gypsy picking

bwilkins

Oooh....for more hours in the day...!

This thread only goes to remind me, I aint putting in the time on the rudiments! Oh well, I feel I'm pretty close to the technique already, just need constant fine tuning.

I've recently been very conscious of applying the technique to my Martin too, when picking Celtic fiddle tunes....with much better results. Not only can I get a bigger tone, but there's a good bit more dynamic control with it too, leading to better phrasing. One application I haven't gotten down yet is the "cut". At least I think that's what the Cape Breton fiddlers call it. Imitated on a guitar with a rapid (RAPID) down-up-down stroke. Michael, should that come entirely from the wrist? I suppose so, but there isn't any time for a rest in that.

Anyway, just some observations.....

BW

guit_box

Okay, sorry for the confusion, I have these joint discussions with classical guitar players all the time, so I just assumed everyone would understand. The joint is the part that moves, like if I say knee joint you know I'm not talking about the calf. On an index finger you have 3 joints : a tip, middle and base-knuckle joint.

I totally agree that the thumb needs to hang over the end of the pick as you describe. I was adding to this description to say that (for me) I've been able to get a more powerful stroke, with less tension, if I specifically center the tip joint of the thumb and the side of the tip joint of the index finger on the pick.

MichaelHorowitz

bwilkins wrote:

One application I haven't gotten down yet is the "cut". At least I think that's what the Cape Breton fiddlers call it. Imitated on a guitar with a rapid (RAPID) down-up-down stroke. Michael, should that come entirely from the wrist? I suppose so, but there isn't any time for a rest in that.

I played Irish music for years....I still get calls from a lot of the big name fiddlers around here to accompany them. One of them asked me to do la popme behind them on a reel and it sounded awesome, now they all want it! ha ha.

Anyway, the "cut" is just a triplet, right? Listen to Tchan Tchou or Tchavolo playing waltzes. You'll here rest stroke triplets all over the place. I find them a lot easier then free stroke triplets. Yes, all from the wrist!

'm

MichaelHorowitz

guit_box wrote:

I was adding to this description to say that (for me) I've been able to get a more powerful stroke, with less tension, if I specifically center the tip joint of the thumb and the side of the tip joint of the index finger on the pick.

I still think I need a photo to make sense...sorry for my lack of joint knowledge. But I think I know what you mean....

'm

bwilkins

Thanks MH. Interesting, your experience w/ Irish fiddlers. I'll have to try that kind of straight-ahead driving rhythm behind the fiddle.

I definitely need to expand my CD collection & repetoire. I dont have any of the Tchavolo waltzes, but would sure love to hear them.

BW

Cuimean

Michael Horowitz wrote:

I played Irish music for years....I still get calls from a lot of the big name fiddlers around here to accompany them. One of them asked me to do la popme behind them on a reel and it sounded awesome, now they all want it! ha ha.

Don't mean to drag this so far off topic, but I couldn't resist this bait! Check out Peerie Willie Johnson's playing:

http://www.shetland-music.com/mgpwilie.htm

This style was later appropriated by Jack Evans, guitarist for the Scottish folk/swing band The Easy Club.

Sorry for the detour. As you were, gentlemen.

- Rod

MichaelHorowitz

I'm totally familiar with the Shetland style. Really cool mix of trad. fiddle and swing guitar. Apparently some American GI's were stationed there during the war and they started playing swing guitar with the local fiddlers.

There's actually a really strong precedent for swing guitar in Irish music. Michael Coleman, the first Irish fiddler to be recorded, had studio jazz guitarists backing him on many tracks. However, no one seemed to follow suite.

'm

Scotsman

Does anyone know where I could get a cd of Peerie Willie Johnson?
Thanks,
Steve

a

ok...
which one is correct for gypsy picking?

this (1):
http://www.geocities.com/zetahas/thumb-n-pick-1.jpg

or this (2):
http://www.geocities.com/zetahas/thumb-n-pick-2.jpg

is it ok if the pick slides from underneath my thumb towards the thumb's side?

also, is there a way to practice this technique at lower volume, with a mute or something, and still get the desired result?

dennis

they're both "wrong", that's now how you're supposed to hold the pick in the style (at leaast the way jimmy, stochelo, angelo, bireli, django, etc...held it).... the thumb should be in a flatter position as if you were pushing the tip of the thumb against a table... the thumb is pressing against the pick just slightly above the middle joint and NOT at the joint...

btw i remind u that i did reply to your post in the technique section i don't want an entire essay left going to waste...