| | Picking is what separates the good players from the intermidiate and bad. To achieve greatness with the bouzouki you need to get your picking right from day one. Picking is everything on the bouzouki, if you don't pick correctly your speed will be limited, also you might not get the most out of your bouzouki when it comes to sound.
There are numerous styles and ways to pick, but here are a few common factors.
| | | 1. The hand you pick with has to pick at the same time as your other hand and finger hits the fretboard.
| | | 2. Do not rest your finger or fingers on the soundboard, this will not allow the soundboard to vibrate as much as it could, and therefore you will loose sound. Although you might see some pro's rest their pinky on the soundboard sometimes, that is to stabilize the hand when playing fast parts.
| | | 3. Your wrist should be floating above the strings, you should not rest the wrist on the strings, nor before the bridge or after the bridge. Resting your wrist on the strings before the bridge will almost muffle out the sound completely of course, but resting it after the bridge will not muffle it as much, but you will still loose sound quality and most important of all, movement of your wrist.
| | | 4. Your picking arm should be holding the bouzouki in a way where the elbow and underarm rest on the tailpiece of the soundboard(the place where the metal part is covering the strings). From there the wrist should then be floating in the air above the strings as you pick. Your underarm before the elbow starts should be resting lightly against the metal plate. There are some players that rest their arm directly on the tailpiece, just try and see what is the best for you. If you are having problems touching the strings at first just remember this takes weeks/months/years to develop. | | | Another important factor when it comes to picking is what penna/plectrum you are using, and how you hold it. Just remeber to select a penna that is not to thick or too thin. A thick penna will make the sound really bassy and fat, but will often limit your speed. A thin penna will have a more sharp trebly sound. You need to find a pick that suites you who is in the middle and that has some flexibility, also remember that it needs to be big enough so that you can have a good grip of it.
| | | When it comes to holding the pick you should find a way that suites you, also here you will find that players hold it differently. But as always there are some common factors.
| | | 1. You should hold the pick with your indexfinger, place it in the regions shown on the picture, then put your thumb over it. Place the thumb so that the penna is positioned almost at the joint of your thumb, instead of at the tip. Experiment with this until you find what suites you the best.
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2. One really important thing is that when you strum the strings, your thumb should not be moving in a way where the penna goes up and down. Your wrist should do all the action. To prevent this from happening make sure that you do not hold the penna on the tip of your thumb. Keep it closer to the joint!
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| When you have found a way to hold the pick, you shall do something with the rest of the fingers on your picking hand. As always there are many different styles. From a closed fist to having the fingers open. Try and see which one fits you the best, but remember to allways be relaxed. |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 22 March 2008 )
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