Half Distance with Full Count
Rhythm Pick Teaching: Lesson 3
The Half Distance is picking only half of the Full Distance. This Half Distance is four beats or four notes long " 1 + 2 + " and these four notes or four beats are picked in the same direction downward. The remaining four beats " 3 + 4 + " that makes this up need to be picked in the opposite direction upward to complete all eight individual 8th beats. The Half Distance is four beats or four notes picked in the downward direction " 1 + 2 + " and the remaining four beats or four notes are picked in the upward direction " 3 + 4 + ". This completes the Half Distance with a full count, one and two and picked down, three and four and picked up.
With a three member pick and using 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. Only pick four beats or four strings down " 1 + 2 +
" then come to a stop.
Next pull the pick up across the strings so picks are picking the
same strings as you did picking down. Pick the strings 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 as
you did picking down. Count with the notes as they are being picked,
voice count and pick " 3 + 4 + " this equals four beats or four strings
picked upward. Practice picking the Half Distance downward " 1 + 2 + "
and then pick upward " 3 + 4 + " over and over. Make this a daily
practice.
With the Em chord. Practice picking the half distance down and up with the full count.[ 8 notes]. Practice picking 1 + 2 + down 4 notes, 3 + 4 + up 4 notes, picking the same strings, down and up over and over.
Practice with the Em chord cycle method, 4 notes down 4 notes up in a continuous manner.
Start the chord cycling at 15 seconds long, and eventually climbing to 1 minute long.
Make this Cycling a Daily Practice
With this tune practice picking the Half distance and the Hole distance. The arrows in the measures shows the picking direction. With this tune written in a cycling way all 8 notes are picked from the measures.
