| "Hello, it's ol' riffmaster again.... Lately, I haven't been | | | | damaged. Let your fingers kind of bounce off and |
| using my guitar pick all that much. I got this tab book of | | | | away from the strings for them to ring-out. Experiment |
| some good ol' Gatemouth Brown finger picking blues. | | | | with different taps all up and down the fret board and |
| I've been enjoying myself so much trying to get this | | | | back side of the neck too! Use the top of the guitar as |
| fingerpick thang goin'." | | | | a drum. I've seen duos with one person playing the |
| I'm starting to understand the arpeggio-phrasing | | | | guitar and the other person playing the percussions on |
| technique a lot more. Gatemouth Brown is a legend | | | | the back of the guitar laid flat across the their lap. |
| and a true musician. He plays acoustic / electric guitar | | | | Remember to use the different parts of the hand to |
| in all genres. He can also play the fiddle like nobody's | | | | include knuckles, fingers -rings, etc. |
| business. He is also a drummer, harp player, and banjo | | | | Slap and Pop Technique |
| playing fool. | | | | Bass players use this technique for rhythmic power. |
| So, let's cover some of the techniques I've found to be | | | | Use the outside of your thumb joint to attack the |
| very effective in my playing. Using these techniques | | | | strings. If you experiment with this approach, try getting |
| can add color to your performance. Think of it as a | | | | bell like tones out of those bass strings. |
| small toolbox of tricks you can pull out to add | | | | Put Some Snap into Your Playing |
| character to your songs and live set. Effective | | | | Use your index finger to snap those high strings when |
| pick-hand technique provides the kind tone and | | | | playing lead solos. Try yanking lightly on each string, |
| textures that can give a personal touch to an old | | | | releasing it against the fret board with a bright snap. |
| classic or to provide a step off point for other creative | | | | Give those strings a real pinch when needed too (Don't |
| musical endeavors. | | | | be shy...). This is good for rock and blues flavored |
| Try Different Styles and Genre | | | | solos. |
| Play the root notes with your thumb. The down-strums | | | | Use Muting and Volume in Your Playing |
| with the tips of your fingernails, and upstrokes with just | | | | Slap and pop with some funk. Use your thumb and |
| you finger tips. Get yourself a metronome and play to | | | | middle finger playing octave notes. Kinda like a cat |
| different speeds, Do some stagger strumming. Strum | | | | claw approach. Don't forget to use the heel of your |
| to the off beats. Download or find music that you | | | | pick hand to mute and use as a volume control for the |
| might not jam to. Try a calypso feel. Do some | | | | strings. Rest the heel of your hand lightly on the saddle. |
| cowboy songs and "Yes" hammer-on those top bass | | | | Now practice strumming and muting the strings while |
| strings and get into some alternate picking, etc. Try a | | | | the heel lightly lays across the strings. Next, mute the |
| walking bass line while playing the three higher strings | | | | strings with your chord-hand by lightly touching the |
| open. These are just ideas to opening your mind! | | | | string while strumming your guitar with your nails on |
| Turn Your Acoustic into a Percussion Instrument | | | | your finger-tips. Kinda like playing percussions on the |
| Bang on it like a hand drum. Strike or tap the strings | | | | strings. I call it chickin'- scratchin' those strings. |
| with the inside surface of your fingers as if you | | | | "Again, I hope I've sparked some imagination for playing |
| swatting a fly. Now... don't bang on it to hard. I don't | | | | without a pick. These ideas will help you develop your |
| want to be blamed for someone's guit-box being | | | | own style too! |