Chicken pickin technique question.

[barney77]

Just checking with you guys to get some advice.

When playing, for eg a triad I play the lower note with the pick, and snap the other two with my middle finger.
Should I be using my middle and ring finger to do this?
Does it matter which technique to use, and if so what are the dis/advantages of either technique?
Cheers.

[transmaniacon]

I use my middle and ring fingers to snap the other two strings, as far as i know this is how it is generally done. If using one finger works for you then that's great too, but I think a better snap can be acheived with two fingers as the striking of the two strings is simultaneous. ymmv.

steve

[Telegeekster]

There's a lot to be said for abandoning the pick for an all-fingers technique. It's all a personal preference thing.

[StoogeSurfer]

My gut reaction is that if you don't use the ring finger you're leaving a club out of the bag (talk about mixed metaphors). Put it back in and try to add the pinky too. But whatever you choose, it's not brain surgery, nobody's gonna die. ;-]

[twangjeff]

This is just my personal preference, but I would try to use the pick, middle and ring fingers. You COULD play it with just the pick and middle finger but if you are trying do stuff like banjo rolls it would be really difficult to do without using both fingers.

[barney77]

Ok , I figured I could be losing some " snap" with my technique.
Perhaps it's time to do some re- constructing.
Cheers.

[vincent]

It might feel more comfortable right now with just the middle finger but in the long run you'll be better off with adding the ring finger. It won't take long before your ring finger has the same snap as the middle finger. Just give it a little time and effort.

[barney77]

Originally Posted by vincent

It might feel more comfortable right now with just the middle finger but in the long run you'll be better off with adding the ring finger. It won't take long before your ring finger has the same snap as the middle finger. Just give it a little time and effort.

Yeah it seems like they get in each others way at the moment.
I'll get there though.
What about with a double stop?
Pick and middle? Or middle and ring?
Thanks for the encouragement guys.

[transmaniacon]

I just re-read your first post and now your latest post and realise you mean something different than what I initially thought. I guess depending on how you feel at the time you could play a triad how you described or or with the pick and two fingers, my opinion would be most people would still use the pick and the middle and ring fingers. If I was to play a country style chicken pickin' double stop like for example:-

E-------5--------------------------------------
B-------5----7-----5--------------------------
G------------7-----5h6-------------------------
D----7----7-----7------7-----------------------
A--------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------

I would pick the notes on the D string with my pick and the other notes simultaneously with my middle and ring fingers.

steve

[Thorpey]

Originally Posted by barney77

What about with a double stop?
Pick and middle? Or middle and ring?

Well that would depend on the situation... If you're just playing a pattern on two strings I personally would recommend that you use pick and middle finger. If you're playing something over 3/4 strings, e.g. Alternate picking on the A and D strings with a double stop over the top... Then you'll be forced to use pick and middle and ring fingers!

[barney77]

Originally Posted by transmaniacon

I would pick the notes on the D string with my pick and the other notes simultaneously with my middle and ring fingers.

steve

I've got smallish hands, but still feel as though the middle and ring fingers are getting in each others way.
I guess the co-ordination will come with practice.
Thanks Steve.

[barney77]

Originally Posted by Thorpey

Well that would depend on the situation... If you're just playing a pattern on two strings I personally would recommend that you use pick and middle finger. If you're playing something over 3/4 strings, e.g. Alternate picking on the A and D strings with a double stop over the top... Then you'll be forced to use pick and middle and ring fingers!

Cheers Thorpey.
It does feel more natural to use pick and middle on those double stops.
Just need to get the ring finger in on those extra strings

[Thorpey]

Originally Posted by barney77

Cheers Thorpey.
It does feel more natural to use pick and middle on those double stops.
Just need to get the ring finger in on those extra strings

You're welcome barney!

Yeah the ring finger is also useful if your double stops aren't on adjacent strings!

[transmaniacon]

Originally Posted by barney77

I've got smallish hands, but still feel as though the middle and ring fingers are getting in each others way.
I guess the co-ordination will come with practice.
Thanks Steve.

The co-ordination will definately come with practice Barney, in fact the little exercise i wrote is a great workout -just repeat until you go nuts. Also practice picking an open A &/or open D with the pick and middle and ring fingers, start slowly and gradually increase speed.

steve

[barney77]

Originally Posted by transmaniacon

The co-ordination will definately come with practice Barney, in fact the little exercise i wrote is a great workout -just repeat until you go nuts. Also practice picking an open A &/or open D with the pick and middle and ring fingers, start slowly and gradually increase speed.

steve

Thanks a lot mate.
I appreciate the feedback and assistance.

[barney77]

OK

So I've been following all your tips, and I'm making head way, and feeling good about the progress.
It's already giving me a lot more snap, and a bloody big blister on my right hand ring finger!! Haha.
Thanks again guys.