Picking patterns? How do you pick notes on One Sweet World

[myonlybliss]

I am pretty new at guitar and I keep reading that correct technique is alternating picking patterns--because they make you quicker after awhile. So I am wondering how you guys pick individual notes, meaning do you pick down down down or down up down up down up etc... For instance on OSW,

E:--------------------------
B:--------------------------
G:-----7----8/10-10--x-x-
D:---8------8/10-10--x-x-
A:-6-----------------x-x-x--
E:-------6-----------x-x-x-

on 6 8 7 then 6, would you pick down down down down or use the "alternating pattern" like I keep reading about and pick down up down up???

what about the intro? any pattern that is good to follow here---->

E:--------------------------------------------------
B:-----1-------0-1----------------------------------
G:-------0---2-------3------------------------------
D:---2-----------------0-0-----3-0-----3-1-----1/3--
A:-3-------2-------1---------3-------3-----1-3------
E:-------------------------1-------4----------------


One more example that has been bugging me is on So Much to Say. On the intro here, these are my questions on how you guys do it and if there is a proper way.

E:------5-----------------
B:------5-----------------
G:------5---4\6-----------
D:---------------7--------
A:------------------------
E:-3\5--------------0-8\--

Alright, after I hit the fifth fret GBE strings my wrist is moving down (towards the floor) since I have to bring it back up to strike the G string on the fourth fret for the first slide, do I hit this note with an upstroke (since my wrist has to travel up towards it) or downstroke? This one really bugs me because I don't know the correct technique!!! Then what about the 7 and 0---up or down picking?

[jsgksu]

Well, on the first part of OSW you posted, just go down down down, if youre staying on the same string and picking notes, it helps to alternate, or if youre working down, up, down, up etc on different strings, it helps to alternate between down and up strings, just play the song slow and you should be able to tell where it will be helpful

[jsgksu]

I normally fingerpick the intro to OSW, but try to figure out what would make the most sense if youre using a pick, as for SMTS, I use all down strums. I dont know what level youre at in youre guitar playing but try learning the stone, where it has the fast picking of the 5 repeated, you should alternate pick there, that is an example, but maybe just try learning the technique just picking at chords, making stuff up, and when you have it down good, use it in songs if it makes it easier for you.

[Trippin Hillbilly]

Try getting your hands on some videos. They'll probably help alot if you're still getting accustomed to dave's technique's.

The listener supported dvd helped me a bunch for that.

[c_tietze]

Up and down man, all up and down. Dave is a master at doing this, his fretting hand moves like a butterfly.

I've got a good video from Tony at dmbvideos.com if anyone knows where I can post it - this will clear up your OSW issues no doubt.

Drop Tony a line, maybe he can help you out.

Peace,

CJT

[jsgksu]

Up and down man, all up and down. Dave is a master at doing this, his fretting hand moves like a butterfly.

While this may be true, hes talking about alternative picking, up and down with his picking hand, not the fretting hand.

[Trippin Hillbilly]

Up and down man, all up and down. Dave is a master at doing this, his fretting hand moves like a butterfly.

I've got a good video from Tony at dmbvideos.com if anyone knows where I can post it - this will clear up your OSW issues no doubt.

Drop Tony a line, maybe he can help you out.

Peace,

CJT

No, the only one of those three that is alternate picked is the intro to OSW. The rest are all down.

[myonlybliss]

I normally fingerpick the intro to OSW, but try to figure out what would make the most sense if youre using a pick, as for SMTS, I use all down strums. I dont know what level youre at in youre guitar playing but try learning the stone, where it has the fast picking of the 5 repeated, you should alternate pick there, that is an example, but maybe just try learning the technique just picking at chords, making stuff up, and when you have it down good, use it in songs if it makes it easier for you.

I don't know really how to fingerpick yet. You don't use your pinky do you? I am thinking it is thumb, index, middle ring? I know this is asking a lot, but could you indicate on the intro which fingers you use on each note?

Also---how would you start the song fingerpicking and then suddenly play with a pick?

[jsgksu]

I normally fingerpick the intro to OSW, but try to figure out what would make the most sense if youre using a pick, as for SMTS, I use all down strums. I dont know what level youre at in youre guitar playing but try learning the stone, where it has the fast picking of the 5 repeated, you should alternate pick there, that is an example, but maybe just try learning the technique just picking at chords, making stuff up, and when you have it down good, use it in songs if it makes it easier for you.

I don't know really how to fingerpick yet. You don't use your pinky do you? I am thinking it is thumb, index, middle ring? I know this is asking a lot, but could you indicate on the intro which fingers you use on each note?

Also---how would you start the song fingerpicking and then suddenly play with a pick?

