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| Super private message to Renauda (and Tom!); The right hand of doom. | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 22 2016, 09:05 PM (161 Views) | |
| Aqua Letifer | Sep 22 2016, 09:05 PM Post #1 |
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ZOOOOOM!
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If I had to make up numbers, I'd say that guitar playing comes down to 60% right hand skill and dexterity, 40% left. With the mando, it appears that it's more 80-20. Chords and melody-playing are easy in terms of your left hand keeping up, but it all hinges on how well you can apply your right. The thing is, I'm a leftie. My right hand doesn't have dexterity for shit. Any ideas on how best to practice picking? Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. |
| I cite irreconcilable differences. | |
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| jon-nyc | Sep 23 2016, 01:12 AM Post #2 |
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Cheers
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Get a left handed mandolin. |
| In my defense, I was left unsupervised. | |
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| George K | Sep 23 2016, 02:37 AM Post #3 |
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Finally
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Stop using your right hand for (ahem) other things. |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| Improviso | Sep 23 2016, 03:58 AM Post #4 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Yea... hard to break muscle memory.
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Identifying narcissists isn't difficult. Just look for the person who is constantly fishing for compliments and admiration while breaking down over even the slightest bit of criticism. We have the freedom to choose our actions, but we do not get to choose our consequences. | |
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| Renauda | Sep 23 2016, 05:21 AM Post #5 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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I can't comment or really offer anything of substance on mandolin picking. It is quite different from guitar picking. All I know is that you should to use a large rigid pick and practice slowly to master technique. Since you are a south paw you will need to set up your instrument accordingly unless of course you are determined to learn right handed - harder to do when you are an adult although easier with a plectrum as opposed to finger picking. There are plenty of quality dvd's out there through Homespun offering lessons from masters. I am pretty sure that David Grisman did a few for mando players. Otherwise pay someone to give you a lessons or see what workshops are out there. Local bluegrass clubs are always hosting workshops and jams for beginners. |
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| markallen | Sep 23 2016, 05:36 AM Post #6 |
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Middle Aged Carp
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Are you playing a left handed guitar? If you think the picking hand needs the most dexterity and you're left handed, that seems to be an obvious answer. I play 75% fingerpicking and 25% rhythm strumming. My basic right hand philosophy is to create as much independence between my middle finger and thumb as possible. I primarily Travis pick with my thumb and index holding the bass line and my middle finger taking the melody. I find a great excersise is to just use your thumb for the alternating bass while going through the scale with your middle finger. For instance I will just hold a C chord and bounce between C and G with my thumb while using my middle finger to play through the scale staring on the second or third strings changing on the beats. Then same thing changing between beats and finally playing a combination of beats and hammer on's between beats. I usually go through three or four major and minor scales for each practice session as part of my warmup. |
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| Aqua Letifer | Sep 23 2016, 06:05 AM Post #7 |
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ZOOOOOM!
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Thanks a lot, guys. markallen, I actually play a rightie guitar (and now have a rightie mando). I started that way just because that was the kind of guitar I had lying around, and it seemed to be a good idea t the time; I needed the strength in my left hand to get barres right at first. So, I'm picking with my right. Scales seem like a good idea, but because I'm so new to this—been using my fingers for guitar, seldom a pick—I'm going to need a handful of things to practice so that I don't get bored out of my mind playing basically nothing, and my neighbors don't kill me because they're hearing a scale for the 3,204th time. When you're learning solo, it can definitely be hard picking the right thing to practice. :/ |
| I cite irreconcilable differences. | |
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| Renauda | Sep 23 2016, 06:45 AM Post #8 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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If you have learned to play right handed on the guitar then stick with it on the mandolin. You'll just have to learn how to use a plectrum playing right handed. |
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| Aqua Letifer | Sep 23 2016, 07:19 AM Post #9 |
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ZOOOOOM!
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Easier said than done. :/ Them strings are pretty close to one another. (Then again, what the hell, I got some time. ) It's getting set up today. Mine's in pretty good condition and really just needs a lower action and/or a bridge adjustment, so it should be ready to go for the weekend.
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| I cite irreconcilable differences. | |
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