John Stowell's Amazing Picking Technique

John was over to the studio to do an online workshop a few months ago and I took the opportunity to ask him to show us what his right hand was all about. Thank you John for solving the mystery!

[@shayneswenson]

I took some lessons from him years ago and he’s the human embodiment of “jazz zen”

[@cygnustsp]

I have terrible dexterity in my left hand so rarely attempt solos, but I get complimented on my right hand all the time. Sometimes when I'm playing guitar too.

[@vividvulpe9842]

😂

[@marcolandolfi844]

The beauty on the guitar: everyone plays his way!

[@geogi_bodies]

John Stowell is absolutely ingenious. I had the pleasure of attending a couple of his masterclasses. Such unique touch and approach to jazz guitar.

[@totallyunmemorable]

My first John Stowell cd was The Banff Sessions. While looking at the pictures inside I was struck hard by a sense of deja vu. It took me a minute but I then realized that John was sitting for photos on the steps at the entrance to the upstairs apartments of the old flat iron building where I used to live in Seattle, right under my apartment! I then (somehow) contacted John and asked how in the world that came about. Turns out that when I moved out of my tiny 14x14 apartment (across the street from the famous music venue the Tractor Tavern in the Ballard historic district), John's record company moved in. Pretty cool story, huh?

[@Gregorypeckory]

Yes indeed; great story! 👍🎵😁

[@sergedenovo2389]

I want proof or it didn’t happen.

[@OdaKa]

I like your username

[@Gregorypeckory]

@@sergedenovo2389 Shut up.

[@johnorr4866]

John Stowell is so evolved. He came to my house in Warrenton Oregon 25 years ago for l lesson, with insight, technique, and humility. It would be a a life’s work to grasp his inimitable stylings. Now I grasp more but still have a ways to go.

[@jorgetenamusic]

Wow, zero tension and such a unique touch. Two marvelous and kInd masters. Thanks Tim and John!

[@shallyshal1]

Definitely one of a kind. And one of the nicest people I have ever met

[@datdeerdude5139]

Wow what a sweet and warm sound coming from his right hand

[@SticksAandstonesBozo]

Most incredible instrument ever made. So many millions of unique ways to use and play it.

[@MGTV1]

nice... i caught it....when he is using the pick, he is also striking the next string down with the fingernail of his index finger to give a harmonic tone. very sweet technique...

[@DetroitFettyghost]

Wow. Extremely amazing economy of motion. I love it.

[@Hamppzah]

WHAT. I've never seen that right hand technique and it really blew my mind!

[@robhenry4197]

What is the deal with expensive guitars not even looking like guitars? Amazing playing, of course.

[@atonofspiders]

There’s a relatively new trend of eliminating the headstock and having the tuning pegs built into the body of the guitar instead. His guitar seems to also be a metal frame with no body other than the wood where the pickups are, but wrapped in cloth or something. I think guitars without headstocks look awful and abrupt, but that’s just an opinion and the guitars fo have their own worthwhile benefits.

[@MidMo4020]

@@atonofspiders thank you! I was wondering what that guitar was made of and couldn’t bring myself to believe it was stone🤣 I was actually looking in the comments to see if anyone else was wondering. Also.. totally agree about the headstock thing.. I grew up in the 80’s🤘🏻🔥🇺🇸

[@barrysebastian9584]

Oh man! Thanks for that close up glimpse… I’ve never actually seen John’s technique like that. Just mind boggling to me. And the icing … John sounding like John on your Tele😄👍. You guys are truly masters👏🤯.

[@chiyo-chanholocaust8143]

Wow that guitar sounds almost like an eletric piano, pretty cool

[@Gwyn1stborn]

Thanks for getting right to the picking. This was fascinating

[@mainsblanches8793]

When jazz becomes second nature!!...what great playing!!...

[@KayvanAbbasi]

Wow that was really interesting.Thanks for sharing!

[@neppiesworld9432]

Excellent picking by a seasoned musician! Very pleasant to the ear! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@johnjacopec6668]

This guy is a wizard

[@alexanderpotts8425]

crazy... you're both idols to me but in different ways. you inspire me to look at heavier strings and stick with telecasters, while john inspires me to go MUCH lighter...

[@aadityakiran_s]

Ah, I always wondered if this guy used a pick or just his fingers. Thanks for this.

[@eddieisfiction442]

That is such a cool way to hybrid pick. I should consider how to replicate keeping a pick into one finger. Interesting.

[@michaelsullivan8934]

I would try, but with superglue

[@MichaelNeverisky]

Thank you so very much for this Tim and John!

[@micahb2627]

Two of my favorite musicians. Thank you.

[@Shagley]

I bet that guitar is so comfortable to play it looks really slimline and light

[@Grozeil]

gorgeous tone!

