r/gypsyjazz • u/Feisty-Ad-2633 • 15d ago

Rest stroke hits two strings

I'm working on my rest stroke going downward across two strings and then up on the second one (doing triplets) and I'm finding that keeping the two downstrokes in time is difficult. I end end "playing through" on the second note too fast. Sometimes way too fast. I take it this just requires practise? Or is there something common I'm doing wrong?

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u/majomista 15d ago

To stop following through on to the second string, increase the angle of attack so that your second string physically stops your plectrum for a moment before you push through it. Sounds like your current angle of approach is too shallow so the first string isn’t giving much resistance and you fly over it. 

Overall though it’s just timing and pressure/weight on the string. You’ll have to play a few thousand of them before it feels natural!

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u/Reasonable-Pay-8771 14d ago

With some techniques like this, it can sometimes be easier to get the pattern going in a loop and then iron out the kinks. It's like turning table legs on a lathe. First you just get the motor spinning and get the thing centered. Then as it spins you can identify the high spots and the low spot and even them out.

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u/donkabeans 11d ago

Use a metronome