That’s great Chris! Took me a second to find the comfortable angle, but resting my arm above the elbow on the top makes a big difference! Not so much with tension, but range of motion is better. Didnt realize I was bracing my forarm on the top.
Have any exercise tips for pickstroke? I’m having a bit of trouble getting that to come naturally. Two ups just seems really foreign to me.
How‘s my right hand/arm here? I’ve tried to focus on pickstroke theory. the low light didn’t make for a clear video. Hopefully you can still tell what’s going on.
Hey Joe, you are sounding very musical as always! Your hand and wrist actually look wonderfully relaxed, but I think there is room to involve the rest of your right arm a bit more. Your forearm doesn't have any visible tension within it, but your forearm relative to the guitar seems to be pretty immobile. And also, there are spots where your pick stroke is getting turned around (0:08 for example). Here's a video to help show you what I mean on both counts!
That’s great Chris! Took me a second to find the comfortable angle, but resting my arm above the elbow on the top makes a big difference! Not so much with tension, but range of motion is better. Didnt realize I was bracing my forarm on the top.
Have any exercise tips for pickstroke? I’m having a bit of trouble getting that to come naturally. Two ups just seems really foreign to me.
My 2 year old daughter and I got in the habit of listening to acoustic music while she “helps“ make breakfast on weekend mornings. We listen to the Avalon album a lot and this has always been one of the standout songs for us. She’s always talking about stuff blowing away (because she’s always dropping stuff and we live in tornado central) so we both relate to the emotion you put into the song.
My 2 year old daughter and I got in the habit of listening to acoustic music while she “helps“ make breakfast on weekend mornings. We listen to the Avalon album a lot and this has always been one of the standout songs for us. She’s always talking about stuff blowing away (because she’s always dropping stuff and we live in tornado central) so we both relate to the emotion you put into the song.
Great, heartfelt rendition! I was really feeling it the whole time. I also really dug the way you ended it. Cool and unexpected. Really I just have one minor suggestion:
The chord after the D minor (for example, at 1:33 or 3:53) is should still be a full D minor on top, just with a C note in the bass. It sounds like you're letting the B string ring open, which, while not technically wrong, doesn't make for as strong of a gesture in my opinion.
Otherwise, it sounds honest and good. Can't beat that!
I just started working on soldiers joy over the past week and learned a lot. I trained myself to alternate pick as often as possible because for some reason I thought it would be more efficient! I’m trying to unlearn that and actually pay attention to the 16th notes if I can. Up until now I’ve handled rhythm 100% by feel without counting. Thanks for the feedback!
Anyone have any tips for improving my cross pick accuracy? I’ve got this solo down pretty well, but when I speed it up I always run into problems with the notes played after the G bass note at the end of the first measure and going into the second. I either miss a note, screw up the order or hit it harder than I’d like to.
As always, you are sounding great and soulful! I think the main thing that would help when you are playing vertically across the guitar (like at 0:05) is getting your alternate picking so that it is natural and relaxed. It looks like you are playing consecutive downstrokes when you get to that part, which is hard! I've made a little video to show you how I would approach it.
I’m new to bluegrass style flatpicking and am wondering if you have any tips to improve my fluidity in lead runs. I’m just getting started with your lessons and I’m really enjoying the, so far!
I’m new to bluegrass style flatpicking and am wondering if you have any tips to improve my fluidity in lead runs. I’m just getting started with your lessons and I’m really enjoying the, so far!
First of all, you sound great. You have a really lovely singing voice and you're obviously a fine musician. The main thing I think you should work on is the development of your right hand mechanism so that your pick *direction* is tied to the beat that your playing. You did a good job of rendering the music here, including the solo. So for this song your technique isn't getting in the way much, but as you start to play harder, more notey material I think you might encounter more hiccups.
Check out the lessons on Soldier's Joy, particularly the first one in the series. They address the topic of pick stroke theory. I think that when you can establish a super solid physical mechanism and integrate it into your musicianship the results will be really strong.
I just started working on soldiers joy over the past week and learned a lot. I trained myself to alternate pick as often as possible because for some reason I thought it would be more efficient! I’m trying to unlearn that and actually pay attention to the 16th notes if I can. Up until now I’ve handled rhythm 100% by feel without counting. Thanks for the feedback!
That’s great Chris! Took me a second to find the comfortable angle, but resting my arm above the elbow on the top makes a big difference! Not so much with tension, but range of motion is better. Didnt realize I was bracing my forarm on the top.
