Beginner Flatpickers

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15 Comments

Comment by Daily Dose on August 18, 2008 at 11:40am

Greetings...I have been taking some lessons from Phil Campbell here in the Bay Area, solid player, and I started somewhere near square one (string bass player convert who needed a smaller "fiddle" to lug around)...happy to be here. Learning every day.

Comment by Rich Guilmette on August 15, 2008 at 1:40pm

I'm also new to flatpicking after playing and singing for 40 years. I have most of Steve's books but a recommendation is to get a TASCAM Guitar Trainer. I load Steve's tune into it, then slow it down to my speed to play along. As I get better, I increase the speed until I finally match it. I have the same problem with very few people to jam with. Steve's Workout Books are my jamming partner. Going to Steve's Kamp the last two years has also helped with new practice tools.

Comment by Randy Mellberg on July 18, 2008 at 6:35am

Does Anybody know where I could find some backing Tracks to practice or play along with.... I have no local Bluegrass players.... And this would be a great tool.

Thanks

Comment by Paul Whitcomb on June 29, 2008 at 6:11am

The thing that brought me to flatpicking (vs. other types of picks or finger-picking) is that I am just used to a pick, having come from a folk-rock background. Also, it gives me an uneasy feeling even thinking about using my fingers to pick with, because I tend to play with a little volume, and I would not like to have the skin shreddded from the tops of my fingers. If I played a quieter style, or played amplified, I can imagine finger-picking maybe being an option. My teacher is a finger-picker, and I keep right up with her so far, using a flatpick. As far as thumbpicks go: Maybe someday, but I doubt it.

Comment by Matthew Smith on June 17, 2008 at 11:34am

Who or what is it that drew you guys and gals to flatpicking? I notice that alot of people including me have played guitar for a while and are just getting into flatpicking. For me, It's just the absolutely pure, natural tone that only comes from an acoustic guitar(listen to Manzanita by Tony Rice) as well as the way the hair stands up on the back of my neck when I hear someone like Bryan Sutton tearin' it up !!!

Comment by Matthew Smith on June 17, 2008 at 11:24am

Nan, as far as drills go I found some useful stuff on Folk of the Woods website. It's basically taking a scale that you know and walking it up in different intervals. It sounds more confusing than it is, and for me it's been great for building up coordination. You'll also notice that some of the parts of the songs that you're probably playing are nothing more than this. How about you?

Comment by Dave Engel on June 14, 2008 at 5:05pm

Hi All,

Just joined the forum and this looks the place I need to be. One of those "been playing forever guys" just picking up flatpicking. Started off with Mel Bay's Complete Flatpicking Guitar by Steve Kaufman, CD and DVD included. Look forward to learning with you all.

Dave

Comment by Marty Henrickson on June 2, 2008 at 12:26am

I'm a beginning flatpicker who's been playing guitar for nearly 20 years. I'd say my best resource is a good teacher. I've been taking lessons from Glenn Tolbert (who Tony Rice called a "highly underrated flatpicker") since January, and it's made a huge difference in my playing.

Comment by Steve Burton on May 30, 2008 at 8:27am

I have Steves,You can teach youself to flat pick and learning the fretboard dvd and both of them have helped me a bunch. Complete flat picking and the first volume of songs for parking lot pickers will be my next buys.Thanks for the group!! this should be a great resoruce.
Steve

Comment by Jaime on May 30, 2008 at 7:32am

Steve's stuff is great to learn from. I have several of his books. He's just about the only guitar "teacher" I've ever had.

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