[@andyokus5735]

Vince Bridice taught holding the pick with the thumb against the middle of the side of the index finger. Never could do it. I never heard of this guy but some students here in Reno told me he was coming to do a workshop here.

[@playablecharacter3871]

I have been ignoring this possibility for my whole life, I've never played with a pick for 14 years and this looks like it would be so good for my playing style

[@whiskeymike8010]

Thanks Tim! I have been wanting to lighten up my attack. Great technique to keep in mind to do so!

[@StevenRosenberg]

I love seeing this. Thanks John and Tim.

[@ChrisBuonoGuitar]

John is a master.

[@OdaKa]

wow, 10 to 38 is super light!

[@guitarkoo]

Wow wow!!! Amazing!!! Thank you for sharing it

[@NatEDread]

Tim speaking of RH Technique do you have any videos on the three finger roll technique you use often when you are playing solo finger style chord melody? Or do you have any suggestions for exercises to develop dexterity with that? Its a lot harder than it looks. Thanks man. Love your playing and teaching

[@TimLerchGuitar]

There are a few vids here on YT about my particular right hand approach. Not sure if they address your particular question but search for them and get back to me if you have a need for clarification.

[@gilgamesh2832]

Removing the thumb! Fascinating.

[@musicofanatic]

Often when I encounter an unusual technique my first reaction is to try it and see if there's anything about it I can incorporate into my own technique...not that...not even gonna try! Too much! I am suitably impressed!

[@marcwhy]

Fun, thanks for posting, Tim! The amazing, disappearing pick! :)

[@crazywisdom2]

What a beautiful sound !! What guitar is that he's playing ?

[@mainsblanches8793]

...and super cool guitars!!...

[@jamescopeland5358]

That's awesome Tim

[@Dan.Solo.Chicago]

His music is not my thing but his tone is unbelievable. Immaculate. What is that guitar?

[@Mick-Dempsey]

It really really is it's magnificent.

[@TheBanana93]

It sounds lovely but my god does it look hideous!

[@pleasepermitmetospeakohgre1504]

Looks like an Explorer type of guitar. I too don't like the music so we have to ask ourselves okay so you may be using a fancy technique, but is the end result good?

[@Jabbaerwocky]

Soloette.

[@coooolibri]

i like this very much, and i see optimization for my technical eye. while he left the thumb so, he can even do the base line on top.

[@robgreene1776]

John has THE most Elegant Technique...How many times have you seen a pick defy gravity like that ?

[@piax9567]

Great! But how do you keep the pick still on your index finger?

[@zachariahbritt1859]

elegant could be replaced with.. delicate...he seems a mite delicate as well.. cushion for his fiddle..

[@raulperez2308]

@@zachariahbritt1859 looks to me like he uses it so the guitar is raised with the right angle. see how high the first one sits

[@nigelgrim]

So why is the pick sticking to his finger?

[@Dan.Solo.Chicago]

Tell me again about tone wood

[@jvsings9146]

Beautiful technique, thank you for sharing.

[@Darel9566]

Amazing. Thanks for posting.

[@Bordres]

What a cool guitar, interesting how it gets that mellow jazz guitar tone..

[@markgordon4368]

That was a little treat.

[@TedBoyRomarino]

I didn't pay much attention to his technique or his gear. What caught me was his music

[@BrotherBrownMusic]

Wow great player and amazing technique, very inspiring.

[@pinusniron8935]

Wow so cool I love it Guitar is Amazing 👍👍👍👍👍

[@chewbaccacabra1531]

Yep, everyone's right hand is different. Some people even use it for fretting and the left for picking.

[@ladjazzz]

Outstanding!

[@MrDaveqweasd]

Thanks Timothy, always wondered what happened.

[@mattdowie92]

Fascinating!

[@proverbs11vs30]

Thank you so much for this video, very informative....Tim (or maybe John can respond as well) do you have any thoughts on what the cushion/pillow thing he's using when he plays your guitar is? I find my left hand wrist feels better when I hold the guitar neck up like John so Im interested in where he got the pillow from (or if he just made it himself etc :-)

[@totallyunmemorable]

I just play at home these days, and when I do play it's often sitting cross-legged on the couch while watching TV, and holding the guitar at that same angle. It's fooled me into thinking I'm a better player than I am, cause when I stand up and hold the neck in the normal way there's just all kinds of stuff I suddenly can't do.

[@johnstowell6240]

Hi David, A friend made me the pillow that I use. Anything comfortable that raises the height of your guitar should work. Thanks for watching, hope that you’re well.

[@proverbs11vs30]

@@johnstowell6240 Thank you so much John, that's a great idea, thank you for sharing your music with us, it is a true gift!

[@kevongordon2675]

That man is tele’d out!

