Right Hand Arm Technique for Bluegrass Guitar Players Flatpickers

Here is a discussion and demonstration about right hand/arm technique that I've developed. I break it down into technique that I use for 1. Rhythm, 2. Runs, 3. Lead single note lines/phrases, and 4. Lead cross picking.
Hope this helps people are are developing their own technique.

[@kimberlyconstantine4799]

I’ve been playing guitar for about 23 years now, give or take. This is, in my opinion, one of the best instructional videos available right now. Your wealth of right hand technique, all condensed like this is outstanding! I would absolutely love a cross picking video. SON!!!

[@1963mikey]

Hi Kimberly, Thanks for the kind words. I'm so glad you found this helpful. I'll work on a crosspicking one at some point. It takes some time for me to assemble the points I want to make so I'm not rambling and the videos are condensed with the right amount of information. I have a video series on "runs" using the rest stroke. All of these are in 4/4 or 2/4 time. I'm thinking of a follow-up series on run at 3/4 time. Those can be tricky. Let me know if this of interest to you as well. Keep on picking!

[@monsterzero1965]

The wrist thing improved my playing immediately. I was trying to use my fingers only. Thank you!

[@andychilds9167]

Thank you for taking the time to make these instructional videos Mike. I’ve seen a lot of these I’ve been playing a long time. Your explanations are really hitting home with me.

[@cornsilksunshiners85]

Thanks Mike for going through the trouble of making these videos. In the sea of youtube how to's videos I stumbled across this one and I have found it one of the most informative. Keep up the great work and Thank you for making these.

[@1963mikey]

You’re welcome! I’m glad you found these useful.

[@mickeysoltys6960]

I am probably Mikes age and have been playing guitar for probably as long. This is very well done and any folks just getting into bluegrass guitar should watch this at least once a week.

[@marclariviere5304]

So hard to find someone who is flat picking, I developed my self, it’s not easy, thanks for your video, I feel I’m heading the right direction, and you have good advice I will pay attention to

[@bm3823]

Mike - thanks for focusing on the right hand. I have so much to learn about using the pick and your video made it easy to see how you were breaking your wrist to give the range of motion needed for the rhythm. Thank you.

[@1963mikey]

You’re welcome William. I’m glad you found this helpful.

[@Steve-si8hx]

This was a great. Would love to see another on how to improvise bluegrass

[@njgl2010]

I quietly stalk your vids mr Mike and I really appreciate you doing em. You’ve helped me more than you’ll ever know!

[@1963mikey]

Hi. I appreciate the feedback. I’m glad you’re finding these helpful!

[@JesseJohnson-o1j]

I am basically a beginner with learning bluegrass rhythm guitar, after spending 3 years learning folk/rock stuff, and your instructional videos are a gold mine! One question I have is should I plant my finger when I'm doing a basic boom/chuck? I realize that this technique is often recommended for having a reference but I find it inhibits my strumming. Thanks!

[@user-dq6mn1ce6v]

Great stuff! Bryan Sutton gives the same advices!

[@meadow-lark]

I have learned more in this concise lesson than, well, from a lit of other sources. Great stuff. Thank you for sharing your hard earned skills.

[@1963mikey]

Todd, Thanks for the feedback. I’m glad you found this so helpful. I’m working out another one to share some things in recently navigating: reprogramming muscle memory and changing bad habits. I found this to be the most challenging and elusive subject that’s not covered well.

[@Desdemo]

Incredibly valuable information. Thank you

[@TheRailroaddan]

Thank you for the great knowledge.

[@Guitarforpets]

Love to see a session on crosspicking backward rolls on the guitar.

[@jwhardine2636]

invaluable video, Mike. you're a great teacher.

[@1963mikey]

Thanks for the kind words. I’m glad it was helpful to you!

[@gregalderson128]

Wow! you are amazing! I wish you lived near me.

