Few tips needed.

[Sinmastah]

I need to work on using my pinky more, alternate picking, and pulling off and hammering on during my solos to make things easier. Right now I just use my main 3 fingers, I downstrum virtually everything, and I rarely hammer-on or pull-off, just dry pick it all.

Any ideas to help me integrate those three things into my playing?

[randelli]

Just sit down and concentrate on doing each of those steps. Try listening to a new music style that uses those techniques (Best of the Eagles '71-'75 would be a good start). and see what happens.

I had to sit down this last week and work on using my ring finger for scales and lead/fills. I have the bad habit of using mostly pinky for bending and such. It really feels weird to use a different finger; but with practice it will be more natural.

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by Sinmastah

I need to work on using my pinky more, alternate picking, and pulling off and hammering on during my solos to make things easier. Right now I just use my main 3 fingers, I downstrum virtually everything, and I rarely hammer-on or pull-off, just dry pick it all.

Any ideas to help me integrate those three things into my playing?

PRACTICE LIKE THIS....The Pinky is Always the weakest finger that is why we have to use it more for it to be equal to the rest....

-----------------------------------------2345----------------------------------
--------------------------------2345------------2345--------------------------
-----------------------2345---------------------------2345-----------------
---------------2345------------------------------------------2345------
---------2345---------------------------------------------------------
-2345---------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a finger exercise to get all 4 fingers working, you need to also use alternate picking while practicing.....down up down up down up that is the most efficient way without wasting any motion.

Here are some variations on that 4 finger exercise...
----------------------------------------------5432---------------------
-----------------------------------5432--------------5432-------------------
--------------------------5432--------------------------------5432--------
-----------------5432--------------------------------------------- etc.
---------5432-------------------------------------------------------
--5432----------------------------------------------------------------

These exercises can be moved up and down the neck, you can make up a few of your own...
Play the major scale it also requires 4 fingers..as far as the hammer ons and pull offs go, I suggest try learning "sweet home Alabama" the correct way that has H's & P's in open G position that will give you a feel for them also "over the hills and far away" more hammer on and pull offs...then start to move them up the neck in other songs that do that kind of technique...

Hope this helps, I tell my students if they don't use their pinky it will dry out, shrivel away and fall off for lack of use...lol

Peace, jonesy

[Big_dawg]

jonesy what is the correct way to play Sweet Home Alabama??

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by Big_dawg

jonesy what is the correct way to play Sweet Home Alabama??

This Tab is a pretty good guide, but can't say it is 100% Flawless, listen to CD and use your ear as the final guide as how it should be correctly played.

SWEET HOME ALABAMA TAB...

[Big_dawg]

thank you...

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by Big_dawg

thank you...

No problem Bro, here is the video...

LS Video..

[jonesy]

Here is another tab that may be a little more accurate for Intro...

SWEET HOME ALABAMA TAB

[Big_dawg]

excellent the video may be very helpful... its so much easier when you can see what they play..

[axslinger]

Originally Posted by Big_dawg

jonesy what is the correct way to play Sweet Home Alabama??

Justin at justinguitar.com has a video dedicated to SHA. It's the best I've seen, and I'm an old fart who was "singin' Sweet Home Alabama all summer long..."

[Sinmastah]

Thanks for the help you two, I will try doing that.

[Yowzer]

Not to derail the thread or anything, but isn't the confederate flag backdrop that comes in around 1:20 in that clip upside down? I thought it might be some sort of statement, but a quick google image search of "Lynyrd Skynyrd" showed that flag right side up when associated with the band.


I guess the next question is why a Canadian would pick up on that...

[Sinmastah]

I'm confused though when it comes to alternate picking. What if you have semi slow notes, lets say the solo to War Pigs, would you need to alternate picking? Is there some sort of rule, or just do what you are comfy with. Right now I downstrum almost everything unless it's really fast, but I don't seem to have much of a problem with it.

[axslinger]

Originally Posted by Sinmastah

I'm confused though when it comes to alternate picking. What if you have semi slow notes, lets say the solo to War Pigs, would you need to alternate picking? Is there some sort of rule, or just do what you are comfy with. Right now I downstrum almost everything unless it's really fast, but I don't seem to have much of a problem with it.

I use it when it's necessary for speed and I'm trying to minimize movement. If you can comfortably play a passage with all down strokes, then it's acceptable. It's really a matter of what is comfortable for you. I have just found that alt. picking is far less work.

[axslinger]

Originally Posted by Yowzer

Not to derail the thread or anything, but isn't the confederate flag backdrop that comes in around 1:20 in that clip upside down? I thought it might be some sort of statement, but a quick google image search of "Lynyrd Skynyrd" showed that flag right side up when associated with the band.


I guess the next question is why a Canadian would pick up on that...

Hmm, the confederate flag is symmetrical, how could it be upside down? What am I missing?

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by Yowzer

Not to derail the thread or anything, but isn't the confederate flag backdrop that comes in around 1:20 in that clip upside down? I thought it might be some sort of statement, but a quick google image search of "Lynyrd Skynyrd" showed that flag right side up when associated with the band.


I guess the next question is why a Canadian would pick up on that...

Hmmmm, you got me curious...I looked at the Flag and it appears to be the correct way, what makes you think it is upside down? Red background blue X with stars? The points of the stars are pointing up...true that when a flag US or other is displayed upside down it is a signal for help but I don't think that is the case here

[Yowzer]

I thought I had read somewhere that the it was supposed to be a solitary point that pointed upwards. "The stars point north" is what I recall reading somewhere. In the clip, it looks like the stars are pointing downwards - ie: 2 points facing up.

Anyway, back to your regularly scheduled thread...

[ThrashPirate]

I have to say that jonesy you are one of the most helpful people on here.

Thanks!

[jonesy]

Thanks Bro, I try...