Gypsy Picking Basics

Video on gypsy picking from my gypsy jazz blog: http://www.gypsyjazzportugal.blogspot.com
Check it out, more details on the blog

Hope you like it, comments and requests welcome

Category:

Music

Tags:

• gypsy
• jazz
• manouche
• guitar
• picking

[clapton79]

@AnarchisticLeper Sorry, but I have to disagree. I've been playing over 15 years and just digged myself into the gypsy picking style.

I immediately recognized the difference in the tone and the volume as I started. As I understood this is due to gravity and the tone difference because greater surface of the picker touches the string.

But I would say in alternate picking it's not the loudness you normally go for.

[AnarchisticLeper]

@Poitrasc1 The recommendation was purely for alternate picking and I can assure you that I know a hell of a lot about that. Nothing I said was a recommendation nor criticism of gypsy picking.

Regarding the volume issue: you can get more volume than anyone needs from alternate picking; you can get volume to the point where the sound distorts. If you need to use a different picking method solely for volume, you evidently need to brush up on your alternate picking skills.

[Poitrasc1]

You can't recommend something which you know nothing about, gypsy picking has been used and remained the same for at least a century (that I know of) While alternate picking has it's advantages (I myself still use it for anything other than Gypsy Jazz) you just simply can't get as much volume and quality of tone as gypsy picking (when it comes to acoustic guitars). There's a reason people have been using it for so long

[AnarchisticLeper]

@Poitrasc1 There is a difference between resting and touching. When I recommended touching, I meant to mute strings NOT being played. You don't apply pressure, just allow the hand to touch.

Alternate picking should never strain your arm if done properly. The motion is coming from the wrist and loud sounds can be produced with small, precise and relaxed movements. Using alternate picking, I can achieve volume to the point of distortion, which is obviously louder than it needs to be.

[Poitrasc1]

@AnarchisticLeper "Floating hand" gives you a lot more freedom of movement, also if you rest your hand on the bridge it deadens the sound a little bit. The whole point is to get as much volume out of an acoustic instrument as possible.

Gypsy picking works in a way that requires very little energy to create such a big sound, if you tried to even come close to the volume it can produce with alternate picking you would be straining your arm quite a bit.

[aliengroove85]

Thanks, it was very informative. Appreciated!

[AnarchisticLeper]

This was a very interesting lesson and I have a couple of questions, but first I wanted to correct you regarding alternate picking: the hand touches the bridge for muting purposes but it isn't "stuck", the point of contact should change as you change strings.

Why use a rest stroke? Isn't it a waste of motion to move the pick all the way to the next string? If it's sheerly a volume issue, you can put a lot of power into smaller movements.

Also, would you say Marty Friedman Gypsy picks?

[frankiedetergent]

gypsy picking also sounds more firm.. powerful (as a feeling, not just volume), less wimpy

..especially if u pick near the bridge. also that curve on the pick does a lot of the magic.. sounds more round.. less edgy, but still powerfull.. and more easy to play.

[portr002]

This video is great, thank you so much for posting it, until now I was playing with my hand on the bridge but now you have taught me better!

[Ultraspontane]

Do you like the 3.5mm or the 5mm pick better?