Hybrid Picking

[bilbal]

How many of you guys use a form of hybrid picking? I have been doing for it awhile now and just tried to play straight and I can't anymore. It seems that my fingers just want to play. My speed has increased big time and the tone is definitely different. It's funny too because I just started doing it one day and it took off from there.

[p.j.]

I have been hybrid picking for a long time and it is pretty second nature to me by now. I find that I do have a hard time just strumming w/ a pick and not having my other right hand fingers doing some wiggling. Do you use your nails when picking w/ your fingers? I can't stand the feeling of the strings pulling my nails so I keep them very short. I like the sound of just my fingertips and am able to pull the strings up and whack them if needed or play more subtly.

PJ

[bilbal]

I tried the nail thing about a month ago and it felt very awkward. I'll stick with the finger tips plus they are pretty well calloused at this point.

Yeah the sound is cool. You get the bite of the pick and the warmth of your fingers together. Makes for cool dynamics too.

It is funny how it just kinda happens. I certainly never tried to do it. Like I said one day it just kinda starting happening. I think my love for Knopfler has something to do with it. Now if I could just learn to play with my fingers only... but then what would i do with all these V-Picks???? LOL!!!!

[McCap]

I've been doing hybrid picking the last 5 or so years. It helps me a lot with changing strings and opens up many new possibilities.

I'm trying not to get used to nails as they can break etc...
but I do sometimes like the snappier sound when they're just a little longer than short ...

Actually I have some hybrid picking lessons in my yoututbe channel (see sig.)

[rmconner80]

Yes, I have that problem too. I've been hybrid picking in some form for probably 10 years now, and suddenly noticed I kind of lost my ability to do nice legatto, "beano" type runs and everything I play sounds twangy. I like that, but it can be limiting. I am now trying to learn to employ different picking techniques consciously.

[bilbal]

This is my concern as well. I'm just not a proficient straight picker anymore as is obvious from today's trial. So I guess, as with everything else in guitar playing, there are pros and cons to hybrid picking.

[JohnM]

Originally Posted by bilbal

This is my concern as well. I'm just not a proficient straight picker anymore as is obvious from today's trial. So I guess, as with everything else in guitar playing, there are pros and cons to hybrid picking.

Just remember that you don't always have to use it just because you can. It's just another tool in the box - if a carpenter told you 'Ever since I bought this nailgun all my houses are now Tudor style' you would probably not think that made much sense. The more tools you have, the better - as long as you know when to use 'em!

[GovernorSilver]

Originally Posted by bilbal

How many of you guys use a form of hybrid picking? I have been doing for it awhile now and just tried to play straight and I can't anymore. It seems that my fingers just want to play. My speed has increased big time and the tone is definitely different. It's funny too because I just started doing it one day and it took off from there.

I started hybrid picking 2-3 years ago, using Gustavo Assis-Brasil's book and Brett Garsed's Rock Improvisation DVD.

I have not had a problem with alternate picking since I started. My accuracy, articulation, and yes, speed with strict alternate picking have all improved. That is probably because I practice some stuff (jazz etudes, Bach pieces) with 90-100% alternate picking, separately from other stuff that I practice with hybrid picking. When I improvise single note lines, my tendency is still to use alternate picking (occasionally w/ legato technique) rather than hybrid picking, but that is because I haven't put a lot of effort into using hybrid picking for this purpose.

[kelvinator60]

I have been doing it for years. Picked it up mostly from a sort of Travis picking type thing, only I don't use a thumb pick. I use flat pick and middle and ring fingers. No nails, just fingertips. I can strum rhythm if I need to but any single note stuff always has me slipping into banjo rolls and pinching notes and whatnot. Just a great fun style which is totally natural now. Opens up a LOT of doors.

A good place to start is to learn how to play the James Burton lick to Suzie Q the correct way with a flat pick on the low E and the rest played with fingers (I think he shows it in an instructional video). You can pretty much take it from there.