Full Distance Up with Full Count
Rhythm Pick Teaching: Lesson 2
The easiest way to learn this upward picking direction is by picking the strings downward first, using the full count 8 notes down and then back up picking the full count 8 notes up, picking the same strings down and up over and over. This will teach you how to pick in the upward direction for now.
The act of picking the same strings down and up in a continues manner imitates a cycling motion with the pick. Now with this continues cycling motion down and up the picks are repeatedly picking the notes from the chords in a cycling way.
This is called Chord Cycling.
With the Em chord push the Rhythm Pick down across the strings with an
even slow speed so picks are picking the strings and notes are
individual sounding one after another. Pick the strings one after
another in a stop go stop go manner. Use a stop go stop go motion
with your hand and pick as they travel down across picking the strings.
Pick the strings and voice count with the notes or beats as they are
being played, voice count " 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + " this equals eight notes or
eight beats picked downward, then come to a stop.
Next to pick upward, pull the pick up across the strings so picks are
picking the same strings as you did picking down. Pick the same string
one after another in a stop go stop go manner. Again use a stop go stop
go motion with your hand and pick as they come up across picking the
same strings. Count with the notes as they are being picked and
sounding, voice count " one and two and three and four and " this equal
eight notes or eight beats picked upward, then come to a stop. That is
the full distance down and the full distance up. Practice picking this
upward directions this way over and over. Make this a daily practice.
With the Em chord practice picking in the upward direction. Use the full count 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + [8 notes up] To accomplish this, practice with the chord cycle method 8 notes down 8 notes up, over and over. Keep an even speed and count with the notes as they are sounding 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + [8 notes down] 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + [8 notes up] Practice the Em chord cycle. Start the chord cycling at 15 seconds long and eventually climbing to 1 minute long, not stopping with an even speed, keeping in time, counting with the notes as they are sounding, Make this Chord Cycling a Daily Practice.
With this Tune practice picking the Full Count down and up
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + [ 8 notes down]
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + [ 8 notes up]
they are sounding. When a tune is written in a cycling way like this one is,
every note in the measure is picked, a total of 8 notes. Not like the previous tune where the last note in the measure is silence.
