Plectrum Technique 2
Outline: This lesson describes more advanced and specific methods of plectrum use, and goes into greater detail about the mechanics of using a plectrum for different styles of music.
Pick Positioning
The place where your pick hits
the strings is important in order to develop a firm understanding tone
manipulation. This becomes especially crucial when playing styles of blues,
jazz, and softer rock. Articulation and tone control when playing is extremely
important. The picking area of the strings is the area not covered by the
fretboard, over the body. This gives several options for where to pick. As seen
in the figure at left, one can pick closer to the bridge end of the guitar, for
a fatter sound ideal for rhy
thm lines, commonly used in rock and heavy metal
rhythm, as well as most blues. In the figure at the right, a picking position
closer to the neck is used. This allows for a good sound for soloing in rock
styles, as well as a common jazz or acoustic strumming use. The region closer to
the neck offers a more resonant, ringing tone, while closer to the bridge makes
for a more chunky, thick tone. Tones usually vary from guitar to guitar.
Palm Muting Technique
The method of palm muting is very
commonly used in most rock and heavy metal styles, and is often used with a
distorted guitar. It creates a very chunky, short, staccato sound when used
correctly. It involves partially muting the strings from fully ringing with the
side of the palm of the picking hand, but still allowing them to ring enough so
that they create a deep, tonal sound.
To palm mute, place the picking
hand's palm just a little before the strings go into the bridge. That's right,
place them on the strings, and then pick the strings that are muted. If
you do it correctly, the chunk sound should come out of your amplifier,
instantly recognizable. The photo at left illustrates the part of the hand used
for muting, and the one at right shows good palm muting in action. Palm muting
is usually done on the lower (4th, 5th, 6th), thicker strings, because of their
ability to sound even when partially muted. The palm can be moved closer to the
neck, providing more muting, and shorter notes. The closer you are to the
bridge, without actually going over the bridge where the strings stop, the more
the notes will ring out.
Applications for palm muting are very widespread. Listen to almost any song by most heavy metal bands... Megadeth, Anthrax, Metallica, Iron Maiden, and even many classic rock songs like some by Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, etc. and you'll hear some extensive palm muting in action. The "chug" or "machine gun" sounds of many rock bands are based on the palm muting technique. If you consider playing in these styles a part of your overall goal, try to perfect this technique by learning how to alternate between palm muted riffs and regular picked passages.
Fingerpicking Basics
Picking with the fingers of the
hand on an electric guitar provides a very different sound than with a pick. The
difference is a lessened pick attack, and a more direct interaction with the
guitar, providing a better control of tone from the strings. The basic way in
which fingerpicking is done is by using the "PIMA" method. As shown on
the picture at left, the thumb is referred to as "P," the index finger
as "I," the middle as "M," and the ring finger as
"A." In fingerpicking, the thumb usually handles the lower, or bass
strings, and the I, M, and A fingers handle the higher strings. The pinky is not
used in basic fingerpicking, but is actually used in a form of fingerpicking
known as "hybrid" picking (see lesson IV). When fingerpicking, the
thumb picks downward, and the other fingers pick up, plucking the strings.
Fingerpicking is especially useful when playing arpeggios and slow passages
where one-note-per-string playing is required, because of the fact that the
fingers naturally retract upwards to the player, and the thumb can stroke the
strings downwards.
Finger Anchoring
Although it is advised by some
that it is irregular and unnatural practice, finger anchoring can prove to be
useful to some who feel awkward when picking. Many players, like John Petrucci
and Kirk Hammett, use finger anchoring as a part of their playing, to keep
themselves playing articulate and rhythmically. Finger anchoring involves
placing the pinky finger of the picking hand, or even the ring finger with it,
on the body of the guitar when picking. The finger rests at a specific point,
and does not move, and allows the guitar player to stabilize his or her hand, so
that the pick doesn't dig too far into the strings.
Anchoring provides a measurement of how high the hand is, so that it does not pick too deep. It also helps the hand from tilting to one side when picking. Some players may feel awkward when anchoring, and if this is the case, it is strongly advised not to do so. It is a purely optional technique, and may help some develop their picking abilities. Keep in mind that the pinky does not move when anchored, although the rest of the hand should move freely.
