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Are you a strummer or a picker?
I tend to be mainly a strummer, although for songs where a more delicate touch is required I do use a fingerpicking accompaniment - although not a standard alternating thumb-and-fingers clawhammer style - more arpeggiated!
I've never really been able to master the plectrum/third and fourth fingers style that's used by so many pros so if the style of the song changes midway through, there's a cumbersome drop the pick or pick up the pick moment!
My strumming style is mainly very full and chunky, and (especially if playing alone) I will sometimes throw in a bit of syncopation and occasionally shifting the accents in the bar to try to chuck a bit of emphasis in here and there. I love flowing bass lines, and try to throw those in where the chords allow it to be done,
So, how do you play? :-D
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by David Bull on -
I pick with my nails. Trouble is I've lost a big chunk out of the nail on the second finger of my right hand permanently.
David B.
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Permalink Reply by Stevo on -
Both, whatever is required. I have to say, few people are able to truly strum a guitar well as a rhythm guitarist. So your last paragraph is exactly to point. When I pick live or while singing, it's flat picking. I finger pick when playing a solo song.
To your paragraph about pick / third and fourth finger style, it was my first picking method. After I learned classical and transitioned into true ringer picking, I lost that ability. However, I still haven't learned true clawhammer style, only travis picking style.
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Permalink Reply by Wulf Forrester-Barker on -
It depends on the instrument and also the role I'm playing in the music. Bass is my main thing and, in my current church playing context, I play with my fingers and rarely strum. In my previous church we had a smaller band and there I would often strum on chords higher up the neck to give a fuller sound, particularly when starting off a song and needing to establish harmony and rhythm. In my current church I also get to play electric guitar sometimes; for that, I almost always use a plectrum and am more likely to be strumming (although the electric guitar generally plays the role of providing funky "icing" rather than the heart of the rhythm).
Wulf
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Permalink Reply by Rick Cogbill on
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Definitely a strummer by trade - I whack out some pretty interesting rhythms and muted chords when I get going - but will pick on occasion. The main way I learned picking so many years ago was by listening to my hero, Randy Stonehill (no Youtube back then, only those round vinyl discs...). I just loved the way he played a combination of everything, especially when you saw him live.
I envy guys that can do the plectrum/third and fourth finger style.
Saw Doyle Dykes finger pick a guitar for the first time in November at CMS Northwest. Wow! Just blows me away.
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