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Thread: Andy Wood

  1. #1
    Registered User Miltown's Avatar
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    Default Andy Wood

    I'd never heard of Andy Wood, but wow, this is impressive:

    https://www.facebook.com/crackingthe...Mg&pnref=story

    My question: how do you think one would go about approaching something like his right-hand technique? Try as I might, I can't get anything like the loose wrist/stationary forearm he has. It seems to me the key is where he has his arm anchored, but I can't tell where that it is. Ideas?

  2. #2
    Registered User Drew Streip's Avatar
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    Default Re: Andy Wood

    Small movements. The smaller, the better.

    I think the key is that he doesn't think about an "anchor" at all. I play pretty much exactly like him (but not as good). I've played guitar, mandolin and saxophone for 20 years and no teacher ever taught me to "anchor" myself to the instrument. Not the pinkie, not the side of my hand, not my forearm -- nothing.

    My personal opinion is, keep the loose (but closed) fist and focus on moving the pick only as much as needed to strike the note you're trying to play. If that's too difficult to begin, then go the opposite way: Try strumming open chords with a loose arm. Get a feel for it, and then start to refine the boundaries of your movement.

    Don't worry about an anchor! Anchors only drag you down.

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  4. #3
    formerly Philphool Phil Goodson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Andy Wood

    His main anchor is the inside of his forearm as it presses against the edge of the mandolin. This gives him a 3 dimensional reference.
    Some people feel that having an armrest in that position is helpful for the same reason as well as comfort. I am in that camp.
    Phil

    “Sharps/Flats” “Accidentals”

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  6. #4
    Registered User Miltown's Avatar
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    Default Re: Andy Wood

    Thanks, Phil and Drew. And yes, it does seem like the only thing connecting him to the mandolin is his right forearm (right below the elbow, I'd guess), right at the edge of the mandolin.

    The other thing I'm finding useful in this video is his pick hold, and the camera angle that lets us see precisely how he holds it. He has his thumb further down the pick than I tend to hold it (notice the amount of pick visible above his thumb). I've been playing around with that hold, and I like it. Though, I think I need more wiggle if I want to get a good tremolo.

  7. #5
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Andy Wood

    I like his approach. I try to do similar but, compared to AW, I am in slow motion. He is also super clean in even his speed-picking. St some point, at the upper speeds, mine get sloppy.

    Interesting video, but i like his explaining his approach. The iPhone attached to show the right hand seemed useless to me, with, perhaps, the exception mentioned above of how he holds his pick.

    Frankly, I probably would not use the actual riff unless I started playing rock or jazz, though the technique would work in classical, too.
    Jim

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    Default Re: Andy Wood

    Andy is one of the reasons I've taken up mandolin, even though he started on mandolin he has brought more attention to himself as a guitar player.

    Here's a great interview with him


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXXPwEKeaRE

  9. #7
    formerly Philphool Phil Goodson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Andy Wood

    How could anyone listen to an interview with Andy Wood and not LIKE him? Wow! (rhetorical question)
    Phil

    “Sharps/Flats” “Accidentals”

  10. #8

    Default Re: Andy Wood

    I believe the key is tons of hours on the mandolin with a deliberate effort to improve your technical abilities by trying different right hand techniques and finding which one works best for you.

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