After more than 35 years of guitar playing i cant believe i never thought of which knuckle i was moving… wow bye bye speed bottle neck i was feeling!!! This is a black belt tip thanks a million
I think you are a gifted teacher, able to communicate in detail. All that you share is accurate. In some instances, three finger picado works nicely, but the nail on the annular finger must not be too long. Balance in tone can be achieved by applying a thicker layer of glue to the annular: I use UV cured glue. After decades of trying a myriad of products, the gel is by far superior and hardens in less than 10 seconds. Polishing the skin on the fingertips with a foam sanding block also helps.
I've never seen such an information rich, straight to the point tutorial on Flamenco picado. Scot Tabor is offering valuable advice that will prevent developing the bad habits that I am still working to overcome at 72. Better late than never.
Thank you for this tutorial! Can I ask (i know the answer but for my head to hold onto hope) is it normal to be ridiculously slow at first? Is that normal? If I continue to practice hard will I eventually get there?
Filing your nails at the 4 minute 36 sec point. I happened to see a interview with Paco De Lucia and he discussed how he filed his nails. He used the same sand paper technique you showed, however he moved his finger nails across the string as if he were plucking the string because that is the direction that the finger is moving. As he explained in the interview,that by filing the nail, as you have showmen, means the nail is smooth but not in the direction the finger will be moving. If the finer nail was sliding up or down the string then fling the nail as you have demonstrated, would be OK. He prefers to use sand paper as it can be molded to go around the inside and outside of the nail which a solid file can not. He starts with 1,500 grit sandpaper and then finishes with 12,000 grit. Most hardware store do not stock this fine a sandpaper. I get this from a automotive store that stocks this fine paper that is used by autobody paint shops. A 8"x 11" sheet costs pennies and a single sheet will last me 3-4 months if I use it daily.
Yup Scott. No, 4 is me. The long damn finger. I have a very difficult time laying (practicing) tremolo. Also, thanks for the sand paper filing method. Great video my friend. Thank you.
Great vids and great content overall on your channel. Your lesson pacing is fantastic! Quick, insightful, and to the point. Much appreciated. Almost every other vid I watch on the tube needs the playback speed adjusted to 2x. Yours are perfect.....Flamenco players don't waste time 🙂
Another great video. You broke the Picado down to manageable elements, each of which can be difficult to master. May I ask a related question regarding the wrist and forearm as you travel from high E to low E: Do you suggest sliding the forearm across the top edge of the guitar so as to keep the wrist at the same angle. Alternatively, you could bend at the elbow and adjust the wrist. I'm not sure which is preferred. Thanks in advance.
Ideally you would move your whole arm upward to keep your wrist position the same, but if there’s something *immediately* following the phrase (like a thumb stroke for example), you would adjust your wrist and bend your elbow as you said.
Great video.... One thing though, I often wonder about whether there are slightly different types within picado itself. I notice that sometimes I see players with the picking fingers almost straight, and other times I see a degree of curvature to the fingers (this is in addition to the compensation for the i and m lengths).... Does this vary depending upon other factors, such as whether the musical piece is moving between tirando and picado, or rasqueo or arpeggios, or which strings are involved?.... Or maybe there are other reasons?... or is it simply a personal thing?... Btw, what's the difference between getting the courses, and a membership? [edit: I subsequently watched another of your videos, which answered some of the questions. oops]
I think it kind of depends on what feels good to you… Letting your fingers be slightly backwards when you do Picado can be easier especially if your nails are longer. As of now the membership includes all of my courses, but some of those courses can be purchased individually and you could have them forever if you do that. Pretty soon I’m going to be removing my main ultimate nylon string guitar guide course from the membership so that it can be sold separately. But anybody who joins as a member now Will have access to that
Alternating is a great technique and should be mastered, no questions, however swiping is an amazing technique as well, and needs to be mastered as well, the speed is defiantly greater than alternating, I used to thing that alternating is the only way to go not so, swiping is like the fifth gear when it comes to speed.
