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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 พ.ย. 2016
- A quick guide and lesson on relaxed right hand picking technique. I've been asked by a few people to explain my right hand technique which sometimes looks a bit odd at first glance. The technique is similar to the so-called Benson picking but just adapted to be more comfortable for me personally. I've been told that Adam Rogers uses a similar technique. I don't really know if that's true. Anyways, I've experimented a lot with different pciking techniques over the years and found that this technique provides the best pick control, and best overall tone for me. I hope this is useful.
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Holy crap!!!!! You are the only, and i mean only, person ive seen who plays like i do. Been doing it for a long time and it just works. What convinced me was the sound. I play with gain and have never liked the swish swish sound of the pick on the strings.
Wayne Love I completely agree. The sound you get picking this way is one of the main advantages. It just sounds “thicker”.
i have played over 42 years like this and everyone said i played upside down i agree this has a nice feel and i always got my pick stuck the other way. i heard Pat Metheny also plays this way.
Anyhow your video is by far the very best on the subject and should be viewed by much more people as it allows to play much more fluidly with a greatly improved tone. Congrats.
Zobi Zoba thank-you!
These slightest techniques can really make a huge difference. Thanks a lot
You're very welcome John.
After applying this Benson-grip for the past 6 months or so, I noticed that I still couldn't quite get the stoccato articulation that is key to Benson's sound---that other Benson-style players seem to produce. Yesterday, I discovered the problem. Since you are a very accomplished player, I wouldn't presume to tell you anything about the guitar but, since you were so inspirational for me, I can't help but report my finding to you, FWIW.
It has to do with adjusting how the plectrum is held---beyond what you explain so well in this video. If I denote the width of the triangular pick shape as the 'short axis' and its length as the 'long axis', you demonstrate (correctly) how the pick is held "upside down" (as it were) and at 45 degrees across the strings. There are 2 additional steps required from this position to get the full Benson articulation.
1) The long axis should not be parallel to your index finger, i.e., the point of the plectrum should NOT be an extension of your index finger. It should be almost at 90 degrees to your index finger and pointing into the strings. This will cause your hand to be rotated slightly differently. I know that sounds crazy but it gets even crazier.
2) The pick should not be held in its center. Looking down at the plectrum triangle, face on, the natural assumption is to grip it at the centroid. Instead, it should be gripped at the north-east corner (upper right corner, looking down at the pick face), i.e., near to and just above the short axis. If you look at Pat Metheny videos, you'll see he does this very clearly. It looks like half or two-thirds of the pick is sticking out beyond his fingers---which might have to do with him using a larger pick (346?) than Benson's 351. I always wondered why Metheny had such a weird grip and how it never seemed to easily fly out of his hand. Incredibly, it doesn't.
I know these adjustments sound completely nuts and it takes some fiddling around to get the pick into the correct position b/c the altered grip initially feels unfamiliar and tenuous---even impossible! Eventually, it will click and the full Benson articulation will reveal itself. In fact, when achieved, it seems to drive itself in the sense that, once you have the grip correct, it can't not happen. Hope this is useful for you and it would interesting to know what you think, if you try it.
redrooz they don't sound nuts at all. What you describe is indeed what Benson does. Observation 1) is something that I couldn't get used to. It just felt unnatural to me. That's why I hesitated to call this video "Benson picking" because I know he does this. Observation 2) i.e holding the pick at the northeast corner is something I do sometimes, this will produce a more "flap" sound which is very typical of Benson. The further from the center you hold the pick, the more you will have this tone effect. Personally, I think you will achieve what you are looking for with 2) alone and 1) is unnecessary. I'm very happy that this video was helpful to you. It's nice to get feedback like this.
