Eric Johnson Fives in DSX

Technique Critique
#1

Yo,

I’m working on some Eric Johnson inspired bits and pieces but I use DSX rather than USX and so I’m looking for some advice with my approach.

I’ve got a little speed with it, and with simple runs I can make it work, but when I try longer runs and during performance I run into issues with the pick jamming on the upstroke change and generally the attack feeling a bit “weak” or “woolly”. I’ve highlighted the problem notes.

image

Here’s some video:

To me it looks like the string contact isn’t very “strong” on the upstroke, like it just gently brushes the strings rather than giving a really solid contact.

I’ve noticed sometimes in other videos that the pick touches the string but doesn’t continue through, it sort of moves up to the string above, touches it but fails to go through.

Is there something about my form that isn’t right here or a change I can try that might address that?

Thanks!

#2

I can’t see the videos because I don’t have an active subscription at the moment but the way you’ve tabbed out your fives is using a USX approach which favours changes after upstrokes and downward sweeps which would be difficult for a DSX player. Instead try changing the approach to a DSX one and you should find a lot more success:

#3

Cool stuff, and sounds pretty good! This isn’t strict DSX, though, which I think might be causing some of the issues you’re experiencing - the last note in each pattern you play an escaped upstroke. So, some of the time you are sweeping on ups, sometimes escaping - this is more complicated than EJ’s all USX way, or the all DSX way Jack linked.

#4

I would change the fingering and make it more of an economy lick which will work better with DSX as follows _

E string - 8 - 5 (down - up)
B string - 8 (up stroke i.e continue sweep)
G string - 9 - 7 (up stroke continuing sweep + downstroke)

You can then repeat this pattern starting on the B string. This gives you an upward sweep and 5 notes for the price 3 (or technically two once the pattern repeats)