Teach me how to do a legendary Tremolo Pick Slide

Brian

Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19265
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
United States

Posted on May 20 2006 12:14 PM

Are you volunteering?

Just kidding. After the Yahoo Group closes I am going to collect all the messages from it and stick it in a database of some kind.

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PolloGuitar

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 5090
San Francisco
United States

Posted on May 20 2006 02:20 PM

champamp
Brian, as so much info on trem picking has been shared through the years, it'd be nice if it was collected from the waning surfguitar101 list and posted as a Sticky somewhere in the forums.

It would be great to find Rip Thrillby's instructions. He posted it in a couple of places, probably really early on in the non-Yahoo Cowabunga, and then later on to Reverborama. I tried to search for it but it didn't come up. Drop dead hilarious- basically, remember your favorite hobbie as a teenage boy? Same basic arm movement... sorry, I don't do rip justice.
--Ferenc

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midwestsurfguy

Joined: Mar 19, 2006
Posts: 950
Oxford, Ohio
1 News Pin

Posted on May 21 2006 11:01 PM

I really can't play, but maybe this URL will help:

http://www.morphis.com/guitar_lessons/lesson_15.asp

Thanks
Guy

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Wraydar

Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 265
San Antonio, TX

Posted on May 22 2006 10:35 PM

If you haven't gotten it down already; It's not too difficult. Just start picking as fast as you can and you use your left hand to fret the notes almost like a hurdy gurdy or even an organ. The slide is just a matter of using the right pressure and speed to slide over the frets nicely.

Tremolo picking is fun, I just picked it up somewhat recently. It makes guitar playing more physical. And gives you a reason to go up and down the fretboard like a maniac.

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midwestsurfguy

Joined: Mar 19, 2006
Posts: 950
Oxford, Ohio
1 News Pin

Posted on May 23 2006 01:42 PM

My shoulder gets sore when I practice double picking for a short while. I think its a tendon in my shoulder that gets irritated when I do it for a while. Anybody else have this problem?

I also have a lot of problems getting stuck on the strings while trying to double pick. Sometimes when I am trying it sounds great for short bursts and then really bad. I am assuming that the problem is how far my hand is away from the strings. I have seen some people use their their little finger and/or the one next to it to help steady their hand. I have seen some who do not do this. I would like to know if any of your have any tips to make it easier? I have also heard that thin to medium picks are better. When The Bitch Boys double pick on their songs it sounds the same when they pick up and down. When I do it the sound up is different than when I pick down.

Thanks
Guy

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dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on May 23 2006 02:37 PM

midwestsurf_guy_
My shoulder gets sore when I practice double picking for a short while.

...I would like to know if any of your have any tips to make it easier? I have also heard that thin to medium picks are better. When The Bitch Boys double pick on their songs it sounds the same when they pick up and down. When I do it the sound up is different than when I pick down.

guy:

re: shoulder pain- try picking from the wrist...if you are using forearm and shoulder movements you may be "trying too hard"...definitely, if you feel any pain like you describe, I would recomend backing off and analyzing your posture and form. Trem picking should not involve pain like you describe. Are you standing? are you sitting? your posture can really affect the pain development and propagation you are experiencing.

re: pick and pick sound- I find that a heavy pick works best for me...but, I use heavy strings too. Dick Dale uses a very heavy pick as well as very heavy strings...he actually grinds picks down.

I would recomend focusing on up and down stroke sound and proceeding slowly...it's a matter of practiced finesse...make the ups and downs sound the same by the way you attack the strings with your pick.

good luck,
-dp

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Wraydar

Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 265
San Antonio, TX

Posted on May 23 2006 02:44 PM

midwest_surf_guy, how long have you been practicing it? It took me a couple of months to get it good enough for my ears. You need to give it a while to develop some new muscles too! Think of it as a workout; start with one Miserlou rep a day. I use 88mm picks, but I think anything thicker wouldn't neccessarily make it harder (maybe even easier). Some tips: Try picking at different parts of the string (closer or further from the bridge). That gives different tensions to try on. Also, it can sound better with reverb and/or with an overdriven amp. I'm sure some of the older guys here can give you more help..

