When I learned to flat-pick guitar and mandolin, I learned the downbeats are always picked down and upbeats are always picked up. So four quarter notes (in 4/4) would be pick D-D-D-D; eight eighth notes D-U-D-U-D-U-D-U; something syncopated could skip strokes like D---U---U-D-U.
So my instinct when finger picking is to play all quarter notes with my thumb. But I don't know if that is correct. If I were to pick a string of quarter notes on the four highest string strings 4-4-3-3-2-1, would I do T-T-T-T-T-T, like I was flatpicking, or, since my fingers are positions over the higher strings, do T-T-T-T-I-M?
(T=thumb, I=index, M=middle)
There is no correct answer. Different good players do it differently. JD is heavily thumb-oriented, but I've seen Rob Ickes, Mike Witcher, etc do different stuff. It really depends on what feels good to you and the tone you want to produce.
For true downbeat quarter notes, I would instinctively do T-T-T-T-I-M in your example.
Once you get into 1/8 and 1/16 notes (with alternating upbeats), I'm doing the T-I-T-I-T-I pattern, as that is more conducive to speed IMO.
But for quarter notes (downbeats only), I'm not sure it matters so much, as Dane stated. (One could make an argument that it is helpful to practice the T-I-T-I-T-I, even with quarter notes, as it helps build the muscle memory for that picking pattern).
Edited by - JC Dobro on 07/03/2024 07:52:06
quote:
Originally posted by JC Dobro(One could make an argument that it is helpful to practice the T-I-T-I-T-I, even with quarter notes, as it helps build the muscle memory for that picking pattern).
I neglected to mention this. If you wish to play fast articulated scales and other patterns in your licks, the alternating T-I or T-M skill will hold you in good stead for some of those Josh Swift licks that he does so cleanly. Whether you use index or middle is up to you...all good players use one or the other. Start slowly alternating on one string, then progress to two adjacent strings, then try it on ascending and descending scales on all six strings.
Glad Dane said there's no right answer. I thought I was just ignorant.
What I do: Play higher notes plucking up with my fingers and lower plucking down with my thumb. Sometimes I also use my thumb for power notes.
Fingerpicking isn't like flatpicking. Even for the rare moments when I want tremolo, I alternate thumb and finger (or fingers). That goes for both dobro and flattop guitars. I even fingerpick mandolin. Don't report me to the Cafe crew or I'll be eighty-sixed in perpetuity.
Edited by - Charlie Bernstein on 08/13/2024 16:00:57
