Bluegrass technique

rleduc · #1 10-02-2009, 02:04 PM

I've been working on some bluegrass cross picking and I've noticed that most of the experts play with their picking hand in a closed (fist like) position. Is mastering this position critical to proper bluegrass technique?

Thanks in advance,
Ron

yardism · #2 10-02-2009, 02:08 PM

I don't think there is such a thing as "proper" technique. Some other masters of the genre anchor the little finger. Some others do neither. Picking hand dexterity is a must in bluegrass. I think whatever way you get there is OK.

rleduc · #3 10-02-2009, 02:52 PM

Darn! I was hoping to blame my lack of progress on not being able to master this hand position. I anchor my pinky when I play and have not been able to emulate those playing with a closed hand.

yardism · #4 10-02-2009, 03:04 PM

I typically don't do either of those... ever seen Larry Keel play? youtube him...

Brent Hutto · #5 10-02-2009, 03:06 PM

Depending on how long you've been at it and just how complete your lack of progress, you may want to try un-achoring that pinkie. Nothing to do with forming a fist but if what you're trying ain't working...try something else.

min7b5 · #6 10-02-2009, 03:16 PM

There are great crosspickers that do both. And there are great crosspickers that use either the down up down pattern, or down down up...

David Grier comes to mind as someone that keeps his hand in a ball and seemingly is floating a lot of the time. And he uses a down up down, etc... If you’ve every seen or heard him play solo it’s pretty hard to argue with what he does.

I use the down up down, and brush my little finget on the top for cross picking. For something like Boumont Rag I’ll not touch for the A part, and touch for the B...

815C · #7 10-03-2009, 06:24 AM

I took a few lessons from Steve Kaufman back in the day (he's a 3 time Winfield flatpicking champ). He said when he cross picks, instead of his picking wrist being straight, he raises his wrist an inch or so away from the guitar - so that his wrist is bent at an angle and his hand is pointed down toward the strings.

Imagine your normal wrist position is straight and close to the strings. Now imagine having a tennis ball between your wrist and the strings.

Kind of hard to explain in writing, but hopefully you get the picture.

D. Churchland · #8 10-03-2009, 07:34 AM

I've kind of adopted a loose open handed style in recent days, the tight form didn't work for me and it kind of gave me cramps. A good open hand style comes from players like Tim Stafford who anchors with his pinky and ring finger and plays with his index finger and thumb holding the pick.

It's a really distinct way to play and he's very smooth with what he does (look up Blue Highway and you'll see what I mean)

A closed hand for me also makes me sweat like crazy, different strokes for different folks I guess

SpruceTop · #9 10-03-2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rleduc

I've been working on some bluegrass cross picking and I've noticed that most of the experts play with their picking hand in a closed (fist like) position. Is mastering this position critical to proper bluegrass technique?

Thanks in advance,
Ron

Hi Ron,

Find the hand position that feels comfortable to you and doesn't tense up your hand or wrist while you play. There isn't any right or wrong way to do it only what works for you. Bryan Sutton stresses that a player must always make an effort to keep tension and stress out the the picking hand and wrist. I agree with him.

I have my pinkie finger gently extended and floating lightly on or just above the guitar's top while my hand moves across the strings as I'm picking and chording. I often anchor my pinkie on the top when picking a melody or run. It's a very loose style which uses the pinkie as a constant reference point with the guitar's top.

Regards,

SpruceTop

rleduc · #10 10-03-2009, 09:45 AM

Thanks for all the great advise. In all my years of guitar playing I have taken an attitude of playing however I feel the most comfortable, but playing in the bluegrass style is new to me and I want to get it "right" before I develop bad habits.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpruceTop

Hi Ron,

I have my pinkie finger gently extended and floating lightly on or just above the guitar's top while my hand moves across the strings as I'm picking and chording. I often anchor my pinkie on the top when picking a melody or run. It's a very loose style which uses the pinkie as a constant reference point with the guitar's top.

Regards,

SpruceTop

This resembles how I've been playing.