I have been working on the c-run and the bass run in Wild World (Cat Stevens) for well over a year. Sometimes I can nail it, but most of the time it’s just a jumbled mess. I have tried different picks, different angles, and slowing it way down. My single note picking however has improved on my electric guitar, slowly, where I play more blues based songs. When I play my acoustic and try fast runs, though, no improvement. Any ideas for practice methods would be appreciated, or just thoughts about single note picking on acoustic guitar in general. Thanks!
Something that works for me ( mostly🤪), is the following.
Its called the ‘LIE’ approach.
Locate, Isolate, Exaggerate.
Basically, when I run into problems areas in a song or piece ( which can be often), I’ll utilise the above, as follows;
Say its a 12 note run in a solo, where it all falls apart for me. First, isolate that section, then locate EXACTLY where in that section it falls apart. Start playing that bit first; its likely going to be no more than 3-4 notes, as its likely on a string change or position shift. Accuracy first, then build some speed. Then build the speed to as fast as you can play it. Then start adding in the few notes either side of this, and do the same from the start; accuracy, then speed, then as fast as you can.
Then go back and play it at tempo in context. You may notice a big change immediately ie. It’ll ‘feel’ much slower all of a sudden. It should help fairly quickly in any case though.
One caveat is to ensure your technique is sound for the task ar hand. If you feel it needs work, then that’ll be a separate drill, with ‘technique’ as the focus. More than once I’ve had to admit to myself that the piece I was was trying to master required more technical development, and not endless repetition.
Another very important part of the above is to do it in short, focused drills. No point sitting there for half an hour hammering away at it. Your brain needs to know its short and laser-focused. It’ll respond that way.
Cheers, Shane
12 Likes
A couple of observations from me (not an expert by any means)…
All of the stuff around changing picks and angles etc is just a distraction. Find a pick that’s not too thin (e.g less than 0.5mm) and stick with it
Do you have an anchor point for your picking hand? If my hand is just brushing the top bridge pin then I can pick notes quite well because I have developed a fair sense of where each string is relative to that point. If your hand isn’t in a consistent place then it’s likely to be harder to be consistent
With regards to practice I don’t think there’s a shortcut around lots and lots of slow and accurate repetition. As Justin says, practice makes permanent so if your practice isn’t accurate and consistent then you’ll never embed muscle memory. I don’t know how long the piece is that you’re learning but breaking it down into small chunks and playing them over and over is my approach. It’s a really boring answer but I don’t see another way
6 Likes
Do you mean the part played by Justin at 7:34 in the lesson video?
It’s just a descending C major scale. If you can’t play it, practice playing the scale itself independently of the song (scale practice is good for improving your picking technique in general). Then insert it in the right place when you are comfortable with it.
The shorter bit at 8:41 - you just need to take it slower and get it right. If I’m not mistaken, it’s played in 8th notes, so my strategy would be to chunk it into pairs of notes like GG AC CC AG (C).
Hi @browan377
I asked a similar question a while back. I was asked to drop a video of my playing and the answers I got back would not have happened without the video. I have improved a good bit since then.
I recommend you give a close-up video of you playing a little, with the error, so folks can check your motion.
1 Like
Browan, very interesting. I’ve struggled with this but you’ll do it! My strategy:
Plenty of practice.
A thick pick - at least 1mm.
I form an F (not trad barre but, I call it, ‘hatchet’ style). This can be challenging in itself but I prefer to trad style. I lift fingers off the board and play each note one at a time. Don’t press too hard. It may be quicker to hold the chord and play each note but I find that too tricky.
Keep you eyes on your left hand all the time.
For the G chord at the end I put one, the final, finger on the G in fret 3. I mute the A string withat finger and only play four strings - that’s a G.
Anyway, hope you understand my explanation. Practice slow. Keep fingers close to board. It works for me.
Best I can say. Cheers. I’m 71 and low intermediate so sure you can crack it.
Yes, I guess I need to work on technical development, as my endless repetition is apparently not helping. Thanks sclay!
Yup, that’s the one. Thanks Jozsef!
That’s a great idea! I’ll try to do it next weekend. thanks sequences!
hmm. that’s an interesting idea. I’ve noticed another instructor that I’m using with a different program uses barre chords from time to time to make runs easier. I’ll see if I can figure that out with this one… 
Thanks Dave!
all the best
Browen,
I’ve done a video showing how I play that run but I’m not sure how to attach it. Any ideas? Photos seems easy but not video.
You cannot upload videos to this forum. What we do is to use some hosting service (Youtube, Google Drive, etc) and then post the link to the video file.