Rodney Jones - Picking Master Class Example

[ctolousse]

Very fast, but not very clear, or clean. I think Julian Lage has got the right touch for both speed and clarity in phrasing...

[stratthead]

When I was young, my guitar teacher had me hold it like that. He picks exactly like this. Same rakes and loose grip as shown here. He even played a blonde Gibson. It's good for certain things. I noticed, playing loud or distorted, I couldn't mute anything, hand is not in good position, I'd get too much feedback. I know in jazz you want that pop that happens with the pick upwards, but I really like the thicker tone from the normal grip.

[Fitzliputzli23]

@stratthead This technique has pros and cons. Pros: more control over the attack, fluent runs, upstrokes slightly louder than downstrokes.The motion is related to the way you hold a pen so you can do very precise and quick movements just the way you do your signature. You can benifit from the neurons you developed since you've learnt writing.

Cons: less volume, tendency to play fuzzy and briefly, downstrokes have no punch, muting is difficult, not useful for gypsy jazz.

[stratthead]

@Fitzliputzli23 I agree with you. Except I don't hold a pen like that, also use more thumb flex for picking and writing. It helps shape sounds and do cool things with harmonics that can't be done when locking the thumb like Benson does. Hybrid picking is more awkward too with the Benson.

[leventopoulos]

Great!! just wish i could see the other hand too.. :-)

[patfarlow]

when will the video be done?

[bruno1george]

GREAT!!! Incredible playing. When is it going to come out? Seriously I can't wait for this one....

[xXironraiderXx]

straight benson!

[jleber]

Very cool idea. I use the same picking method. It would be helpful to hear your views on the following aspects: (i) muting the lower strings, (ii) pick type and thickness (I have experimented with both thick 1.5 mm and thin 0.46 mm picks) and (iii) whether the thumb has to remain 'locked' in position (like GB does it) - my thumb and index finger sometimes wiggle (I noticed yours do occasionally as well) and I have been trying to remove this movement - but maybe I shouldn't.

[sheetsofsound]

Rodney, this is just ridiculous. You are a bad dude!

[KnowKnot]

Seriously... can't wait for the full vid. This could honestly be the answer to years (and I honestly mean decades) of needless struggle. So... now some of us can save the struggle for the good stuff.

[KnowKnot]

Can't tell you how much I appreciate this. Have rethought and changed my technique SO many times over the years. Came close to this wrist angle via Steve Morse, but ultimately no fit. Discovered this style via Tuck Andress's site, finally someone explained it ALL clearly. And NOW here's this demonstrating the real stuff. THANK YOU.

[SPGGuitar251]

Thank you, Rodney. I love the Heritage H555, too.

[flashjazzcat]

Very nice! I particularly like the lick with the emphasised C and Eb around 0:13. I'd like to see the left hand fingering for that. You're holding the pick very loosely towards the end, but the picking is still precise. I find this all very interesting because although I wasn't consciously using the Benson picking technique (I do not hold the pick very rigidly, for a start), a couple of viewers asked if I was. Anyway, it's nice to see someone else using an adapted form of Benson's approach.