McLaughlin's Pickin'

Playing Technique
#1

I have noticed John McLaughlin’s “downstroke escape” 45 degree angle picking on vids

I can see that the “leading edge/neck pick up facing” edge of pick hits string on downstroke…what about the return stroke? (upstroke) is it the “trailing edge/bridge facing edge” That slices through string on the upstroke or does he have more of a “flat on” regular up and down stroke going on?

Thanks Guys :slight_smile:

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#2

Well, I watch some of john’s stuff and it looks a bit like that - kind of a diagonal back and forth. And for myself, I am the exact opposite, since my pick grip is trailing edge.

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#3

Thanks Scott…any more?

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#4

Well, one thing that I think that I personally need to remember, especially when I am chasing a certain sound that I can’t seem to do (ie Steve Morse DBX or Eric Johnson cascade) is that I need to do me first and foremost. Start with what I am good at and what comes naturally and see if I can find the holes. Then fill those holes with a strategic note re-arrangement, and THEN take a look at my setup for any string changes that pose a problem.

Took me a while to be at peace with it, but here’s what I have learned thus far (Thanks Tom, Troy and Tommo) is that;

  1. Even number of notes per string is powerful, very powerful Any string escape can do it and in my opinion it’s the first logical step after getting a tremolo together.
  2. String changes that happen on my “non escape” stroke can be "hacked via sweep, legato, or hybrid power-ups. (lol I love calling them power-ups, thanks Tommo!)
  3. Can’t fixate on forcing a note arrangement to work when it isn’t compatible with a certain setup. Experimentation and trial and error is the key.

For instance, I don’t play like Yngwie, but I can play his notes - if that makes sense?.. Same with lots of other players whose music I love. The only real stick in the mud right now is 1 nps stuff like Steve Morse! hahaha :grinning:

#5

We’ve covered this motion in extensive detail in our lessons, and the lesson where we discuss this motion happens to be free on YouTube:

Fast alternate picking motions are generally symmetrical. Whatever happens in one direction, the exact same thing happens in reverse. I can’t think of any situation where this is not true — again, for fast motion. However much edge picking you use for this particular motion is up to you. But once you choose that, whatever happens on the downstroke just happens in reverse for the upstroke.

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