Have any exercise tips for pickstroke? I’m having a bit of trouble getting that to come naturally. Two ups just seems really foreign to me.
How‘s my right hand/arm here? I’ve tried to focus on pickstroke theory. the low light didn’t make for a clear video. Hopefully you can still tell what’s going on.
Hey Joe, you are sounding very musical as always! Your hand and wrist actually look wonderfully relaxed, but I think there is room to involve the rest of your right arm a bit more. Your forearm doesn't have any visible tension within it, but your forearm relative to the guitar seems to be pretty immobile. And also, there are spots where your pick stroke is getting turned around (0:08 for example). Here's a video to help show you what I mean on both counts!
That’s great Chris! Took me a second to find the comfortable angle, but resting my arm above the elbow on the top makes a big difference! Not so much with tension, but range of motion is better. Didnt realize I was bracing my forarm on the top.
Have any exercise tips for pickstroke? I’m having a bit of trouble getting that to come naturally. Two ups just seems really foreign to me.
Hey Joe,
I've made a video with an exercise that I think may help:
My 2 year old daughter and I got in the habit of listening to acoustic music while she “helps“ make breakfast on weekend mornings. We listen to the Avalon album a lot and this has always been one of the standout songs for us. She’s always talking about stuff blowing away (because she’s always dropping stuff and we live in tornado central) so we both relate to the emotion you put into the song.
My 2 year old daughter and I got in the habit of listening to acoustic music while she “helps“ make breakfast on weekend mornings. We listen to the Avalon album a lot and this has always been one of the standout songs for us. She’s always talking about stuff blowing away (because she’s always dropping stuff and we live in tornado central) so we both relate to the emotion you put into the song.
Beautiful. Great singing and playing!
Joe,
Great, heartfelt rendition! I was really feeling it the whole time. I also really dug the way you ended it. Cool and unexpected. Really I just have one minor suggestion:
The chord after the D minor (for example, at 1:33 or 3:53) is should still be a full D minor on top, just with a C note in the bass. It sounds like you're letting the B string ring open, which, while not technically wrong, doesn't make for as strong of a gesture in my opinion.
Otherwise, it sounds honest and good. Can't beat that!
Thanks Chris!
I just started working on soldiers joy over the past week and learned a lot. I trained myself to alternate pick as often as possible because for some reason I thought it would be more efficient! I’m trying to unlearn that and actually pay attention to the 16th notes if I can. Up until now I’ve handled rhythm 100% by feel without counting. Thanks for the feedback!
Anyone have any tips for improving my cross pick accuracy? I’ve got this solo down pretty well, but when I speed it up I always run into problems with the notes played after the G bass note at the end of the first measure and going into the second. I either miss a note, screw up the order or hit it harder than I’d like to.
Hi Joe!
As always, you are sounding great and soulful! I think the main thing that would help when you are playing vertically across the guitar (like at 0:05) is getting your alternate picking so that it is natural and relaxed. It looks like you are playing consecutive downstrokes when you get to that part, which is hard! I've made a little video to show you how I would approach it.
Cheers!
Chris
I hope you enjoy the dramatic walk in!
I’m new to bluegrass style flatpicking and am wondering if you have any tips to improve my fluidity in lead runs. I’m just getting started with your lessons and I’m really enjoying the, so far!
I hope you enjoy the dramatic walk in!
I’m new to bluegrass style flatpicking and am wondering if you have any tips to improve my fluidity in lead runs. I’m just getting started with your lessons and I’m really enjoying the, so far!
Hi Joe, I like the walk-in!
First of all, you sound great. You have a really lovely singing voice and you're obviously a fine musician. The main thing I think you should work on is the development of your right hand mechanism so that your pick *direction* is tied to the beat that your playing. You did a good job of rendering the music here, including the solo. So for this song your technique isn't getting in the way much, but as you start to play harder, more notey material I think you might encounter more hiccups.
Check out the lessons on Soldier's Joy, particularly the first one in the series. They address the topic of pick stroke theory. I think that when you can establish a super solid physical mechanism and integrate it into your musicianship the results will be really strong.
Cheers!
Chris
Thanks Chris!
I just started working on soldiers joy over the past week and learned a lot. I trained myself to alternate pick as often as possible because for some reason I thought it would be more efficient! I’m trying to unlearn that and actually pay attention to the 16th notes if I can. Up until now I’ve handled rhythm 100% by feel without counting. Thanks for the feedback!