What is Chicken Picking?

[iDavid]

Ok,

just the facts please :cool:

[Old Tele man]

...a picking technique similar to banjo plectrum where the string(s) are "plucked" for attack and pitch stretching (slightly sharp).

[spaceboy]

yeh, isn't it just when you hold your pick normally and use it for the bass strings and then use your remaining fingers to pluck the top strings?

like the good ole Reverand Horton Heat

[decay-o-caster]

Very staccato, country sounding thing, sounds way cool when you can get some pinch harmonics going at the same time.

[littlemoon]

Nah! "Chicken picken'" is what you do with the groupies after a show if you can't fit them all into the limo.

littlemoon

[-CM-]

I found this site (http://www.grassrootsmusic.com/guitar/lesson-remain.php) with a Google search. Excerpt:

This is a popular style of playing among country guitarists and is accomplished by grasping the pick with your thumb and index finger and using your remaining three fingers to pick any simultaneous notes that need to be played (this is useful in situations where you need to switch back and forth between picking and fingerstyle playing, or if you just prefer the sound of a pick).

[decay-o-caster]

So it's like pornography - no one knows how to define it, but we all recognize it when we see (or hear) it! :)

[Jon Silberman]

Originally posted by decay-o-caster
Very staccato, country sounding thing, sounds way cool when you can get some pinch harmonics going at the same time.

It is country/rockabilly sounding but as decay-o notes, you can combine it with many techniques and so it's a nice way to augment your playing in lots of styles, I use it all the time in rock and blues. Gil Parris is an excellent example of how it can be applied to jazz. John 5 shows how it can be meshed even with hard rock and metal.

[iDavid]

where could I find sound clips of this?

[neastguy]

Originally posted by iDavid
where could I find sound clips of this?


http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/melody/73/tab.html

[scottyboy]

neastguy-that site soaked up 2 or so hours last night. it was fascinating. that guy put in some work and it was interesting to read his opinions on his equipment and various manufacturers.
great site. the chicken picking clips are beyond belief.

scott

[boomchickaboom]

well....to me anyway....the use of pick and fingers is called hybrid picking.....

chicken picking is a very specific thing....most folks do use apick and fingers hybrid technique to do it but not everything that uses pick and fingers is chicken picking....

it's only chicken pickin'....to me.....when you're doing the very specific "buckabuckabrowe" thing where you make the guitar sound like a chicken buckin' and crowin'....usually to me it's 3 quick picks on the g string followed by a quick upstroke with your finger on the high e.....

d

[scottyboy]

Echo-it just seemed like he dumped his entire mind of music on his site. i did not know that about the song Hotwired. interesting to see those string benders up close. i've heard of them but never got to understand their set up.

best wishes,

scott