—

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MikeG

Joined: Mar 29, 2006
Posts: 309
Springfield, Oregon

Posted on May 24 2006 04:22 PM

88mm? That's a helluva thick pick!

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Wraydar

Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 265
San Antonio, TX

Posted on May 24 2006 05:15 PM

Yeah, they're really nice... last forever.
image

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Anonymous

Joined: Nov 10, 2000
Posts: -180

Posted on May 24 2006 05:19 PM

i use the dunlop 1.5 purple dunlops, and they work very well.

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midwestsurfguy

Joined: Mar 19, 2006
Posts: 950
Oxford, Ohio
1 News Pin

Posted on May 25 2006 09:56 PM

Hey folks,

Thanks for all of the help! I will try to find one of those 88mm picks. I have been trying since January, but I am also learning everything else, since I had never played before. Sometimes I think I am over my head and should find an easier song. I thought one string would be easy.
Thanks
Guy

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Wraydar

Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 265
San Antonio, TX

Posted on May 25 2006 11:36 PM

midwestsurf_guy_
Hey folks,

Thanks for all of the help! I will try to find one of those 88mm picks. I have been trying since January, but I am also learning everything else, since I had never played before. Sometimes I think I am over my head and should find an easier song. I thought one string would be easy.
Thanks
Guy

Oh, please don't try to find an 88mm pick, Mike was just making fun of the fact that I forgot the '.' I meant to say .88mm. And I'm sure that you'll get it down as soon as you get better pick control.

