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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Surf Musician »

Down strokes only?

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weird_oh84 Joined: May 24, 2023 Posts: 207	Posted on Jun 07 2023 05:38 AM What is the theory behind down strokes only? That the notes are more percussive and pure? Was it the first wave guys who started this concept? Top
psychonaut Joined: Dec 08, 2007 Posts: 1304	Posted on Jun 07 2023 07:31 AM . — https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger http://coffindaggers.com/ http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com Last edited: Jun 07, 2023 08:48:33 Top
Samurai Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2283 Kiev, Ukraine	Posted on Jun 07 2023 07:37 AM psychonaut wrote: weird_oh84 wrote: What is the theory behind down strokes only? That the notes are more percussive and pure? Was it the first wave guys who started this concept? Down strokes only playing came about when Johnny Ramone bought the first Led Zeppelin album and could only manage learning Communication Breakdown. That became the basis for the Ramones guitar style. It doesn't really apply to first wave surf where alternate picking is essential for things like glissando and tremolo picking. I normally associate down stroke only playing with beginner guitarists. or with James Hetfield) — Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki Lost Diver https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin Top
cricketseed Joined: Dec 09, 2019 Posts: 45 North Carolina	Posted on Jun 07 2023 08:06 AM Samurai is right. A lot of metal is downpicking only, and Hetfield is the poster boy for it. The technique is used in lots of punk songs, too. It gives a more aggressive sound: Instead of "chunk-a-chunk-a-chunk-a-chunk," you get "chunk-chunk-chunk-chunk-chunk," if that makes any sense. (The beginning of each note is more accentuated, and the music seems faster, more driven.) I wouldn't say it's necessarily an amateur technique, any more than say, tremolo picking is an amateur technique. — https://hyperfollow.com/weepingfigs Top
DannySnyder Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11067 Berkeley, CA	Posted on Jun 07 2023 08:10 AM Perhaps he's referring to Astronaut's style single note rhythm guitar parts? — Danny Snyder "With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac' Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF Top
weird_oh84 Joined: May 24, 2023 Posts: 207	Posted on Jun 07 2023 08:14 AM DannySnyder wrote: Perhaps he's referring to Astronaut's style single note rhythm guitar parts? Exactly… the Astronauts especially the rhythm guitar sounds like a non stop machine gun … but I notice a lot of 1st wave tracks where the rhythm guitar sounds like brutal down strokes… Top
Redfeather Joined: Jul 30, 2016 Posts: 896	Posted on Jun 07 2023 12:19 PM I've read that Dick Dale insisted his bass players played with a pick, using down strokes only. I don't know if that was a 60s era policy or a 90s-up policy or both, though. I would resist such a confining constraint, myself. Variety and nuance is good. Top
pavlovsdog Joined: Nov 22, 2010 Posts: 296	Posted on Jun 07 2023 12:46 PM My methdod is when playing riffs or melodies all whole, half, quarter, and eigth notes are played downstroke, and only sixteenth notes are played with an upstroke. When improvising or soloing I usally just go into alternate picking so I don't have to think about it. There's always the exception, like double stops are usually played all downstroke. Simple as Top

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