[@vizmaurogiovanni]

Grandissimo John♥️

[@christophkleo]

Hey Tim, Hey John I just looked up Fender teardrop picks and found out, that they have different shapes and gauges. Which one is John actually using? And thank you for this video!

[@foxyjazzbopper]

Amazing!

[@iamtonymata]

Just amazing..

[@rsa4834]

Hybrid picking aside, this reverse pick angle is used by so many guitar gods there's got to be something about it. George Benson, Paul Jackson Jr, Shawn Lane, Neal Schon, John Sykes... Just to name a few across different genres!

[@Illiyinmusic]

Yeah I've seen some tech guitarist like archspire use it. Never thought about it in that style

[@rsa4834]

@@Illiyinmusic I actually hesitated to mention Dean and Tobi! Eventually didn't because they're not as well known as the others. But what they all have in common is effortless high picking speed.

[@alcornell5063]

I am desperately curious: At 2:09 JS said the strings are KF1 Precisions. He was talking about Thomastik 10-38s. And wound B --! Now, three strange points to clarify here, as clearly some confusion going on (he was somewhat nervous, and the interview had a great deal of spontaneity about it - a great thing to have, of course!): 1. KF1 refers to a Pick/plectrum type, and not to strings, surely. Unless I am missing out on something. 2. Thomastik 10-38s, and flatwounds - Is there such thing? 3. With wound B?! (I have, decades ago, used wound Bs in heavy sets. I think Galli, and/or LaBella - a black set). Is there a Thomastik set with wound B? I think there was one in the 1960s, but it was in a heavy set (what would today be called extra heavy). Even if he has a custom set made up of singles, as it is perfectly possible todo so, I don’t think Thomastik makes a .012, flat wound string. I could be wrong; it wasn’t in the list I looked, but they might have it. … Now please do not take any of this as complaints. I loved the video, and I love such spontaneity, and the lack of over production/editing. I am asking these questions, because I am genuinely interested in finding out what, and how he is doing what he does. Many thanks, indeed!

[@TimLerchGuitar]

www.stringsbymail.com/thomastik-infeld-kf110-nickel-classical-guitar-strings-full-set-2183.html?fbclid=IwAR1HVtC4AQJqxJP1lM1dhOdR4fhBUcgBuO9m-xmqiuRnNVMS60Q8QEpcUDo

[@TimLerchGuitar]

Here is a link to the strings John uses.

[@johnstowell6240]

Hi Al, I use Thomastik KF110 Precisions, .010-.038, and the are flatwounds. Thanks for watching and for your kind words.

[@alcornell5063]

Thank you very much for this. Fascinating! I have not been aware of this model of the Thomastiks. Sure, I knew they made acoustic grr strings, of course, but never occurred to me to stop and check them. The person who submitted a detailed review of them on a website seems to suggest they are best on smaller instruments (scale and size). Obviously that’s one person’s opinion. Do you have any views on these strings? Is John’s guitar shorter scale? And, if they are intended for acoustics, I wonder if their magnetic properties any different. In a way, shouldn’t be, as they seem to be essentially steel/nickel… John’s humbucker seems powerful enough to handle anything anyway! -? In any case, thank you again for your speedy reply and wonderful series of videos.

[@alcornell5063]

Oh, I hadn’t noticed your reply while writing to Tim. Sorry! Thank you for the info,, John. I’ll try these (if I can think of an instrument that could do with these. Maybe an old Telecaster ‘Special’ - the one that came with a HB in the late 1990s). Might be interesting, as I am thinking about tackling less string tension. Wonderful playing as always, thank you! And I’ll search for the details of your amazing guitar (and is pickup, and other details) With best wishes, A.

[@douglasbroccone3144]

What guitar is that? What's the cloth behind it?

[@Jabbaerwocky]

Soloette.

[@SanMaiero]

Guitar is amazing

[@donzulaica9172]

My mother accompanied Billie Holiday... and he loved him. John, if you see this, I moved to Tigard. Life is good, and I hope it is good for you. Peace.

[@jamesjabronski]

ive been using this technique without realizing its unorthodox. thing is, i think when i tremolo pick it puts an immense strain on my wrist. benefits, i think it allows for easier upward sweeps and maybe freer hybrid picking. but the hybrid picking could just be stowell's virtuosity on display here.

[@william7108]

I just don't get how the pick sticks 2 your finger do you put something sticky to keep the pic from slipping off your finger?

[@Jabbaerwocky]

D'Andrea picks are slightly hygroscopic. That looks like a D'Andrea 358.

[@4hed504]

It seems that everyone in this comment section have had lunch with this guy at some point of their lives😂

[@alexakalennon]

This feels kinda unreal, but so smooth

[@MrMatt-cm6do]

This right hand technique looked very cool but in the name of teaching, could you please explain it? Just seeing it done is not a sufficiently thorough explanation for the average guitarist.

