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