What the f..am I doing?

Technique Critique
#1

When CtC had the interviews with Andy Wood I was very inspired and started playing some bluegrass to get my cross picking down. Life happened and I had to focus on other aspects of my playing but now I am back and trying to “solve” the mystery of cross picking. But what motion am I using? I have uploadet a small section from Red haired boy trying to play some arpeggios. But it feels weird. The clip is at 140 Bpm and sloppy. I can do it at 130 bpm but it feels like there is to much finger joint involvement. Am I right in my assumption or does it look okay?

2 Likes
#2

Great playing! Just try to separate what you’re doing into parts so you’re conscious of what’s happening.

I think you can see that you are switching between DSX and USX motions (i.e. single escape) for the parts of the tune that can be played that way. If this is subconscious, make it conscious. You can’t perfect something if you don’t know you’re doing it. Film in slow motion until you can see it. Then just play those parts separately, at a touch slower speed, until they are perfect. This is easy since they are almost already perfect.

For the roll section it looks like you’re missing the middle string. That’s fine. It’s a different problem, with a different technique (DBX or 2wps). Don’t conflate it with the other parts of the tune and just think “it’s all sloppy”. It’s not.

TLDR: The song is a collection of parts that you are doing with separate techniques. Divide and conquer. For more specifics make a TC on the platform (not the forum), we’re happy to help.

#3

Thanks for your answer Troy:-) I am aware of my escape motions when playing more scalar lines. The part that is confusing to me are the crosspicking patterns- the roll section. I am indeed missing the middle string. I just can´t seem to find a motion that is comfortable that doesn´t involve to much finger joint motion and actually hits the b-string. It feels as if the motion has to much curve and simply misses the string. I´ll have to spend some more time on this. It also feels like when trying to crosspick on the electric guitar it is not the same technique. Is that normal that there is a difference in the technique you apply on acoustic compared to the electric? And perhaps I have been to much out of the loop when it comes to CtC but what is a TC?

#4

It’s not just the roll pattern - you’re switching between two single escape motions organically as you play this. That’s a good thing and it appears you have figured it out by feel. However those parts aren’t yet rock solid, but they can be relatively easily because they’re close. So I would part those out and make sure all the notes are hit with perfect attack.

For the roll pattern, part that out and test different ways of doing it (DBX and 2WPS mainly) until you get a good result.

TC is Technique Critique on the platform where we (the instructors) will look closely at your (ideally) Magnet clips. You can access it here. Just take the motion tests first and record the numeric values: