For this issue’s Improve theme, Simon Barnard takes you through one of the most economical and effective methods of plucking the strings.
Hybrid picking is a very economical method of playing guitar, as it uses fingerstyle in combination with a plectrum. This approach allows guitarists to enjoy the best of both worlds: the ability to use the plectrum to play fast lines using alternate, economy and sweep picking, but leaving the remaining pickinghand fingers free to capitalise on the fluid string jumping of fingerstyle technique.
Although often associated with country and bluegrass music, hybrid picking has become popular within other genres, including jazz and fusion styles as well as rock and blues. The main benefit of using this technique is that it saves a lot of work for the picking hand. Rather than solely using a plectrum to navigate all of the strings, all the time, hybrid picking allows the player to pick down and up strokes with their plectrum, and use their second (m) and third (a) fingers to play other strings. More advanced players may also use their fourth finger (c) as an additional picking digit. Hybrid technique allows the player to almost anchor their picking hand in a comfortable position for playing the bass notes, while using the remaining fingers to pick the higher strings. This results in a much more economical range of motion, making arpeggios and string-skipped lines much easier to play, as different fingers can play non-adjacent strings - tricky with pick only. Also, it allows players to pick two or more strings at the same time, as with straight fingerstyle. In situations like this, being able to play bass notes with the plectrum and partial chords with the fingers, is incredibly valuable.
There is much debate over who first used the technique and brought it to prominence. But some of the top hybrid players from a country background include Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Johnny Hiland and the late, great Danny Gatton. All of these players are considered virtuosos and brilliant examples of how to use the technique. Players from a non-country background that use hybrid include Eric Johnson, Guthrie Govan, Josh Smith, Zakk Wylde, Brett Garsed and more.
One challenge is to even out the plectrum tone with that of the fingers. Strong nails are will help, but some players, such as Johnny Hiland, use acrylic add-ons so their fingers produce a similar tone to their plectrum.
Take it slowly if you are new to the hybrid style. Spending time on it will open up new and creative ways of playing the guitar, whatever genres you like to play.
NEXT MONTH Simon delves into the fascinating world of picking chords as Arp
