hybrid picking ??

Guys like brent brad redd etc.. that use hybrid picking amaze me... I have tried for years to be fluid at pick and fingers but i just dont know what im supposed to be doing.. Part of me thinks its pick does only downstrokes and fingers upstrokes.. Yet another part of me thinks its pick EAD fingers GBE.. I was looking up some brent lessons online for open string licks and they had the fingerings wrote out that they recommend using. But when i played it i was quicker and cleaner without fingers at all.. What gives? Is there a for sure answer or is it whatever finger get there first wins?? If i do scales it ugly.. Sorry so long and yes i looked in search engine so hope someone can explain it thanks

I'm just getting around to studying this art myself.
I have both Doug Seven's dvds; and, just recently, Sol Philcox's set.

They're both terrific. My early take on Sol's is he's easier to follow -- he gives you more baby steps and advances a bit slower -- what I need... though I really dig Doug's, too.

I'm gonna table Doug's while I work through Sol's; then go back to Doug. I think I'll be well along by then... as long as I put the time in and PRACTICE!

I've tried the dvd thing but they r moving so fast i have no clue.. Ive even went back to all the old simple stuff from when i was a kid and tried to alternate each pick with pick then fingers and it just sounds horrible to me.. What makes these guys say now is where i use this finger and now ill use the pick?? With double stops i can see why but if i look at some tab to lets say alan jackson i dont see a spot that jumps out at me and says i need to use my middle finger here or this wont work..

Hey Flamenco Kid what part of Maryland you from?I'm over in Silver Spring Wheaton area. Mark Moree aka DblStop

Flamenco kid...r u a flamenco fan?? Two of my favorite genres are flamenco and country. My favs are Tomatito and Vicente Amigo...the older cats are great, too...paco pena, paco cepero, sabicas, etc.

I started on Dobro and Lap Steel and used the Banjo Picks so I got used to it right away.

I would not put too much time into thinking what finger you should be using, just as long as your brain is telling one of them to hit the right string at the right time. After a while you will not even have to think about it at all.

Hey DblStop:

I'm next door to ya; I'm in Adelphi.

I am a Flamenco fan! I wish I had time to really sink my teeth into both Flamenco & Country; the Tele is getting my time these days.

There's a lot of room for cross-fertilization between Flamenco right hand technique(s) and other styles of playing on electric (ie. Hybrid) - as long as you're not trying to grow your nails - you'll shred them off real quick trying any resquiado kinda stuff on steel.

Tomatito and Vicente de Amigo are 2 of my favs, too. If you haven't already, check out Chicuelo.

We have a thriving little Flamenco community here in the DC area -- including a world class player: Ricardo Marlow. Google him - you'll find him on Youtube, too. He's the stuff!

you could try a thumpick ...it never worked for me ... so i went to fingers and nails only ...

Johny Hiland (http://www.melbay.com/product.asp?ProductID=20375BCD) does a great job of walking you through the technique and learn some great solos at the same time.
Al Bonhomme (http://cgi.ebay.com/Country-Guitar-Lessons-New-DVD-Video-C2_W0QQitemZ290293840092QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Defa ultDomain_0?hash=item4396dc78dc) shows you step by step how to learn to incorporate pick and fingers into your playing.

Here's what I do:
Down with the pick, and up with the second finger. I'm pretty sure that's the most common way.

Try it on any string on any note. Practise it until it becomes second nature. Then try dropping it into scales, riffs, etc.

That's pretty much the way I play everything -not just country type licks.

Here's the other side of that coin:

A few years ago, I realized that I hardly did any up strokes with the pick at all, and was becoming sloppy with them. I actually spend time making sure I practise playing WITHOUT hybrid picking to keep my picking technique in shape.

thanks i thought it may be just down with pick up with fingers thanks..

I am a Flamenco fan! I wish I had time to really sink my teeth into both Flamenco & Country; the Tele is getting my time these days.

There's a lot of room for cross-fertilization between Flamenco right hand technique(s) and other styles of playing on electric (ie. Hybrid) - as long as you're not trying to grow your nails - you'll shred them off real quick trying any resquiado kinda stuff on steel.

Tomatito and Vicente de Amigo are 2 of my favs, too. If you haven't already, check out Chicuelo.

We have a thriving little Flamenco community here in the DC area -- including a world class player: Ricardo Marlow. Google him - you'll find him on Youtube, too. He's the stuff!

I was going to list Chicuelo, actually. I'm on the flamenco forum. If you're not on there, it's awesome, check it out: http://www.foroflamenco.com/foroflamenco_home.asp

I have nails, but I use nail hardener and nail strengthener. One makes the nail thicker, the other coats it. Hybrid picking still eats away at the nail, but at a much slower pace. The worst is when a whole chunk chips off.

To the OP...try playing three note per string scales...pick, middle, ring, and then descending ring middle, pick. Also, pluck triads all over the neck using pick middle ring simultaneously.

If you can find someone who will sit down with you and show you the basics it will be a big help. I took one lesson from Mark Moree aka DblStop just about a year ago and his expert instruction got me on the right track. Check out some of the Danny Gatton videos on YouTube for some great practice ideas. Also, Steve Trovato's "Learn Guitar Techniques-Country DVD is very good. He shows you how to play a number of solos note for note, right and left hand. Just remember, it takes some serious time to get fluid at hybrid picking, so don't get frustrated at the seemingly slow progress.

I know that hybrid picking was wicked hard for me until I started using brass finger picks. That made it way, way easier and now I feel like I am actually progressing at the technique rather than just flailing away.

Are you guys saying that you use the pick for downstrokes and finger for upstrokes for runs on the same string?

I use hybrid picking constantly but only when switching strings. I'm just picking whatever string in the lick is highest (closest to low E) and finger plucking the rest. It becomes second nature the more you do it. I now find it easier to use even on non-chikin pickin type stuff.

Doug Seven teaches the technique of using it on the same string in one of his vids but I never got used to that. Yet :)

Are you guys saying that you use the pick for downstrokes and finger for upstrokes for runs on the same string?

I use hybrid picking constantly but only when switching strings. I'm just picking whatever string in the lick is highest (closest to low E) and finger plucking the rest. It becomes second nature the more you do it. I now find it easier to use even on non-chikin pickin type stuff.

Doug Seven teaches the technique of using it on the same string in one of his vids but I never got used to that. Yet :)

Yup. Depending on the lick, I'll use hybrid picking on the same string. What ever seems to get the job done the easiest!

Are you guys saying that you use the pick for downstrokes and finger for upstrokes for runs on the same string?

I use hybrid picking constantly but only when switching strings. I'm just picking whatever string in the lick is highest (closest to low E) and finger plucking the rest. It becomes second nature the more you do it. I now find it easier to use even on non-chikin pickin type stuff.

Doug Seven teaches the technique of using it on the same string in one of his vids but I never got used to that. Yet :)

Yeah, I use it quite a bit, and it wasn't until watching Doug Seven's videos that I started doing it. It took a little adjusting, but it's so worth it, because it makes your single note lines a lot twangier than just picking them straight.

Another thing that I do is tuck my pick into my hand and just go straight fingerpicking, because I can grab the strings with my thumb and really pluck the strings by spanking 'em against the frets. I do it for certain passages, usually on the lower frets, and then grab the pick again. Sort of like what you do when you finger tap with the right hand.