picking 9/8 pieces

[tdeverson]

Just curious if there is a recommended picking pattern for pieces in 9/8 time.

On Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring I have been alternating down/up but every other bar I start on the first beat with an up stroke.

Thanks, Troy

[Tobin]

You could switch over to the typical jig-time pickstroke pattern of down-up-down, down-up-down. If it works for 3/4, it will work for 9/8.

[Jim Garber]

General rule meant to be broken depending on what music you play or what phrasing you aspire to: in folk rhythms jig time dud-dud-dud; in classical, baroque, etc, dud-udu-dud. Try both but I would think that Jesu would sound too sing-songy with that jig rhythm. Those down strokes tend to put too much emphasis.

[bratsche]

I agree with Jim. For me, pick direction is dictated by the phrases in the piece, which I try to determine and follow appropriately with the right hand. I try various ways until I find what seems to sound best.

bratsche

[Beanzy]

For Jesu you may do better with Duu duu.
(but I'd tend to do it with all down strokes as it's so slow and that's my basic starting point on 'classical' until it's into demi-semiquavers).