This is a pretty great comment! I think this detail is often overlooked and I don’t mind telling you that I think you’ve saved me another 6 months of work with it! I positioned the pick as you described and it started to click! Thanks man! 😊
The secret to the staccato playing is in the LEFT hand, there is a video by Peter Farrel where he goes into that
Been playing this way since 1964. Just came natural to me. Jump to 2012. Noticed a boat load of monster downward slant picking vids on youtube. Figured I had a backward bad picking habit I needed to break to take my right hand technique to the next level. Spent the next three years masters the proper popular method and after many, many hours of picking exercises, I broke that old picking habit. But alas, for me, it has never felt 100% natural. Glad I learned it though and still use as an optional picking tool as you have shown in your video, but no longer feel my backward picking is incorrect. Back to my old school roots. Just like an old pair of jeans...it just feels right, comfortable, and definitely not wrong... so thanks for the upload!
You're welcome! In the end, everybody's technique is slightly different. The main thing is that it feels natural to YOU. There is no right or wrong.
Excellent breakdown. Hope to improve on it further. But this is a great primer. Thanks.
🙂👍
Benzon style is very good in plucking since it made me more accurate, but for solos..? I cannot really do that fast shredding ..my right hand just simply wont move faster using the benzon technique..
This is plausibly one of the most inspirational guitar-instruction videos on Y/T. Other players on Y/T also discuss the Benson-grip but, the main difference IMHO is that you take it slowly and show some very important camera angles so that the approach really makes mechanical sense and, most important, looks achievable. Now, I wonder how anyone can play jazz w/o using it!
Actually, I got 2 things out of your presentation:
1. Intentional: It has caused me to re-engineer my RH technique. I had assumed (for many yrs) that ppl used this positioning b/c their fingers were longer than mine. (Wrong!)
2. Unintentional: Analyzing your E mixolydian horizontal lines has also opened up some valuable new playing vistas for me. :-)
Thank you so much for taking the time to make this exceptional video!
Some of the Comments are also very instructional. Thanks all.
Thanks redrooz, I appreciate that. I don't make many videos but felt that this could help people. Go figure, I actually have a thumbs down for it from somebody. lol.
It takes all kinds. :-)
While we're about it, can you say something about your recording setup for this video? (strings, amp, software, etc.) As someone already noted, your Tele has a very nice tone in this video.
I'm using D'Addario 12s on my Les Paul Classic. I've read where Benson claims to use 12s on the road, but 14s in the studio.
Another gem I learnt from you is that Benson uses "plain old Fender Mediums". I've always tended to use either Fender Medium or Heavy celluloids but recently switched to Dunlop 1.0 mm Tortex. FYI, since Fender don't specify numerical values, I measured some sample 351s and found "medium" averages at 0.76 mm (nominal 0.75 mm) and "heavy" averages at 0.98 mm (nominal 1.0 mm).
redrooz I usually use a GHS set that has .105 for the high E but honestly, I don't think the strings have any effect on the tone at all. I try different ones all the time with different gauges with no noticeable difference. For this video, I just plugged the guitar directly into garage band on my Mac and chose one of the out of the box amp sims. Really nothing special.
redrooz .
Great explanation of the technique!
Fabulous explanation. And your tone on that Tele is superb. Thank you.
Thank-you!
I just figured out about this, and its actually how I've always picked. I thought I was picking the "wrong" way so I started trying learning how to do that, but I can't control it nearly as well.
Dude right??! I thought I was a weirdo for holding the pick this way until I saw this video...!
George Benson Interview -Your technique is phenomenal. In the beginning, what did you work on to get it to such a high level?
GB response "When I got to New York and found all these guys with all this fabulous technique-Pat Martino and Grant Green and a few others- I said, “Man, I’m not gonna be able to make it here.” I knew I couldn’t match those guys. So I started devising my own method and reexamined the fingerboard. If you play a standard guitar, where you’re playing across the fingerboard, you’re playing down the fingerboard instead of going up. If I move my hands in the direction, slide them up as I play the notes, then it’s a logical progression. That kind of thing. I had to examine that over and over again until I got it right. I’m moving in the direction that the sound is suggesting. It’s all about getting from point A to point B. So I said, “Well, let me try it this way.” And I said, “Whoa! This is much simpler-and I can be much more accurate if I do it this way"
Your brilliant explanation of how to pick, diagonal scales, the sound, plus hammers/pull offs and chromaticism are all the real contributors to Benson's playing. Thank you so much Sibbs
David Sibley thanks very much.