[@livingroompickersclub6358]

It really helps if you show pan out and show more of your right hand

[@1963mikey]

I tried to avoid a straight-on shot of my right hand because it’s hard to see the angle of the wrist relative to the guitar. When looking at straight on shots this way, the viewer is fooled into thinking that the movement is all coming from hinging of the wrist without any rotation. Maybe this wasn’t as effective as I intended. I can do a follow-up video where I pan out more if you’d like.

[@user-dq6mn1ce6v]

Just open it in full-screen

[@5150show]

Outstanding thank you

[@ccrider853]

Great instruction!

[@69telecasterplayer]

Excellent! thanks

[@gailcoppinger3369]

Thanks mike !!!

[@1963mikey]

You're welcome Gail! Hope that was helpful

[@victorjcano]

Interesting about the break in your wrist. I was always dumbfounded at Doc Watsons stiff arm playing. Never could understand how he could play that way, but he could

[@1963mikey]

@@victorjcano Doc was what I call an “arm player”. It you listen closely to his music, you can tell he’s not using a particularly heavy pick. Something has to give with this technique and in his case, the pick. He made it work though. I love his sense of melody and he always played in good taste.

[@5150show]

Just subbed

[@frealle1]

You speak so much !

[@timsmith190]

Mike, are there any "rules" when it comes to up/down picking motions when playing through scales?. I'm working on an exercise in 4/4 where I play the open position E major scale desending (G#-F#-E-D#_ F#-E-D#-C# ...) and at one point I'm tempted to play two downstrokes, but if I do, I need to later play two upstrokes to get back to downstrokes on the 1st and 3rd beat. I can't find any lessons or discussion on this topic. What are your thought on this?

[@1963mikey]

Hi Tim, Generally speaking you want alternating pick motions when playing successive 8th or 16th notes with the down strokes landing on the down beats. It’s usually less efficient to play 2 downs or 2 ups in a row and it my disrupt your flow. However, there are exceptions and no hard rules in music and technique. Tony Rice would often play two downs or two ups in a row if it meant not having to jump over a string. One could argue this is more efficient but you have to be aware of the potential disruption to the flow. Another example when you may play a down stroke on an up beat is syncopation. Clearance White was a master as this and gave the up beats more emphasis which was surprising. This is also the case when you are cross picking with a down down up pattern.

[@timsmith190]

@@1963mikey Thank you Mike for your considered answer!

[@gregalderson128]

Hey Mike, could you tell me what model Martin and year it is your playing? It sounds great!

[@1963mikey]

Hi Greg, Thanks. It’s a -1935 D28. I’m fortunate to I have it.

[@adamkoepke1366]

Still trying to figure out to relieve the tension in my forearm when picking

[@1963mikey]

I don’t know what your situation is, but I have some things you could try. I’m assuming your forearm tension is in the outer part that faces away while you’re playing and not the “meaty” part of your forearm that is resting against the guitar. If this is the case, try getting a massage on your forearm to break up tight muscles in that area. Tension typically results in the shutting down of muscles so that other muscles have to work harder to keep up. Massage and stretches will help turn back on those muscles that may be shut down. The other thing I would suggest is consider the thiscknesss of pick you’re using and pick grip. Thicker picks 50 thousands and up (> 1mm) require you to more firmly grip the pick and requires more muscle strength to flow through the strings. Your body has likely “learned” tension so simply the act of holding and pick and touching the strings activates this tension. You have to disrupt this learned pattern. For this, try using a stupid thin pick. While the tone will sound like crap, be mindful of the difference in tension you feel -hopelessly less. This will help your body unlearn this tension. Do this and slowly (over the course of months) work up to thicker picks. I’ve been using a Bluechip 40 for this purpose. I was using a 50 or 55. I’m now settled into a TP 45 which I had to special order. It’s a good balance between the tone I’m after and keeping the tension low.

[@adamkoepke1366]

@@1963mikey thanks so much for your input! I will definitely work in some of these techniques to hopefully release some of that tension