When you play two strings with one movement (one direction), you can play 2,3 or even 6 strings with one stroke, Paco did it as well, not as much but he did.@@TheVersatileGuitarist
Thanks for Sharing Scot Great videos I'm already subscribed from no on to your Channel 🎵🎶💕Greetings From Argentina! Can you later Explained Gipsy King 's Rumba Pattern Strumming ? Like Djobi Djoba and Bem Bem Maria and also slow Rumba like Moorea or un amor also from Gipsy king Greetings !🥰
I understand the technique of planting/preparing/muting as a means to get better control on the mechanics of what you're doing. But, is it me or in practice, with fast picado runs, this technique cannot be applied? I cannot hear the muting- understandably so I guess, since this would mean doubling the right hand speed of already lighting fast passages? Btw, amazing lessons
At a certain speed the staccato sound of planting will disappear, but it’s the planting habit that helps you get to those speeds because you’ve trained your fingers to get to the string ahead of time. You can however hear the staccato-ness in some of Paco de Lucia’s picado passages.
It’s just a matter of efficiency. Some of the greatest players will do that, and sometimes it’s for show - if you practice the less efficient way of doing things enough, you can still play super fast but it saves a lot of practice time and hours of repetition to do the efficient thing
From what I've seen, it's his i finger that does this the most. At one point i wondered if he made some notes with the i finger alone. I asked him about it. He said it was i&m alone. Ben Woods had a technique he called "alternail" where he made notes with the i finger alone. You're right Lucas' picado is very good.
Get the tabs and practice play-along tracks from all my picado TH-cam videos here: bit.ly/3u2Hhfi
Glad you mentioned the fingers being different lengths. I thought i was flamenco disabled because of this and my struggles with picado lol
After more than 35 years of guitar playing i cant believe i never thought of which knuckle i was moving… wow bye bye speed bottle neck i was feeling!!! This is a black belt tip thanks a million
Very sufficient points ❤
I think you are a gifted teacher, able to communicate in detail. All that you share is accurate.
In some instances, three finger picado works nicely, but the nail on the annular finger must not be too long. Balance in tone can be achieved by applying a thicker layer of glue to the annular: I use UV cured glue. After decades of trying a myriad of products, the gel is by far superior and hardens in less than 10 seconds.
Polishing the skin on the fingertips with a foam sanding block also helps.
I've never seen such an information rich, straight to the point tutorial on Flamenco picado. Scot Tabor is offering valuable advice that will prevent developing the bad habits that I am still working to overcome at 72. Better late than never.
Appreciate it!
your videos are wonderful 👏, total mastery of the guitar, truly magnificent. Maestro 💫Sam.👋
Thanks so much!
Im so appreciative of your content and teaching style, editing, pace, etc. etc. You are a natural educator
Wow I appreciate that
Thank you for this tutorial! Can I ask (i know the answer but for my head to hold onto hope) is it normal to be ridiculously slow at first? Is that normal? If I continue to practice hard will I eventually get there?
@rumbashane Yes. 🙌
Filing your nails at the 4 minute 36 sec point. I happened to see a interview with Paco De Lucia and he discussed how he filed his nails. He used the same sand paper technique you showed, however he moved his finger nails across the string as if he were plucking the string because that is the direction that the finger is moving. As he explained in the interview,that by filing the nail, as you have showmen, means the nail is smooth but not in the direction the finger will be moving. If the finer nail was sliding up or down the string then fling the nail as you have demonstrated, would be OK. He prefers to use sand paper as it can be molded to go around the inside and outside of the nail which a solid file can not. He starts with 1,500 grit sandpaper and then finishes with 12,000 grit. Most hardware store do not stock this fine a sandpaper. I get this from a automotive store that stocks this fine paper that is used by autobody paint shops. A 8"x 11" sheet costs pennies and a single sheet will last me 3-4 months if I use it daily.
Nice! I like those cloth/fabric sandpaper squares you can get on stringsbymail but it can get expensive
Love your enthusiasm and teaching style!
Very helpful thank you so much. Best wishes. Gérard.
awesome video, thank you scot!
Thanks for watching!
Yup Scott. No, 4 is me. The long damn finger. I have a very difficult time laying (practicing) tremolo. Also, thanks for the sand paper filing method. Great video my friend. Thank you.
Thanks!
Great vids and great content overall on your channel. Your lesson pacing is fantastic! Quick, insightful, and to the point. Much appreciated. Almost every other vid I watch on the tube needs the playback speed adjusted to 2x. Yours are perfect.....Flamenco players don't waste time 🙂
Thanks, some will say I talk way too fast 🤷🏼♂️
Good teacher,keep it up. Thank you.
