Choppy Picking Question

[Bob Aliano]

As I've built up speed my picking has become mechanical and choppy. Are there any tips on how to smooth it out while maintaining and even gaining more speed? If I accent or slightly synchopate the melody to add expression, does that pull the style away from Bluegrass?

[JeffD]

I don't play enough bluegrass to become mechanical at it, but I have become somewhat "mecahnical" with some Irish tunes, and some Bach.

I find that it happens for one of two reasons. Either I am playing faster than I can play musically, or I am just "phoning in" the playing - playing without being there in the moment.

The solution for me in the first instance is to slow down just a little, and then to concsiously try and express the tune - try to bring out the dramatic or lyrical aspects of the tune in my playing.

[Bob Aliano]

You're probably right Jeff, I'm trying to play beyond my current capability. I can slow it down to the point the melody flows smoothly and then slowly bring the speed up as I get more comfortable with the mando. I'm a guitar convert and still getting used to the compressed fretboard of the mando.

[San Rafael]

"Legato," that's what I want more of, a smoother and more connected style. I work on it all the time. I think much of it is in left-right hand coordination, as well as hammer-ons and p.o.'s, trem, etc.

But then sometimes I just think it's a zone or a flow. Like Ted E. said on the board once, play the mando in phrases, like a horn (or something like that).

[earthsave]

I find that it happens for one of two reasons. Either I am playing faster than I can play musically, or I am just "phoning in" the playing - playing without being there in the moment.

The solution for me in the first instance is to slow down just a little, and then to concsiously try and express the tune - try to bring out the dramatic or lyrical aspects of the tune in my playing.

Exactly what happens to me when I get in a song that is too fast and also near the end of a long set, when a song gets kicked off way to fast so we can end a show with "energy".