First song after 1 week.

[Joey Anchors]

Here is Swallowtail Jig played on my all stock Gretsch G9310 after my first week of playing. Hope it's not too bad... Haha


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9lAz0ZmzqT4

[OldSausage]

Not bad at all, good steady timing. But now would be a good time to study up on pick direction. Do you have a teacher or a good book you're working with?

[Joey Anchors]

Thanks! There are no teachers in my part on NM, but I do plan on getting a book.

[Mark Wilson]

Thats rocking it for first week! I just banged away on 2 finger chords my first week or so. Cool looking Gretsch.

[Paul Busman]

For one week that's terrific, but I agree that you need to start picking up and down NOW. If you ever want to get any faster than your video, it's essential. The longer you put it off, the harder it will be to learn. You have that tune in your head, so try playing it with an up down motion.

[Denny Gies]

Not a thing wrong with that after only one week. Keep it up and remember to have fun.

[Joey Anchors]

For one week that's terrific, but I agree that you need to start picking up and down NOW. If you ever want to get any faster than your video, it's essential. The longer you put it off, the harder it will be to learn. You have that tune in your head, so try playing it with an up down motion.

Thanks Paul! I'll be working on the UP and DOWN picking all this weekend.

My only thing with y playing in the video is the few missed notes and not enough feeling with my playing..

[pheffernan]

You have that tune in your head, so try playing it with an up down motion.

Or down up down, as it's a jig.

[Joey Anchors]

Thats rocking it for first week! I just banged away on 2 finger chords my first week or so. Cool looking Gretsch.

Yeah it's not bad for a cheapy. Saving money for a better bridge and FW74 strings

[zak borden]

Nice job! Super clear picking and nice timing. I'm actually working on a video tutorial this week all about jigs and fun stuff you can do with 6/8. Should be up by Sunday. To echo the above, you'll need to work on nice, even ups and downs in general and specifically for the "pure drop" Irish jig groove - at some point you'll want to get the DUDDUD pattern. Sometimes it's easier to think of jigs in 2: two groups of three. So I'd practice that picking pattern with a nice flowing wrist - without playing any melody at all. Just get that motor running. Drone on an open G until it feels super comfortable. Warm up with both down/ups and then DUDDUD - note the feel of the double downs: how they fall on the 3-4 and 5-6. When you emphasize those they really anticipate and can drive the tune forward.

Hope that helps. Keep on pickin'!

-Zak
www.zakborden.com
https://www.youtube.com/user/songszak8

[John Ritchhart]

What they said. Down up Down my friend for 6/8 time.

[zak borden]

Oops. Regarding my post above: I meant the pairs of downs fall on the 3, 4 and 6, 1 for the DUDDUD pattern.

A fun way to emphasize is to push on the 3 and the 6 (while just simply droning, mind you). One two *THREE* four five *SIX* or just pick one: either 3 or 6. Then you'll really feel how those strokes work like pick ups before each beat and really keep the tune grooving forward.

So if you think of the "ands" below as the emphasis:

12(AND)456 then try: 12345(AND)

Then both:

12(AND)45(AND) which will sound a bit like a hiccup. Use this sparingly when you want to pick up the energy.

That should get you limbered up. ...Then playing even 8ths will seem like cake.

www.zakborden.com
https://www.youtube.com/user/songszak8

[fatt-dad]

Songs have lyrics!

Nice to see Gretch keeping the clamshell alive!

+1 on the up-down thing.

Fun tune!

f-d

[Joey Anchors]

Thank you everyone for the kind words! This Gretsch has a pretty good tone stock. In the next few weeks I plan on upgrading the stock rosewood bridge to an ebony bridge along with FW74 strings.

I plan in posting a video showing the difference in tone.

Zak I'll be practicing my ups and downs for sure!

[Petrus]

That's about as good as I do, after a year.

And another thumbs up for the 9310. I like mine as much as my KM-150. I took the pick guard off to show off the mahogany more. Haven't considered changing the bridge yet ... interesting idea.

[Joey Anchors]

That's about as good as I do, after a year.

And another thumbs up for the 9310. I like mine as much as my KM-150. I took the pick guard off to show off the mahogany more. Haven't considered changing the bridge yet ... interesting idea.

Petrus yeah it is a great little mando. What I like about it is that it what looks like a thin finish on it... Oh and the neck feels great! I don't think mine came with the stock bridge as it doesn't fit the top at all and is made extremely poor quality.