| Lately, I haven't been using my guitar pick all that | | | | away from the strings for them to ring-out. |
| much. I got this tab book of some good ol' | | | | Experiment with different taps all up and down the |
| Gatemouth Brown finger picking blues. I've been | | | | fret board and back side of the neck too! Use the |
| enjoying myself so much trying to get this fingerpick | | | | top of the guitar as a drum. I've seen duos with one |
| thang goin'." | | | | person playing the guitar and the other person playing |
| I'm starting to understand the arpeggio-phrasing | | | | the percussions on the back of the guitar laid flat |
| technique a lot more. Gatemouth Brown is a legend | | | | across the their lap. Remember to use the different |
| and a true musician. He plays acoustic / electric guitar | | | | parts of the hand to include knuckles, fingers -rings, |
| in all genres. He can also play the fiddle like nobody's | | | | etc. |
| business. He is also a drummer, harp player, and | | | | Slap and Pop Technique |
| banjo playing fool. | | | | Bass players use this technique for rhythmic power. |
| So, let's cover some of the techniques I've found to | | | | Use the outside of your thumb joint to attack the |
| be very effective in my playing. Using these | | | | strings. If you experiment with this approach, try |
| techniques can add color to your performance. Think | | | | getting bell like tones out of those bass strings. |
| of it as a small toolbox of tricks you can pull out to | | | | Put Some Snap into Your Playing |
| add character to your songs and live set. Effective | | | | Use your index finger to snap those high strings |
| pick-hand technique provides the kind tone and | | | | when playing lead solos. Try yanking lightly on each |
| textures that can give a personal touch to an old | | | | string, releasing it against the fret board with a bright |
| classic or to provide a step off point for other | | | | snap. Give those strings a real pinch when needed |
| creative musical endeavors. | | | | too (Don't be shy...). This is good for rock and blues |
| Try Different Styles and Genre | | | | flavored solos. |
| Play the root notes with your thumb. The | | | | Use Muting and Volume in Your Playing |
| down-strums with the tips of your fingernails, and | | | | Slap and pop with some funk. Use your thumb and |
| upstrokes with just you finger tips. Get yourself a | | | | middle finger playing octave notes. Kinda like a cat |
| metronome and play to different speeds, Do some | | | | claw approach. Don't forget to use the heel of your |
| stagger strumming. Strum to the off beats. Download | | | | pick hand to mute and use as a volume control for |
| or find music that you might not jam to. Try a | | | | the strings. Rest the heel of your hand lightly on the |
| calypso feel. Do some cowboy songs and "Yes" | | | | saddle. Now practice strumming and muting the |
| hammer-on those top bass strings and get into some | | | | strings while the heel lightly lays across the strings. |
| alternate picking, etc. Try a walking bass line while | | | | Next, mute the strings with your chord-hand by |
| playing the three higher strings open. These are just | | | | lightly touching the string while strumming your guitar |
| ideas to opening your mind! | | | | with your nails on your finger-tips. Kinda like playing |
| Turn Your Acoustic into a Percussion Instrument | | | | percussions on the strings. I call it chickin'- scratchin' |
| Bang on it like a hand drum. Strike or tap the strings | | | | those strings. |
| with the inside surface of your fingers as if you | | | | "Again, I hope I've sparked some imagination for |
| swatting a fly. Now... don't bang on it to hard. I don't | | | | playing without a pick. These ideas will help you |
| want to be blamed for someone's guit-box being | | | | develop your own style too! |
| damaged. Let your fingers kind of bounce off and | | | | |