfering with the first finger but it's not consistent. Could be my guitar, as it's definitely not top of the line by any means, and I've decided not buy a higher end guitar until my playing is higher end.



Anybody else have issues with a clear full sounding pull off with the pinky assuming the three not chord position on the 1st to 3rd strings 3rd fret, or is it just me? I've tried to many many times, and this is the only way I can do it.

[rick-slo]

deleted post

[Cecil6243]

Oh no the deleted post!

[Su_H.]

Originally Posted by Cecil6243

In the intro lick to The Boxer- Paul Simon, I have come to the conclusion. -- with the chord used to produce the intro lick -- I need to keep my second finger up in the chord used until needed for the next note to be able to do a nice clear pullout with the pinky on the first string. My third finger stays in position as an anchor on the third string though, so there is no wasted time assuming the full chord portion. Otherwise no matter what I do, my second finger wants to deaden the first string. And I do not have big hands or fingers so I can't use that as an excuse.

I tried to cantor my left hand back a little to keep the second finger from interfering with the first finger but it's not consistent. Could be my guitar, as it's definitely not top of the line by any means, and I've decided not buy a higher end guitar until my playing is higher end.



Anybody else have issues with a clear full sounding pull off with the pinky assuming the three not chord position on the 1st to 3rd strings 3rd fret, or is it just me? I've tried to many many times, and this is the only way I can do it.

If was to practice this, I would hold down the notes on the 2nd and 3rd strings and do hammer-ons and pull-offs with the index and pinky on the first string ( 0, 1, 3 ).

[rick-slo]

Do first pull off with the third finger, not the pinky. Perhaps steadier if second finger planted on the third string at the same time.