Gypsy picking
The rest-stroke picking method of the Manouche jazz tradition, in which the pick follows through onto the next string on every downstroke.
In gypsy jazz the downstroke is a rest stroke: the pick pushes through the string and lands on the neighbour, which gives the style its loud, percussive attack. Upstrokes are kept lighter and are often used for speed, while consecutive downstrokes appear where a strong accent is needed. The technique is inseparable from the sound of the music, and players learning the repertoire discover that it cannot be convincingly imitated with plain alternate picking.
Example: A Manouche rhythm part with a heavy, chugging four-to-the-bar feel owes its attack to gypsy picking.
See also
Related
- PageRest stroke
- PageAccent
- PageAction height
- PageAlternate picking
- PageAaron Dessner
- PageAce Frehley
- PageAd-Rock
- ReferenceCircle of fifths