The thumb is supposed to get the top three strings, the ohter three are for the pointer, middle and ring. I use my pinky sometimes on other songs. Im at work so I dont have my guitar with me or anything, but actually come to think of it I also use a pick on the intro half the time. As for switching from fingerpicking to picking its easy, just cup it to your palm with a finger or two then switch at the second or so pause between the last note and before going into the song. If youre not good at fingerpickign I dont know if this is the best song to learn on, so try some fingerpicking exercises and come back later if you wish, this intro can easily be picked, with a pick. Sorry if I confused you but like I said I play it both ways and Im at work so I dont really have a guitar to pick up and tell you how I really play everything.

[myonlybliss]

that's cool
i appreciate the advice!!! i'll give it a try tonight

[Duffman]

i was told by my teacher and other people that picking d u d u is better. but i think that is WRONG. after watching and playing daves songs, i find it much easier to keep a rhythm if you always do down. for instance, in the stone, i used to pick d u d u for the whole thing, even though the timing for was different for some of them (some 1/4 notes, some 1/8 ) the way i do it now, and its much easier, is to keep your right hand moving consistantly and picking the note with whatever way your hand is going. for all the 1/4 notes, its down. all the 1/8 notes its up.

so bottom line. keep your right hand in rhythm and pick based upon that.

[jsgksu]

i was told by my teacher and other people that picking d u d u is better. but i think that is WRONG. after watching and playing daves songs, i find it much easier to keep a rhythm if you always do down. for instance, in the stone, i used to pick d u d u for the whole thing, even though the timing for was different for some of them (some 1/4 notes, some 1/8) the way i do it now, and its much easier, is to keep your right hand moving consistantly and picking the note with whatever way your hand is going. for all the 1/4 notes, its down. all the 1/8 notes its up.

so bottom line. keep your right hand in rhythm and pick based upon that.

Code: Select all

Intro
E:-------------------------
B:-------------------------
G:-----2-------------------
D:---------3---5-5--2-3-2--
A:-5-----------------------
E:-------------------------
    D  D   D   D U  D U D

Thats how I play it (I think, once again, Im at work, guitarless) As for only doing down strums on certain lenght notes and only up on other ones, that just osunds silly, alternative picking is very helpful sometimes, if you can play it like that and it sounds good go with it but I would not tell a beginner to learn like that at all.

[Snyder]

Hmmm, Stone, I to am guitarless at the moment but I am 90% positve I play stone like this:

Code: Select all

Intro 
E:------------------------- 
B:------------------------- 
G:-----2------------------- 
D:---------3---5-5--2-3-2-- 
A:-5----------------------- 
E:------------------------- 
   D   U   D   U D  U D U 

As for the other ones, I spent to much of my brain power imagining how I play stone, so I'll see what I do when I get home and have a guitar. But I'm pretty sure OSW I "Mute & Down Stroke with a quick Strum on the 8/10," On SMTS all "Mute & Down Stroke," and the OSW Intro so far I just finger pick. But I'll have to verify that...

[Duffman]

i was told by my teacher and other people that picking d u d u is better. but i think that is WRONG. after watching and playing daves songs, i find it much easier to keep a rhythm if you always do down. for instance, in the stone, i used to pick d u d u for the whole thing, even though the timing for was different for some of them (some 1/4 notes, some 1/8 ) the way i do it now, and its much easier, is to keep your right hand moving consistantly and picking the note with whatever way your hand is going. for all the 1/4 notes, its down. all the 1/8 notes its up.

so bottom line. keep your right hand in rhythm and pick based upon that.

Code: Select all

Intro
E:-------------------------
B:-------------------------
G:-----2-------------------
D:---------3---5-5--2-3-2--
A:-5-----------------------
E:-------------------------
    D  D   D   D U  D U D

Thats how I play it (I think, once again, Im at work, guitarless) As for only doing down strums on certain lenght notes and only up on other ones, that just osunds silly, alternative picking is very helpful sometimes, if you can play it like that and it sounds good go with it but I would not tell a beginner to learn like that at all.

you play it exactly how i do and how i explained it. notice how all the 1/8 notes are upstrokes. (the fast ones) all the D's are on the ~ and all the U's are on the `'s

Code: Select all

Intro
E:-------------------------
B:-------------------------
G:-----2-------------------
D:---------3---5-5-2-3-2---
A:-5-----------------------
E:-------------------------
   D   D   D   D U D U D
   ~ ` ~ ` ~ ` ~ ` ~ ` ~

[dmfollower]

you know, i had the same problem with the "alternate picking" thing. i was trying to learn tonight, tonight by the pumpkins and it was driving me crazy cause i knew the right notes but it just didnt' sound perfect, until i watched billy play an acoustic version and i noticed that he was picking the same notes but differently. so i guess my advice would be to watch a video. i didn't learn alternate picking from anyone, i just watched someone else do it and i learned it myself. unless you have a teacher i suggest you dl some dave solo.
peace.