Guitar Column

All I want for Christmas is to shred….

I see and hear from many players who struggle with technique and are consequently limited by their inability to correct or overcome these issues. Now, I’m not saying that technique is the answer to everything or that improving your technique will bring instant happiness and bountiful riches - but, I’ve rarely seen anyone that has gone backwards in their playing from having some improved technique. The old ‘I’m a feel player’, ‘I just play blues/ punk/etc’, ‘Hendrix never had lessons’ statements just don’t cut it I reckon.

Alternate Picking (Figure A).

I feel that ‘Alternate Picking’ is probably the first real big challenge when learning the guitar and specifically learning to pick. Downstrokes are fine as a start and then ‘boom’ it hits you that you need to use both downwards and upwards motions. Figure A is played in the open position and uses a C Major scale. Start on a downstroke and continue to alternate pick (so down/up/down/up) for the whole exercise. For many players changing strings and then the varying groupings (different numbers of notes on each string) can feel awkward, so start super slow focussing on the correct notes and right hand picking. Then build up tempo when you feel confident. At a faster speed this will start to sound like a country/ bluegrass type lick/melody and typically those guys and girls are seriously good pickers. Downward pick slanting (Figure B) Have you got your alternate picking dialled in but still can’t break into super speed? Perhaps your pick angle can do with some refinement. One of the main topics of Troy Grady’s ‘Cracking The Code’ instructional series and a staple of players like Paul Gilbert and Eric Johnson ‘pick slanting’ is an aspect of picking technique that is often overlooked (and not discussed, just done). The gist is that alternate picking (where the pick is parallel to the strings) can sometimes be hindered by the fact it creates slight hops/jumps during the alternate picking movement, and these additional movements slow the picking process down. So, by adjusting the angle of the pick from a parallel position to a downward pick slanting position (roll your hand/pick away from you to create a flatter angle) you can now play with a straighter more streamlined stroke. With this new angle ready to go now have a crack at Figure B and see if you can notice a difference. One of the tricks with downward pick slanting is have even amounts of notes before you change strings (hence the two groups of triplets/6 notes in each phrase) Legato technique (Figure C). ‘Legato’ technique is another approach often utilised by players trying to develop speed and facility on the guitar. This approach moves away from picking for the majority and works on the fretboard hand hammering on/ pulling off to achieve speed. Figure C takes a predominantly 3 per string pattern to ascend through A Dorian. Play this lick in groups of 3 notes only picking the first note when it changes strings, the rest are just hammered on in this example. This technique has a different sound (obviously losing the percussiveness of alternate picking) and can take some time to build up strength to cleanly articulate and fret the left hand notes. Playing these type of exercises on an electric guitar can help at first thanks to the (typically) lighter gauge strings. Hopefully this gives you some areas to start working on. As mentioned previously, you don’t have to show off with technique all the time, but having the ability to do so can help with other areas of your playing and make for a refined approach to the instrument.

BY NICK BROWN