@@JBGWAlain I concur with David's comment. Your video provides ALOT of additional material and recommendations specific to this technique which I have since added into my practice regiment and from which I have reaped much benefit. I have been using this pick technique for years and catching alot of grief from other players for the unorthodox grip. I had no idea that this was an 'accepted' technique until I saw your video. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
@@mikemccann9067 I‘m very glad it was useful. I put up this video a long time ago on a whim and am surprised by a lot of the positive feedback. Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback.
I love this jazz telecaster tone
Thanks!
Great video, man. Thanks a lot.
:-). You're welcome
This vid means a major breakthrough in my playing
So glad to hear it. I never imagined so many people would watch it when I first made it.
Hi can you make another video about benzon picking texhnique? On what to so when your pick always got caught by between strings..i am struggling how to improve it..😅😔
This is very interesting as I have stubbornly played with my thumb and fingers for 30 odd years. I've been switching between these 2 styles of picking and my issue with the Benson style is that if I want to play aggressive, rhythmic 16th note funk chords I tend to lose my grip and my hand tires more easily. It's very frustrating as I prefer the style and sound.
Pete Crucioli, yes I completely agree. As much as I would like this picking to work well with more aggressive rhythmic patterns, it doesn't. At least for me it doesn't. I've seen others who are able to do it. I tend to switch back and forth between this and a traditional style depending on the tone I want. Hope this helps.
this is exactly my issue. trying to play nile rogers funk with this method is something I can't do. but....cory Wong seems to manage, so im going to persevere.
Hmmm....how long did this take to be like it was natural in feel. You can hear the pick attack is a bit muted...but then if your doing jazz runs all day...that maybe the tone to achieve. Interesting though.
thanks!
This is the BEST video I encountered about George Benzon picking technique..thanks for sharing it to us..
Excellent Video! I play Bouzouki and will implement this technique, many thanks! OPA!
Chris Sarantakis thanks for the support! I’m glad you got something out of the video. I love Greece. Been there 17 times now. I’m always impressed by bouzouki picking. Nice to hear from you and good luck!
Hey, Alain. Just discovering this. Well done! Thank you.
Mark Rhodes Thanks Mark. Hope you are well.
JBGWAlain I’m fine in general but still frustrated by my picking. (It was ever thus.) 😊 But I’m learning a lot of good tunes, so I’m making music. Hope all is well with you.
I find difficult to strum with Benson picking, and almost impossible to strum upwards. How did you solve this problem?
Change the angle to flat picking instead of slanting it, then when you are picking change to Benson style
nice video about the subject
Folks, Apply his (JBGWAlain) method then always anchor your index whenever you switch your finger position when you switch to another string one above or down below, or the same string liner playing. Even if you have to start the note with your pinky or ring finger, always be your index landed first.Do not pay much attention on the notes that follow before or after the index. Always pay attention on up stork. Pick and fingers should always close to the string. Apart from index, all the fingers should press lightly or sliding touch. No tension griping on the pick. You will become lightning fast. Try it.No kidding. Practice with "Malmsteen" 3 notes per string patterns. You will know it. Enjoy.
PS. Do not use distortion, use a simple revert and light delay when you practice.
just a suggestion: there is mounting interest in this subject in the past year. It's been called "Backward Pick holding" or "Trail Edge picking". You should update your video tags to include these tags and ideas. You'll get more views and help more people.
Thank-you Adam. I hadn’t heard those terms yet. I’m surprised at how many views the video has gotten tbh. I just created it a while back to help someone who was struggling with the technique and didn’t really expect others to be interested in it.
