Pick Direction

[Wayfaring Stranger]

Hi Ev'rybody - this is my first post (and i'm shaking with anticipation).
I hope i won't flood this board with stupid newbie questions too much and shall do a search first at all times (promise!).
Here's the first one nonetheless:
I started with and worked through the "Mandolin Primer" by Bert Casey which i liked for the simple reason that pick direction was indicated for every single note.
Trying to move on from there i was kind of lost with other instructional books, which would do that only at certain points (if at all) and still leave me with lots of questions regarding direction of the pick.
I find this weird because so much stress seems to be put on right-hand technique by accomplished players (at least thats what i gathered from lurking).
So now i am trying to figure it out myself - i got this far
(all regarding 4/4 time):
- with 8th notes use alternate pattern
- with "longer" notes use only downstrokes
- always start a measure with a downstroke
- in general: downstroke = accentuation
is that correct so far - is there further advice. There are certain spots where i still can't figure it out - grace notes, dotted notes, some strange sequences with rests.
Plus: the alternation with 8th notes seem not to work all the time in 3/4 and 6/8 time (especially when i am trying to downstroke beats 1 and 3). I want to start playing jigs and slip-jigs but i am affraid to get into the wrong pattern and mess up my picking for good. I read somewhere that a "duddud" pattern is recomended for jigs. Is that true as a general rule?
Any advice would be more than welcome - sorry if this post got somewhat lengthy and sorry if there's bad spelling (english not being my native language).

[Martin Jonas]

There are a lot of opinions on pick direction, and although many tutors and books give one particular method as if it was the only acceptable way of playing, in the end there's a lot of leeway for you to develop your own style.

Most people agree that for tunes in 4/4, you should have downstrokes on the four beats of each measure and upstrokes if you play eighths in between. #In other words, a measure of four quarter notes would be played all down, a measure of eight eighths would be played alternating. #If you have a combination of quarters, three-eighths and eighths, adjust the stroke so that you pick in the same direction as if you were playing that note in a measure of all eighths, i.e. a measure of 1/4-3/8-1/8-1/8-1/8 would be played ddudu, starting the next measure with a downstroke.

So far, so easy. #Opinions start to differ when you get to 1/16-notes, triplets, tremolo and generally more complex rhythms. #I find it difficult to be too conscious about direction in such a situation and just play with the aim of reverting to the correct direction at the beginning of the next measure. #If necessary, I just play two downstrokes in a row to get back in sequence after a hairy phrase. #Where you get the most differing opinions is 3/4 (or 6/8) rhythms, especially jigs. #Here, there's one school of thought that advocates a "dud dud" pattern in each measure and another that advocates "dud udu". #In my opinion, "dud" is best for players with a stronger natural difference in emphasis between up- and down-strokes. #If you have that, then "dud dud" automatically gives you the bounce that a good jig needs, without further effort. #On the other had, if you have an even emphasis on your up- and down-strokes anyway, then you have to consciously add the bounce in any case, whatever the pick direction and then playing "dud udu" is easier and faster. #Personal preference, in the end.

If you want to explore this further, Chris Thile's DVD (on Homespun) is very good on pick direction. #There's also a good (and free) introduction on the topic on Nigel Gatherer's web site here (http://www.nigelgatherer.com/mando/pickdir/pd1.html). #Just remember to take every source with a pinch of salt.

Martin

[Rroyd]

Keep in mind that 3/4 and 6/8 are very different in rhythmic emphasis. (I tell my students not to reduce time signatures to the lowest common denominator.) Even though you can have measures of six eighth notes in both, 3/4 would have three pairs, while 6/8 would have two groups of three. 3/4 time is counted in 3, while 6/8
is often counted in 2. For example, in 6/8, you could count ONE two three TWO two three, and if it were fast, you would just count ONE TWO for a measure. The rhythmic emphasis is on the first and fourth notes. In 3/4, the rhythmic emphasis is on the beats, with ONE being the strongest. So 3/4 time is usually played just like 4/4, with the beats being down and the offbeats being up, as martinjonas described.

[Wayfaring Stranger]

Thanks for the great advice people!