What is flatpicking?

[mc1]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

I would buy what you’re selling if I didn’t already know that there are many different dialects, pronunciations, accents and yes, even words themselves with the same meaning in the language you are referring to right there on your little ol’ island.
Google and You Tube are my friends.

I'm chuffed you joined in, mate. I don't think SM was being cheeky, it was just bants with the lads.

[JC.]

mc1 👍👍👍
Excellent.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by musicman1951

...

It would be nice to have all our terms defined somewhere on the site - maybe by one of the survivors after the semantic wars?

It would be nice, but so far we can't even get this one sorted out.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by JC.

mc1
Excellent.

Thanks JC. How to be a flat, picky, flatpicker flatpicker flatpicking picking flat in a picky flat in just 6 easy steps. Plus at the end you have a nice place to live and great technique.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by cyclistbrian

"Flatpicking" IS a genre. It happens to require the use of a flatpick. ........

Umm, no I disagree sort of.

If someone asks "What kind of music do you play?" I don't think answering "flat picking" is a suitable answer.

Now whether or not "technique" can be included in the definition of "genre" is another matter. The word "genre" may include different techniques as well as musical styles. Maybe the current reality is that "flatpicking" is equal to "blue grass" in the real world of guitar playing. I'm not about to really know sitting on my behind at home.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by TBman

If someone asks "What kind of music do you play?" I don't think answering "flat picking" is a suitable answer.

I play flatpicking music with the classical style.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by TBman

Umm, no I disagree sort of.

If someone asks "What kind of music do you play?" I don't think answering "flat picking" is a suitable answer.

Now whether or not "technique" can be included in the definition of "genre" is another matter. The word "genre" may include different techniques as well as musical styles. Maybe the current reality is that "flatpicking" is equal to "blue grass" in the real world of guitar playing. I'm not about to really know sitting on my behind at home.

You are correct Flatpicking is neither a genre, or specific technique. People often misuse or mistake the term to mean something more specific (and often confused with a method/style specific term , like "cross picking" or bluegrass "style of " flatpicking ) But "flatpicking" itself simply notes the use of a standard flat pic.

Quote:
Flatpicking is a term for when a guitarist strikes the strings of a guitar with a standard guitar pick (also called a plectrum). ... Flatpicking can be contrasted to fingerstyle guitar where a guitar player plucks the strings using individual fingers.

Quote :

Crosspicking is a technique for playing the mandolin or guitar using a plectrum or flatpick in a rolling, syncopated style across three strings. This style is probably best known as one element of the flatpicking style in bluegrass music, and it closely resembles a banjo roll, the main difference being that the banjo roll is fingerpicked rather than flatpicked.

[rokdog49]

It would seem the term “flat-picking” is used most often as a generic term on this forum for a bluegrass style of playing singular notes.
Until I joined the forum, I had only heard it in reference to that as well.
Alternatively, I had zero interest in using my fingers to pluck the guitar until I got much, much older.
I just used a pick and called it “playing guitar.”

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by mc1

I'm chuffed you joined in, mate. I don't think SM was being cheeky, it was just bants with the lads.

Loosely translated in American slang:

“I’m cool with you bangin’ with the crew, dude.
The “Silly”wasn’t dissin’ your origins, he was just chillin’ it with the home-boys.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

Loosely translated in American slang:

“I’m cool with you bangin’ with the crew, dude.
The “Silly”wasn’t dissin’ your origins, he was just chillin’ it with the home-boys.

As Steve Martin once commented about going to France: "It's like they have a different word for everything!"

[nadnitram]

How 'bout if we all just go play our guitars instead of sitting around here nit-plectrumming the terminology?

[mc1]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

It would seem the term “flat-picking” is used most often as a generic term on this forum for a bluegrass style of playing singular notes.
Until I joined the forum, I had only heard it in reference to that as well.
Alternatively, I had zero interest in using my fingers to pluck the guitar until I got much, much older.
I just used a pick and called it “playing guitar.”

Originally Posted by nadnitram

How 'bout if we all just go play our guitars instead of sitting around here nit-plectrumming the terminology?

It's all in preparation for my upcoming book: Killer Pedantics for Guitar

But really, who can concentrate on even contemplating playing when it's not clear if levelplectrumming is a genre, a technique, both or neither. I tossed and turned all night.

[fpuhan]

I see the term "flatpicking" and I always wonder on which syllable the emphasis is placed. It could affect how one interprets it.

flat-picking = a style of picking
flatpick-ing = picking with a flat pick

Since I rarely, if ever, use a pick, I tend to not use the term at all.

[Mr. Jelly]

So on a different thread they ask who is the most accomplished flatpicker. It appears they have not mentioned one strummer. Most of the names mentioned, if not all, are guitar players who play fiddle tunes amongst other tunes. I am just saying .......

[Riverwolf]

I am not sure what I play.
A cross of Carter Style and Boom-Chicka with a lot of single notes and runs...