@@JBGWAlain Thanks for replying. Yeah, basically, one of the most widely known youtube Metal guitar content creators, Ola Englund is a trail edge picker. People are doing research on it with very few resources that talk about it.
Tension between the string and a pick can occur because of tip of the pick point "at stomach" 😮 maybe you should turn it a bit so it will point "at 12th fret :)
great illustration of this picking technique. just out of curiosity, which type of pick do you use? I find that this way of picking produce better tone for some picks, but much "thinner" tone with other picks.
Hi Tamir, I think its a Dunlop. I did the illustration specifically with this pick just because it has a bright color that is easier to see on the black background. The point is, I have found this technique to work with any pick so the pcik itself doesn't really matter all that much. If you use a thinner pick, you'll have a bit more "flop". George Benson is known to use plain old Fender Mediums.
thanks for the reply. I guess I'll need to experiment more. especially to find the proper angle of the pick against the string.
cheers,
Tamir
Thicker triangle V-picks. Non-slip and they are the best sounding picks I’ve run across.
JBG: And George Benson uses the Fender mediums with the large print. (They have a slightly more rounded tip.)
Well....I'm more confused than ever now. this is pretty much the way I've picked all my life...and I've never had any speed or control whatsoever. I tried going to the conventional style with pick angle opposite this - aimed downward - and found I could pick much faster but without as much control. One terrible habit that I cannot break is the pick going in and out - motion perpendicular to the body of the guitar. This is horribly inneficient and I don't know how to stop it.
Ive been working on the technique a lot, but I cant seem to get the lower E and A string from vibrating and causing some noise. any advice?
Ricardo, I don't have that issue so I picked up the guitar and looked at my right hand to try to figure out why. I tend to ever so slightly (and I mean really, really slightly) have my hand touching those strings (E and A) when playing some of the higher strings. I hope this helps
Reply 2: At 6:08 I demonstrate the angle of my arm If you do that, your hand should naturally touch the strings slightly thereby solving the problem.
Im starting to get the hang of it. I adjusted closer to the neck while picking. So the flesh from the palm of your hand by the thumb tends to mute any extra vibrations?
Ricardo Pistone correct.
Ricardo Pistone correct.
Still looks like your pic angle is the same as traditional ?
It's at about a little more than 45 deg. to the strings.
Great sound !!
What picks do you use ?
It look like 0.70mm?
Thanks
I think he's using a dunlop large jazz III. I myself prefer the smaller ones. Both are 1.38 mm, as I remember.
Does this only work well with thinner picks?
It generally works better with medium picks. I have used it with thicker picks too though.
Just to be clear, this is the way that this guy plays. This has very little to do with the way George Benson plays. In fact, the only thing it has in common is that the the pick is held between pads of the thumb and index finger.
Hi, may I know what’s the name of your guitar? Thx.
It's a Fender American Special Telecaster
This is great. I first learned about this by reading Tuck Andress's blog. i was wondering if you had any comments about how to apply this to an up-sweep.
Hi Lawrence, up-sweeps work the same way. The difference is that when using a traditional grip, you need to angle the pick slightly differently when doing an up-sweep. With this technique, the pick angle stays pretty much the same.
Cool! Music to my ears. Upsweeps used to be painful. I started late on life so it took me a long time to get comfortable with a pick and feel like I could really control it. When I read about G. Benson's picking tecnique on Tuck Andreas's (rather lengthy) post, it was like a revelation, but I'm still looking for clarifications and refinements.
@@LarrySiden
Same here…i also read the very long explainations of Tuck Adres…
I've been holding my pick this way for years - and trying NOT to. Someone said it's 11-3 o'clock . I started when I read that Paul Gilbert used this way - I think when copying Neil Schon haha. When I play fast I hold it almost perpendicular . . . Maybe I'll stay with this way?
i am in the same way
Very good but you didi not watch properly Benson. He has his pick vertical to the strings, holds the pick on one corner. The pick tip is not an extension of his finger. Watch again and you probably will see your mistake, although your video is great and is very important
As I said in the video, Benson does it different.