—

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Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19265 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on May 20 2006 12:14 PM Are you volunteering? Just kidding. After the Yahoo Group closes I am going to collect all the messages from it and stick it in a database of some kind. — Site dude - S3 Agent #202 Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Top
PolloGuitar Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 5090 San Francisco	Posted on May 20 2006 02:20 PM champamp Brian, as so much info on trem picking has been shared through the years, it'd be nice if it was collected from the waning surfguitar101 list and posted as a Sticky somewhere in the forums. It would be great to find Rip Thrillby's instructions. He posted it in a couple of places, probably really early on in the non-Yahoo Cowabunga, and then later on to Reverborama. I tried to search for it but it didn't come up. Drop dead hilarious- basically, remember your favorite hobbie as a teenage boy? Same basic arm movement... sorry, I don't do rip justice. --Ferenc — Buy Speed of Dark @ Bandcamp Buy Spin the Bottle @ Bandcamp My Blog- Euro Tour Blog Pool Boys on Spotify INSTAGRAM Frankie & The Pool Boys on FB Pollo Del Mar on FB DJ Frankie Pool Boy on North Sea Surf Radio Top
midwestsurfguy Joined: Mar 19, 2006 Posts: 950 Oxford, Ohio	Posted on May 21 2006 11:01 PM I really can't play, but maybe this URL will help: http://www.morphis.com/guitar_lessons/lesson_15.asp Thanks Guy Top
Wraydar Joined: Apr 21, 2006 Posts: 265 San Antonio, TX	Posted on May 22 2006 10:35 PM If you haven't gotten it down already; It's not too difficult. Just start picking as fast as you can and you use your left hand to fret the notes almost like a hurdy gurdy or even an organ. The slide is just a matter of using the right pressure and speed to slide over the frets nicely. Tremolo picking is fun, I just picked it up somewhat recently. It makes guitar playing more physical. And gives you a reason to go up and down the fretboard like a maniac. — <img src="klzzwxh:0000"></img> Top
midwestsurfguy Joined: Mar 19, 2006 Posts: 950 Oxford, Ohio	Posted on May 23 2006 01:42 PM My shoulder gets sore when I practice double picking for a short while. I think its a tendon in my shoulder that gets irritated when I do it for a while. Anybody else have this problem? I also have a lot of problems getting stuck on the strings while trying to double pick. Sometimes when I am trying it sounds great for short bursts and then really bad. I am assuming that the problem is how far my hand is away from the strings. I have seen some people use their their little finger and/or the one next to it to help steady their hand. I have seen some who do not do this. I would like to know if any of your have any tips to make it easier? I have also heard that thin to medium picks are better. When The Bitch Boys double pick on their songs it sounds the same when they pick up and down. When I do it the sound up is different than when I pick down. Thanks Guy Top
dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on May 23 2006 02:37 PM midwestsurf_guy_ My shoulder gets sore when I practice double picking for a short while. ...I would like to know if any of your have any tips to make it easier? I have also heard that thin to medium picks are better. When The Bitch Boys double pick on their songs it sounds the same when they pick up and down. When I do it the sound up is different than when I pick down. guy: re: shoulder pain- try picking from the wrist...if you are using forearm and shoulder movements you may be "trying too hard"...definitely, if you feel any pain like you describe, I would recomend backing off and analyzing your posture and form. Trem picking should not involve pain like you describe. Are you standing? are you sitting? your posture can really affect the pain development and propagation you are experiencing. re: pick and pick sound- I find that a heavy pick works best for me...but, I use heavy strings too. Dick Dale uses a very heavy pick as well as very heavy strings...he actually grinds picks down. I would recomend focusing on up and down stroke sound and proceeding slowly...it's a matter of practiced finesse...make the ups and downs sound the same by the way you attack the strings with your pick. good luck, -dp Top
Wraydar Joined: Apr 21, 2006 Posts: 265 San Antonio, TX	Posted on May 23 2006 02:44 PM midwest_surf_guy, how long have you been practicing it? It took me a couple of months to get it good enough for my ears. You need to give it a while to develop some new muscles too! Think of it as a workout; start with one Miserlou rep a day. I use 88mm picks, but I think anything thicker wouldn't neccessarily make it harder (maybe even easier). Some tips: Try picking at different parts of the string (closer or further from the bridge). That gives different tensions to try on. Also, it can sound better with reverb and/or with an overdriven amp. I'm sure some of the older guys here can give you more help.. — <img src="klzzwxh:0000"></img> Top
MikeG Joined: Mar 29, 2006 Posts: 309 Springfield, Oregon	Posted on May 24 2006 04:22 PM 88mm? That's a helluva thick pick! Top
Wraydar Joined: Apr 21, 2006 Posts: 265 San Antonio, TX	Posted on May 24 2006 05:15 PM Yeah, they're really nice... last forever. image — <img src="klzzwxh:0000"></img> Top
Anonymous Joined: Nov 10, 2000 Posts: -180	Posted on May 24 2006 05:19 PM i use the dunlop 1.5 purple dunlops, and they work very well. Top
midwestsurfguy Joined: Mar 19, 2006 Posts: 950 Oxford, Ohio	Posted on May 25 2006 09:56 PM Hey folks, Thanks for all of the help! I will try to find one of those 88mm picks. I have been trying since January, but I am also learning everything else, since I had never played before. Sometimes I think I am over my head and should find an easier song. I thought one string would be easy. Thanks Guy Top
Wraydar Joined: Apr 21, 2006 Posts: 265 San Antonio, TX	Posted on May 25 2006 11:36 PM midwestsurf_guy_ Hey folks, Thanks for all of the help! I will try to find one of those 88mm picks. I have been trying since January, but I am also learning everything else, since I had never played before. Sometimes I think I am over my head and should find an easier song. I thought one string would be easy. Thanks Guy Oh, please don't try to find an 88mm pick, Mike was just making fun of the fact that I forgot the '.' I meant to say .88mm. And I'm sure that you'll get it down as soon as you get better pick control. — <img src="klzzwxh:0000"></img> Top

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Teach me how to do a legendary Tremolo Pick Slide