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guitar guitar I

Picky Picky Picky The plectrum isn't just for breakfast anymore. Here are just a few of the ideas that guitarists have come up with for the pick other than just plucking. Enjoy!

Joe Satriani fans will recognize this one. What happens if you use the side of the pick instead of the tip? What happens if you play on the fretbord with the pick instead of over the pickups? Hey, while we're at it, we might as well just use the pick to fret with, you know? Alrighty then, while holding down a note with your left hand in the upper range of the neck, use the side of the pick to trill on the fretboard. Make sure you stay no more than two frets away from the fretted note with the pick or you'll lose speed. Now, for added effect, move both fretted note and trilling pick down the fretboard. Your listeners will think you're on guitar steroids. Give a listen...Example 7 - Fast Picking

Let's make this one short and simple. This is that ubiquitous guitar antic of grinding and sliding. It's bridged parts of songs, as well as, ended half of the rest. Yes, that's right, it's the pick slide. Crank that distortion (kind of a theme in this series, eh?) and use the edge of your pick to grind every last winding on your sixth string. Add some flange if you really insist on sounding like Van Halen. They made whole songs outta the idea. See you at the top. Give a listen...Example 8 - Pick Sliding

Ready for yet another variation on a theme? Take the old version of sliding your pick down the bass strings of your guitar and do it on the treble strings. Don't worry about the absence of those windings to dig your pick into because we got some screeching to do. Take your pick and use the edge to slide down the strings. Now the trick here is to not just fling the pick down the strings like you just don't care. Take your time to use some wrist action to make little back and forth motions as ou cruise to your final destination down stream. Screech on Garth, screech on Wayne! Give a listen...Example 9 - Treble Slide