I gave a thumbs up because you got right to the point and didn't have some stupid intro like so many other guitar tutorial vids on youtube.
GB's technique is mainly due to his left hand facility and perfect pitch ability/expert time agility! His son told me he has PP! Those who copy him expertly will always behind him somewhat! Best to learn from other instruments as GB did and not copy guitar. Joe Pass copied Bird ,never guitar players. Then after copying learn to play by feel developed from the environment and folks in it. Jazz is not Intellectual Chamber music as is often heard today and saying it is does a disservice to the Black invented music called Jazz but not named that by Bird and Trane! Dizzy reversed European academic embrochure rules too..Trane never studied European music but stated he wished he had!
Yes, you're right. GB's technique has a lot to do with his left hand. If you want to gain insight on that, just watch Wes Montgomery play. GB's technique is very similar. Also, I couldn't agree more that this is not supposed to be an intellectual exercise. The best thing to do is to listen to and copy the greats. After a while, great lines will flow into your playing by osmosis without thinking about it too much.
All the greats are talented enough to say "play what you feel" vs learning a bunch scales/etc Benson said he thinks of basically major and minor but knowing dim..aug...min..dom..maj chords is important. Benson,Joe, Pat and more heard great pianists./horn players all the time. They didn't rely on guitar for inspiration mainly. I do know Benson was an obsessive transcriber by ear but his natural gifts include him being a very good natural singer. Wes used to bug Mel Rhyne(who had perfect pitch) to show him stuff frequently. Wes developed his relative pitch perfectly...same as Martin Taylor, Andreas Oberg,Tal Farlow who all don't/didnt have perfect pitch. The feel is a seperate talent and felt naturally with so many. Everyone has devices/tricks who really plays! I have yet to hear anyone progress beyond being a basic "clone" who sounds like those they copied except for Allan Holdsworth say in the last 30 years or so. Many are making money off the approaches and sounds of Joe, Pat, Wes, Benson ,Django and Grant especially. I usually would rather hear the sources and have walked out mid set on a few 'top" academic players...boring while predictable!
Traveling man You make very little sense...Have you heard of Jim Hall, John Scofield, Sonny Sharock. Bill Frisell or Pat Metheny? They’re far from clones. And Trane never studied European music? Maybe not formally but he sure got into Nicolas Slonimsky’s book and came up with Giant Steps after, and I’m sure checked out much more. Bird went to Stravinsky’s house, remember? I’m sure he knew his music before knocking on his door. We all have our influences.
Aw geez, ok? Ok. Ya, no. Alright ok?
Ummm it's ok technique changes according to melody ye gotta worry about 3rd wave.... relax !
It’s not how you hold the pick that makes the difference.
When you demonstrate “conventional” technique you are not hitting the strings flush but hitting them in a perpendicular manner. That produces a thinner tone. Your technique is merely a mirror image of true conventional picking. It’s the angle of the pick that matters - hitting the strings flush at 45 degrees - not how anyone holds the pick.
How about just calling it picking hand technique since left handers clearly pick with their left hand!!
Lol. Your so right DCM 😂
Almost seems like you bought someones
's tutorial...hmmm...
No thank you
There are a number of reasons why this grip is not recommended. It creates tension in the wrist because you are gripping with the ends of your fingers, it's also nearly impossible to dampen notes effectively because your wrist must be bent with your technique. This is why proper guitar tutors will not recommend holding a pick in this way. Another totally flawed technique.
Now try to play heavy rhythm with that technique. Nope
Shit, the super glue has already dried.... what do I do now?
Ok
Jesus, Man. Could you slow down some? You trying to keep me awake?
Get to the POINT