Very good.
Great lesson! Thank you
Thanks for watching!
Another great video. You broke the Picado down to manageable elements, each of which can be difficult to master.
May I ask a related question regarding the wrist and forearm as you travel from high E to low E: Do you suggest sliding the forearm across the top edge of the guitar so as to keep the
wrist at the same angle. Alternatively, you could bend at the elbow and adjust the wrist. I'm not sure which is preferred. Thanks in advance.
Ideally you would move your whole arm upward to keep your wrist position the same, but if there’s something *immediately* following the phrase (like a thumb stroke for example), you would adjust your wrist and bend your elbow as you said.
And thanks for the comment!
Great video.... One thing though, I often wonder about whether there are slightly different types within picado itself. I notice that sometimes I see players with the picking fingers almost straight, and other times I see a degree of curvature to the fingers (this is in addition to the compensation for the i and m lengths).... Does this vary depending upon other factors, such as whether the musical piece is moving between tirando and picado, or rasqueo or arpeggios, or which strings are involved?.... Or maybe there are other reasons?... or is it simply a personal thing?... Btw, what's the difference between getting the courses, and a membership?
[edit: I subsequently watched another of your videos, which answered some of the questions. oops]
I think it kind of depends on what feels good to you… Letting your fingers be slightly backwards when you do Picado can be easier especially if your nails are longer. As of now the membership includes all of my courses, but some of those courses can be purchased individually and you could have them forever if you do that. Pretty soon I’m going to be removing my main ultimate nylon string guitar guide course from the membership so that it can be sold separately. But anybody who joins as a member now Will have access to that
Alternating is a great technique and should be mastered, no questions, however swiping is an amazing technique as well, and needs to be mastered as well, the speed is defiantly greater than alternating, I used to thing that alternating is the only way to go not so, swiping is like the fifth gear when it comes to speed.
Swiping? You mean slip finger picado?
When you play two strings with one movement (one direction), you can play 2,3 or even 6 strings with one stroke, Paco did it as well, not as much but he did.@@TheVersatileGuitarist
Thanks for Sharing Scot Great videos I'm already subscribed from no on to your Channel 🎵🎶💕Greetings From Argentina! Can you later Explained Gipsy King 's Rumba Pattern Strumming ? Like Djobi Djoba and Bem Bem Maria and also slow Rumba like Moorea or un amor also from Gipsy king Greetings !🥰
I have a 2-part tutorial on Moorea, have you seen that?
@@TheVersatileGuitarist ohh no I haven't seen it I'll check it now thanks 🙏 a lot ! Hearts
Could you do a video on nail health etc and what you do if you break one?
It’s on my list!
@@TheVersatileGuitarist cool!
That sandpaper trick is gamechanging… now
After a few exercises my Spanish guitar sounds like a Spanish guitar … I’ve stopped blaming the strings.
I understand the technique of planting/preparing/muting as a means to get better control on the mechanics of what you're doing. But, is it me or in practice, with fast picado runs, this technique cannot be applied? I cannot hear the muting- understandably so I guess, since this would mean doubling the right hand speed of already lighting fast passages? Btw, amazing lessons
At a certain speed the staccato sound of planting will disappear, but it’s the planting habit that helps you get to those speeds because you’ve trained your fingers to get to the string ahead of time. You can however hear the staccato-ness in some of Paco de Lucia’s picado passages.
Thank you, much appreciated
Is lifting i finger a bit really a mistake? I see guy like Lucas Gitano striking those strings from far away and his picado is quite great imho.
It’s just a matter of efficiency. Some of the greatest players will do that, and sometimes it’s for show - if you practice the less efficient way of doing things enough, you can still play super fast but it saves a lot of practice time and hours of repetition to do the efficient thing
From what I've seen, it's his i finger that does this the most. At one point
i wondered if he made some notes with the i finger alone. I asked him about it.
He said it was i&m alone. Ben Woods had a technique he called "alternail"
where he made notes with the i finger alone. You're right Lucas' picado is
very good.
Guess this is what you do if you dont want to just use a pick. Alternate picking 👍
👍👌👏🙏
Oh no, you used Gypsy Kings as an example. Ouch. Strike one.
Im following you from Turkey but you re speaking too fast.please explain those exercises slowly and with much more repeat.thank you