[@mondodave]

What's that tune he's going out on, again?

[@CarlKaroyan]

Con alma

[@mondodave]

@@CarlKaroyan thank you!

[@johnstowell6240]

I’m playing “Con Alma” from Dizzy Gillespie. Thanks for watching.

[@ShredmasterScott]

This guy is a PRO 👏 muhahaha

[@george_guitar_lessons]

How is it this pick called? Does John is the glue for it? Sorry for the strange question 😃

[@TimLerchGuitar]

Fender tear drop. No glue,

[@flamecrew9atroblox958]

Awesome

[@winstonian88]

If you don’t have clammy hands, the pick would never stick.

[@OdaKa]

He sounds so young

[@jimmythebold589]

it's almost kinda a hybrid style of picking?

[@jltrem]

Did Mr. Stowell happen to buy that guitar in Bedrock, where the Flintstones live??

[@danielribastandeitnik9550]

At first glance it looks like rock, but I think it's some kind of fabric.. What is going on with his guitar? I think he has one of those hollow guitars where the body is just a frame and he enveloped it with a soft fabric. Maybe to make it more comfortable?

[@robertfox4114]

This guy looks 70, sounds 20 and plays guitar like he is 290

[@deandee8082]

welp, he plays perfect Jazz IMHO, not an expert by any stretch but I have heard enough and do get the jest, of course not all jazz is the same but his style or attack matches his setup, light touch, airy, smooth wounds, low action, all facilitates and you get what you hear... "smooth Jazz" had too... lol.. which is very nice by the way, erks me when guys can play this clean on super low setups.... :-) then listen to someone like Gary Rossington of Skynyrd, southern rock to blues, his action is ludicrously high, I mean 70's yamaha FG acoustic guitar high.. lol .. way he likes it, listen to the product tho, very unique all the way IMHO, even his tone.. he figured out how to play clean, lot of scratch, and muff, a lot, but what a combo.. good stuff man

[@jazzgtrs1243]

What’s the make and model of his amplifier?

[@TimLerchGuitar]

On this day John was using my Henriksen Bud 10

[@mejsjalv]

Tried it... and of course I dropped the pick all the time. It did not work to try to hold the pick by licking the index finger. Seems just too hard to try to emulate, especially when he sounds just as good without the pick altogether.

[@xabiguitar]

I've never seen this way of releasing the fingers. It kinda stresses me thinking of the pick fall every moment haha.

[@Lagger-HD]

and he said it does fall sometimes, its okay to play this way in studio when you can drop your pick and re record, but doing this live is certainly a gamble. if he is all solo once again, could maybe get away with fingerpicking the rest of the song, but the tone he has would be gone. I think everyone has a different right hand technique should be taken very seriously, because this is honestly a bit impractical, if he really wants to play like that he could use a thumb pick, or find a way to adhesively attach the pick to some sort of thimble or something that can be worn similar to a thumb pick but at his preferred angle. "theres enough surface tension" isnt a fool proof plan for not dropping your pick lol.

[@frisell1968]

👏 amazing

[@elwolf8536]

That guitar gunna stay in my head for a bit

[@motoputz3201]

a wound .12 - B string ...wow that is light gauge baby

[@timothypeters3949]

With all due respect to the gear nerds of whom I am normally one, there is something deeper here. There is a famous Christian mystical saying, "If you will, you can become all flame." John's approach to the right hand is emblematic of the larger picture: the tiny teardrop pick, the headless travel guitar, the low action that, as he says, barely requires him to touch the guitar. It's as if he would dispense entirely with the guitar as material intermediary or instrument, if he could, becoming himself the direct source of the music hears. In his technique, he is trying to become all flame. Feel free to tell me if I am off base here . . .

[@chrisdeffx6548]

You're not...the goal is too make the instrument invisible. It's just a conduit.

[@TXTractorLife]

Great observation

[@mathdantastav2496]

why not just go for fingerstyle at this point though?

[@pleasepermitmetospeakohgre1504]

True, I find he's just overcomplicating things. There's nothing he's playing that couldn't be played in conventional style

[@Bikren]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@kiloreynosa5522]

👏

[@jazzerie330]

my fingers are too small to hold a pick like that

[@arkano22]

This guy holding the pick on his finger using only surface tension should be showed to all those people sticking utensils to their arms to demonstrate the "magnetic powers" of the covid shot lol.

[@bonedale]

Forget the technique, why is he playing the guitar from dusk to dawn

[@denispires9497]

le mec cest trop gratee lee you cool maintnant y il met une protection

[@CoastalBreed]

That guitar looks like its straight out of star trek

[@motoputz3201]

4:00 tele's remind me of Ted Greene