Changes

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<span class="text">[[Guitar Parts and Functions|Parts]]</span>

<span class="text">[[Holding the Guitar and Pick|Playing]]</span>

== Picking ==

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<span class="text current">[[#Picking|Picking]]</span>

<span class="text">[[#Left-Hand Fretting|Fretting]]</span>

The motion is similar to waving hello to someone. You are "chopping", not "slapping" or "flapping". The relative distance from your hand to the guitar body should not change much during your picking motion. You want to "push through" the string, applying greater and greater pressure against the string until it slides off the tip of the pick. You do ''not'' want to apply some tension to the string then move the pick from the body, which I call "pecking", like a bird trying to eat a worm. The motion you use to play a single string should also work for multiple strings by simply continuing it (if you are "pecking" it will require a pecking motion for each string).

=== Manipulating Dynamics ===

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<span class="text current">[[#Picking|Picking]]</span>

<span class="text">[[#Left-Hand Fretting|Fretting]]</span>

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<span class="text current">[[#Manipulating Dynamics|Dynamics]]</span>

<span class="text">[[#Manipulating Tone|Tone]]</span>

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The location on the pick where it should initiate contact is very near the tip; however, this will vary depending on the desired dynamic level you want to achieve. For loud, aggressive playing, you will really want to "dig in", using more of the pick. Similarly, how tight you hold the pick will also determine how far from equillibrium you displace the string before it begins to slide and snaps off the tip of the pick. Both of these variables should be kept within a comfortable range. You don't want to use either method to the point of discomfort without trying to incorporate some of the other method first. Eventually, it will become very natural to vary both the amount of pick used and right hand tension at the same time without even thinking about it.

=== Manipulating Tone ===

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<span class="text current">[[#Picking|Picking]]</span>

<span class="text">[[#Left-Hand Fretting|Fretting]]</span>

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<div class="item-wrap">

<span class="text">[[#Manipulating Dynamics|Dynamics]]</span>

<span class="text current">[[#Manipulating Tone|Tone]]</span>

The '''pick angle''' ''can be manipulated to subtly alter your tone''. I do not mean the angle in relation to the body. The pick should be relatively perpendicular to the body. I'm talking about its angle in relation to the strings. Normal position for me is slightly angled - the pick is almost parallel to the string. If it were completely parallel, the string would touch the entire face of the pick during the picking motion and may not slide off of it as easily, especially if you hold the pick tight. On the other hand, turning the pick completely perpendicular to the string feels very awkward - you will find it hard to apply pressure to the string, as the string quickly and easily slides towards the tip of the pick. These different feels don't simply affect feel - they translate into the tone the string produces. '''My advice is to get comfortable picking in general before starting to manipulate tone in this manner.'''

===Downstrokes and Upstrokes===

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<span class="text current">[[#Picking|Picking]]</span>

<span class="text">[[#Left-Hand Fretting|Fretting]]</span>

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<div class="item-wrap">

<span class="text">[[#Manipulating Dynamics|Dynamics]]</span>

<span class="text">[[#Manipulating Tone|Tone]]</span>

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A downstroke is when you push the pick from closest to your head towards your feet. It feels like you are pushing the pick down through the string(s). This is the most common picking stroke, similar to a hammer motion or how you hit a table top with a stick. An upstroke is the reverse, almost like you are pulling the pick up through the string(s). An upstroke may feel a little strange at first. It's not necessary to master it at first - just be aware that you eventually will need to use both. You don't want to start making big circular movements with your hand where you are picking the strings going down but moving your hand far away from the strings when coming back up. Naturally you will have to move it slightly away from the strings when coming back up if you are only using downstrokes, but it shouldn't be drastic. This will only make upstrokes that more difficult to master when you start to incorporate them into your playing.

== Left-Hand Fretting ==

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<span class="text">[[#Picking|Picking]]</span>

<span class="text current">[[#Left-Hand Fretting|Fretting]]</span>

* Fret right ''behind'' the desired fret, not directly in between or on top of frets

* Use only as much pressure as necessary, no more

=== Fingering ===

You can leave your '''i'''ndex finger on the first fret the entire time. You could also leave your '''m'''iddle finger on there except for the first and last notes. This is less overall motion than if you were to press each fret down then unfret that one for the next note. Think about the nut - it is always "fretted", but when you fret any fret, the fact that the nut is fretted doesn't matter.

== Muting ==

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<span class="text">[[#Picking|Picking]]</span>

<span class="text">[[#Left-Hand Fretting|Fretting]]</span>

Note: the muting described here is different from the technique ''palm muting'', covered later.

== Left-Hand Grip ==

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<span class="text">[[#Picking|Picking]]</span>

<span class="text">[[#Left-Hand Fretting|Fretting]]</span>

As I said neither technique is correct, and you will likely always be somewhere between both extremes. I would suggest attempting to use more ''proper technique'' when starting, as it is more difficult to develop. As we move more into lead playing and bends you will want to gravitate more towards ''modern technique''.

== Homework ==

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<span class="text">[[Guitar Parts and Functions|Parts]]</span>

<span class="text">[[Holding the Guitar and Pick|Playing]]</span>

[[Category:Beginner Lessons]]

[[Category:Technique]]