Feedback on my picking technique

BillDaCostaWilliams · August 6

https://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/122287#Comment_122287

If the video quality was better I think you would get more useful comments.

Overall sound is very muffled and also it's not easy to see your picking.

Scoredog · August 6

Slow Down!...This does not happen overnight...I came from another style with hit records and I still need to work on technique 10 yrs later. Hopefully for you it comes faster.

There is good news, looks like you are using rest strokes. The muffled tone makes it difficult to tell what your tone would be with a Gypsy Guitar. Your phrasing is loose and needs to be cleaned up and your swing factor needs improvement. Copy a few Django phrases and see if you can match them.

davidjazzfan · August 6

https://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/122324#Comment_122324

Swinging eight notes arent good? Loose phrasing? I play the lines the way they were written but i still sound bad...

paulmcevoy75 · August 6

David has videos out there that show he has tremendous ability for the record. He is particularly hard on himself.

Scoredog · August 6

Try using a swinging backing track instead of the synth one and repost, or if you can create your own using La Pompe if you do that.

i presume you know where to find them but if not here is a good link.

https://gypsyjazzplayalongs.jpcafe.xyz/

billyshakes · August 6

I will also add that there are teachers out there like Robin Nolan and Yaakov Hoter who have long experience working with beginners and the ability to give very specific technique advice to help you get there. Robin Nolan also has a strong online community of other beginners in your same position. Don't give up; but don't also try to go it alone. You'll be happier in the long run if you get someone who can consistently shape your early technique development so you don't have to unlearn bad habit patterns that might develop. That or try to find a good local jam where someone might also be able to give real time advice. Good luck!

littlemark · August 6

It looks like you aren't using enough of your wrist to pluck. It looks like you are using now thumb and and finger movement, maybe closer to Benson picking than Gypsy technique.

I recommend getting @MichaelHorowitz gypsy picking book, or @dennis Chang's Gypsy picking book.