Flatpicking Essentials V1 question

[Tom Lewis]

Greetings to the Forum...been playin now for about 10 yrs, though you'd never know, and have ingrained into my fingers the alternating picking style (down-up).  In going through most of the examples through #15 I'm finding it much easier to run the base runs in the alternating picking style, though, I think, Mr. Miller would prefer all down strokes.  I have been trying to get the all-down-stroke-base-run thing working for a number of weeks now and it just aint working. Finally went back to my alt-picking and am finding it much cleaner and faster. I realize that playing style is very personalized (in the Practice section of example 15 he states "Take your time and work out the fingerings that will feel the most comfortable to you").

My question is: should I take the time to get the only-down-stroke-base-runs thing going or can I stick with what feels "the most comfortable"?

Thanks,

Tom

[Bryan Floyd]

Hello, Tom. I thought I would chime in and give my opinions as no one else has yet. Keep in mind that I haven't seen the 1st edition of the Flatpicking Essentials (though I do intend on picking it up) so I can't be for sure what Mr. Miller is wanting to get from the all down strokes. However, in my experience (approx. 30 years of playing but still relatively new to flatpicking) downstrokes would lend to a more defined and pronounced note. So, I'm thinking that he would want all downstrokes to emphasize the bass notes to be more pronounced than the rest of the music. When I play the bass note lead ins and connectors to the next chord, I do use all downstrokes. I believe that with a bit of practice doing this you will become used to doing this as well. Having a good alternating pick pattern (down / up /down / up) is very important when doing runs and solos so you will get plenty of use with that :) I hope this helps a bit.

[Tom Lewis]

Bryan, thanks for your helpful info, I can see (hear) where the downstrokes provide more of a pronounced note...I'll spend a bit more time/effort with it.
thanks

[Bryan Floyd]

No problem, Tom. Hopefully someone else can chime in as well with some more info that we can both benefit from. I'm more of a folk and blues guitarist just getting into bluegrass but boy am I having a blast with it.

Please let me know how you are liking the Flatpick Essentials Volume 1 as I have been thinking about getting these...

[Bryan Floyd]

Hey Tom, I just found this group from this site of the Flatpicking Essentials material. Perhaps join the group and ask and learn here as well...

http://flatpick.ning.com/group/flatpickingessentialsfreshmanclass2010

[Doug Lindhout]

Hey Tom, that is a great question and will no doubt bring in multiple points of view.

I have worked through those lessons so I have, like you, scratched my head a few times as well. Let me share my rule of thumb, and then something I heard at the Kaufman Kamp this year. My rule of thumb is to play downstrokes for quarter notes, and switch to alternating pick pattern (DU) for eighth notes and faster. Why? 'Cause it works for me. One of the instructors at Kamp modifies my rule a bit and plays rest strokes for quarter notes. As you may know, rest strokes really pop compared to a brush stroke. I certainly use them, but not consistently, and especially not very well when the speed increases.

So, the question you pose becomes one of volume/tone vs. comfort. Yeah. For me as a newbie, focus on tone comes only after I can hit the strings and place the fingers reliably. I am working on tone for some of my playing (because I have now played the runs a zillion times) and it has forced me to make some changes how I attack the strings etc. For new songs/base runs, I'm still just trying to stay out of the ditch, so I lean on my basic approach.

Have fun!

[Making Sawdust]

For me now,,,just for me,,I'm just saying as far as learning anything new...when I stick with playing what's comfortable, I would still be strumming C,f,G, with a paper thin pick, and never trying the fingerstyle or flatpicking style, or learning the down up down up down up...I was shown at the DAN MILLER workshop(hint)

The more I learn things I thought I could never do, I believe it's all muscle memory, practice practice practice,,every day a little. Not a lot one day and none the rest of the week...I am having a time understanding music theory. But I believe you have to just stick to it...which is not easy. And I do find playing uncomfortable things means that I don't do it as often as I should or as intently. That sorta is the great thing about guitar playing, the learning never ends..

[Tom Lewis]

Thanks for your comments...greatly appreciated.

[ganon]

Tom, Exercises in FE#1 up to 15 should all be done with all down stokes. If you go forward a bit to Ex 16,17 there start being some 1/8 note bass runs mixed in - those are where you can/should use your alternate up/down picking.

Please do join us at:

http://flatpick.ning.com/group/flatpickingessentialsfreshmanclass2010

if it interests you. We are currently starting on the second volume, but I expect with your experience, you could catch up quickly.

-ganon

[Derek Shultz]

I haven't seen the educational material in question but I'd like to reiterate what Doug Lindhout already covered. I'd guess these down strokes are intended to be rest strokes, where you play through the string and the pick 'rests' on the string under the target string. This produces a marked difference in tone and volume. It's a handy thing to have in your technique bag, and not limited to bass runs. Definitely worth the practice time to get comfortable with it.