Intro To Hybrid Picking
Something I love to do is to play a bass line with my pick while I improvise over the top with my fingers. It gives the illusion of two guitars playing at once.
But if you have not tried it before it can be a little tricky. Independence is the key; being able to play the bass line without thinking about the lead part, and vice versa.
The following example is one way to start to develop this technique. I am using my pick to play the bass notes, and my middle and ring fingers to pluck the notes on the higher strings. Like anything new, start out very slowly if you need to; perhaps practice each component separately and then add them together if your fingers won’t co-operate.
Aim to get a nice even bass line, and a good balance between the bass and treble strings.
incidentally, I recorded the example using my G&L ASAT (basically a tele) but I often use this technique on my acoustic as well, and it isn’t just for blues! I have found myself using it in jazz, rock/pop and country gigs.
Something I love to do is to play a bass line with my pick while I improvise over the top with my fingers. It gives the illusion of two guitars playing at once.
But if you have not tried it before it can be a little tricky. Independence is the key; being able to play the bass line without thinking about the lead part, and vice versa.
The following example is one way to start to develop this technique. I am using my pick to play the bass notes, and my middle and ring fingers to pluck the notes on the higher strings. Like anything new, start out very slowly if you need to; perhaps practice each component separately and then add them together if your fingers won’t co-operate.
Aim to get a nice even bass line, and a good balance between the bass and treble strings.
incidentally, I recorded the example using my G&L ASAT (basically a tele) but I often use this technique on my acoustic as well, and it isn’t just for blues! I have found myself using it in jazz, rock/pop and country gigs.