New to picado technique

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hopkinWFG

Posts: 57
Joined: Jun. 10 2012

New to picado technique

Dear all, well have started my learning on picado technique... and just wondering if i am doing it right here.. since video i watched maybe alittle helpful..

does it matter if i were to start my picado strokes with my M(Middle) finger first or I (index) finger first? when practising an ascending scale?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 26 2014 15:36:44

orsonw

Posts: 1934
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

RE: New to picado technique (in reply to hopkinWFG)

quote:

does it matter if i were to start my picado strokes with my M(Middle) finger first or I (index) finger first? when practising an ascending scale?

I find it is helpful when practicing technique to start with both. Though for playing music sometimes one finger is preferred because of what comes directly before and/or after the picado.

Don't forget to use advanced search here, the foro already has many useful picado threads.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 26 2014 18:32:29

bernd

Posts: 680
Joined: Feb. 15 2004

RE: New to picado technique (in reply to hopkinWFG)

I agree to learn to start with both fingers. Mostly I start with m but some scales are better to be played by starting with i e.g. some of the runs in Paco´s Barrio la viña (but I have to confess to be very lazy traning to start with i).

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 26 2014 18:59:04

rombsix

Posts: 7813
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: New to picado technique (in reply to hopkinWFG)

Highly agree with the above.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 26 2014 23:02:21

hopkinWFG

Posts: 57
Joined: Jun. 10 2012

RE: New to picado technique (in reply to hopkinWFG)

sure.. have seen many clips out there and wow they are very fast at picado..

just to ask specifically on technique.. would it be the correct way if i were to adpot in such that when playing a major scale down stroke.. having starting with my index or middle finger hitting the low E string but keeping the fingers controlled without resting it on the soundboard of the guitar (body) ... and subsequently when approaching the Low A string i will then do a rest stroke keeping my fingers relaxed not necessary straight but slight curve and position my picking fingers in such that each stroke will rest the finger on the Low E string while hitting the low A string with the tip of your fingers ?

please hear some pointers ?

another is when doing a three note per string repetitively on the three string (Low E,A and D) starting with an index finger for example and when approaching the last Low D string of the last note with my index finger striking the low D string... will i be using my middle finger to strike the low E string which is a distance up away when doing repetition ?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 28 2014 16:29:12

Ricardo

Posts: 14822
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: New to picado technique (in reply to hopkinWFG)

quote:

ORIGINAL: hopkinWFG

sure.. have seen many clips out there and wow they are very fast at picado..

just to ask specifically on technique.. would it be the correct way if i were to adpot in such that when playing a major scale down stroke.. having starting with my index or middle finger hitting the low E string but keeping the fingers controlled without resting it on the soundboard of the guitar (body) ... and subsequently when approaching the Low A string i will then do a rest stroke keeping my fingers relaxed not necessary straight but slight curve and position my picking fingers in such that each stroke will rest the finger on the Low E string while hitting the low A string with the tip of your fingers ?

please hear some pointers ?

another is when doing a three note per string repetitively on the three string (Low E,A and D) starting with an index finger for example and when approaching the last Low D string of the last note with my index finger striking the low D string... will i be using my middle finger to strike the low E string which is a distance up away when doing repetition ?

If you are familiar with alternate picking technique already, the same type of ideas will apply if you think i=down stroke and m=upstroke.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 28 2014 21:26:08

hopkinWFG

Posts: 57
Joined: Jun. 10 2012

RE: New to picado technique (in reply to hopkinWFG)

Thanks guys but i still have a question regarding picado is that i wonder how many of you guys play fast scales without fingernails ? i found out that by using the outmost tip of my I and M by getting the strings to run thru between the tip if my fingers and nails would sounds better and easier to play than getting my nails all cut neat and having difficulties using my flesh to run thru the strings and it also sounds less bright...

wondering if all flamenco players uses more nails to get their scales across than having their nails cut short ?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 5 2014 15:09:19

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: New to picado technique (in reply to hopkinWFG)

Hmmmm not sure I understand but yeah, all flamencos have longish nails compared to other dudes.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 5 2014 16:19:30

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: New to picado technique (in reply to hopkinWFG)

Just let it grow a bit over the tip of the flesh or more if you prefer. Put the file perpendicular to your finger and angle it a bit towards you. File the nails flat and don't start reading about gay nail ramps and stuff like that.

Everyone's fingers are different and have different excursion/motion EVEN if we all had identical fingertips. That's why I enourage you to file flat and play. You'll notice by yourself if there's any bit of ramp needing to be done on a nail (my case is just a bit on the ring finger).

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 5 2014 16:33:01

hopkinWFG

Posts: 57
Joined: Jun. 10 2012

RE: New to picado technique (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Hi thanks alot Martin ;) so does your approach on picado uses more of your nails that interacts with the strings or the flesh of your fingers when comes to fast playing.. or you have no problem at all even your nails are totally trimmed down very short?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 5 2014 16:58:40

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: New to picado technique (in reply to hopkinWFG)

With time I needed less and less nail sticking out of the flesh.. but there's also a point where you know "sh*t, I filed too much".

I keep them short but enough to get some sort of half flesh half nail attack. I also use the nail attack to play electric fretless bass, I use tapewound strings so I need the nails to get the "clank".

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 5 2014 17:12:31

hopkinWFG

Posts: 57
Joined: Jun. 10 2012

RE: New to picado technique (in reply to Sr. Martins)

hi and thanks for your fast reply Martins ;) and yes i was like running well with my picado with more of my nails interacted and its gotta very gritty bright tone when "drilling" my I and M thru the strings on my classical guitar...

well i then came to a point of trimming my nails too short and i found harder to play this time and sounds less bright more warm but harder with using more of the flesh of my fingertips..

it sounds like i am on the right track to have use more nails approach when playing picado...

do you think one would be possible to have his nails all trimed shortest and still play and sounded well ?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 5 2014 17:26:39

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: New to picado technique (in reply to hopkinWFG)

I don't think so but it depends on what you like.

As I said, I even use nails on my bass to give it some "clank" since it's fretless, most bass players usually trim down their nails.

From 0:22 on:

https://soundcloud.com/guitarradas-challenge/gci-mayones-queilux

You can hear what I mean by "clank" on a fretless bass with tapewound strings. Without nails it would sound smooth, round, very bassy... not the case here at all.

If you can relate to what the usual fretless bass sound is and what you hear in what I just linked for you, consider this as the difference between the sound you can get on a flamenco guitar with and without nails.

Using just the nail the sound would be very weak.. imagine yourself plucking a bass with just the nail!

Sorry but I can't remember of any examples with guitar, maybe some users have posted videos with vs without nails.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 5 2014 17:46:13

hopkinWFG

Posts: 57
Joined: Jun. 10 2012

RE: New to picado technique (in reply to Sr. Martins)

haha very nice clips you have ! yeah i heard the cling on your bass it add colors to your tone...

Thanks alot and i guess i am fairly on the right track since having to play picado with flesh part of fingers and nails ... it just weights down to the tone you prefer i guess ;)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 5 2014 17:56:01