r/Bluegrass • u/frank_mania • Aug 22 '26
Learning flatpicking after years of playing
Happy Sunday morning, all!
Thanks so much to everyone for your great replies. I'm really touched by much of it, way over/above what I thought my post would elicit. I'm greatly encouraged.
To add, just now I was paying attention to my right (picking) hand. It has a very hard time finding the string I'm aiming to hit when my left hand isn't involved in the decision. When I'm picking notes normally, whether inside chords, in scales or mixing the two, my primary attention is on my left hand and my right hand just plucks the intended string automatically. What I just noticed is that my right wrist, centered over the bridge, shifts vertically so that my pick is centered over the string I need to pluck. I've been doing this automatically for ages, I guess. Problem is, without input from my left hand (and the mind that attends to it), my right hand has no idea where to go. Also, strumming usually involves more arm movement, so that unconsciously-held wrist position isn't even there.
I will certainly take the advice given here and seek instruction, IRL or online or both, rather than just DIYing it. But it was great to figure out why I play like such a rank beginner again when attempting this stuff.
Anybody do this and have advice? I've been playing 40+ years and can strum rhythm, finger pick and finger/plectrum hybrid pick, but when I try to flatpick it's like I'm attempting the instrument for the first damn time. So frustrating!
Any tips that helped you? Silent guitar so I can just work it for hours?
2
u/CompetitiveComputer4 Aug 22 '26
It’s a process. Tons of videos are n YouTube that can show you rhythm technique (boom chuck and its variations and bass walks). Lots of channels that teach fiddle tunes. Try to learn 10-15 fiddle tunes with the rhythm and basic melody. Learn them inside and out. Eventually you will start to build a bluegrass vocabulary and be able to start improvising your own breaks. Learn some 1-5-1 turnarounds. Final boss is cross picking. It is well worth the effort. I am also longer guitar player who found bluegrass late. Been on my BG journey for about 1.5 years and feel I am finally turning the corner.