maninashed
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Mad Farmer Liberation Front
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Post by maninashed on Oct 7, 2014 13:59:27 GMT
I'm learning a few fingerstyle pieces, mainly mainly by Michael Raven, from tab and listening. When a chord is shown in the tab the notes are notated vertically, looking as though they are played simultaneously and I can play them by by plucking the strings simultaneously. However, on the recordings it sounds as though they are strummed, I assume as an arpeggio. It sounds more dynamic and natural than my simultaneous plucking but I have trouble getting it to sound right. I strum with the back of my index finger but the tone is different from the plucked notes surrounding the chord and it can jar. Also, the timing is proving a challenge, often it sounds rushed and unnatural. I think my technique is getting better but I'd be interested to hear people's observations on this technique. Thanks!
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Post by creamburmese on Oct 7, 2014 14:20:46 GMT
Is it a roll rather than a strum? i.e. pluck the strings in sequence but fast - often notated with a wiggly line down the side of the chord... would give you the fingerpicking sound with a strum effect...
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alig
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Post by alig on Oct 7, 2014 14:50:45 GMT
Is it a roll rather than a strum? i.e. pluck the strings in sequence but fast - often notated with a wiggly line down the side of the chord... would give you the fingerpicking sound with a strum effect... Yup. Sounds about right.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Oct 7, 2014 15:22:20 GMT
Could just be a brush (strum), but maybe with the thumb, rather than the nail, giving the different sound you notice?
If I was doing the same thing, I'd use the back of the index finger like you...
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Post by andyhowell on Oct 7, 2014 16:20:19 GMT
Could just be a brush (strum), but maybe with the thumb, rather than the nail, giving the different sound you notice? If I was doing the same thing, I'd use the back of the index finger like you... Me too. Best adopt a loose interpretation stance!
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Oct 7, 2014 16:50:34 GMT
.......... When a chord is shown in the tab the notes are notated vertically, looking as though they are played simultaneously and I can play them by by plucking the strings simultaneously. However, on the recordings it sounds as though they are strummed, I assume as an arpeggio. It sounds more dynamic and natural than my simultaneous plucking but I have trouble getting it to sound right.............. How many notes in the chord? If five (or six) I'll sometimes do two strings with thumb and three (or four if abs nec) with fingers in quick succession - you can get anything from almost simultaneous, through fast roll and slow roll to obvious arpeggio with a little practice. Hardest bit is getting the two successive thumb notes smooth in themselves and also integrated seamlessly with the finger notes. Worth experimenting with. If only one thumb note is needed (eg 4 note chord) to cover the necessary number of strings then it's easy, though many 5 and 6 note chords can just as well be sounded as 4 note ones provided that the correct bass note comes over, that the melody note (if there is one) comes out strongly, and that the chord maintains the intended tonality with any major/minor thirds it uses. Hope that makes sense! Keith
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Post by vikingblues on Oct 7, 2014 17:58:40 GMT
What they've all said above! Though for me it doesn't matter too much how I play these sort of things, the recorded version by someone else always sounds better. Mark
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maninashed
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Post by maninashed on Oct 9, 2014 7:43:50 GMT
Thanks for your replies! Some very useful stuff to work on. I had wondered about rolls and it's clearly a technique I need to work on, so good advice to help me along. And another question I had about wiggly lines in notation has been addressed!
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