Chris squire's Pick Technique

Arpeggiator · #1 02-26-2010, 05:33 AM

i can play quite a few yes tunes, but i can never nail his muting, does squire use a diffrent picking technique? (i alternate pick)

Floyd Eye · #2 02-26-2010, 05:38 AM

Yes, I began using this technique a long time ago. Basically you hold the pick sideways with just the tip sticking out and use the pick as well as the meat part of your thumb.

MEKer · #3 02-26-2010, 05:43 AM

Thats it------I get some good muting that way as well--you can also get a mute and an (as I call it) "almost harmonic" when you do it very "stacatto-y". Gawd, my adjectivized words

but hope you know what I mean.

Floyd Eye · #4 02-26-2010, 05:49 AM

And fingerstyle snobs act like guys who use picks do it because it's easier. lol

They should check out that JacquO IIIX guy on that other thread. I tried that technique last night after seeing it and man, that's tough.

While Squier's technique is nowhere near that tough to master, it's still harder than straight guitar style picking. At least to do it properly.

Arpeggiator · #5 02-26-2010, 12:41 PM

cheers for that, yeah i understand you adjectavisations (made up word)

hrodbert696 · #6 02-27-2010, 10:29 AM

There's an interview DVD from the late 80s where he talks about his technique. Not too terribly detailed, but he says that he gets some thumb on the string along with the pick so it's not just plastic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oR1sYT5TX8

I paid $20 for this DVD and then the whole thing's on YouTube... (sigh...)

Calaverasgrande · #7 03-03-2010, 12:20 AM

I didnt know Chris Squire did that. I have been doing that for years. Up to and including "false harmonics". Darn I thought I invented that!

weemac · #8 03-03-2010, 01:49 AM

It also could be noted that the Herco heavy plectrum helps a bit too.
They just seem to be right tension with the right amount of friction across the strings. Nice and grippy and won't spin around in your sweaty hand.

You only need to replace one when you lose it..

emac.

troy mcclure · #9 03-03-2010, 04:46 AM

Didn't he use to use a coin for a pick?

weemac · #10 03-03-2010, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troy mcclure

Didn't he use to use a coin for a pick?

E'rr that would be Billy Gibbons and Brian May....

emac.

panazza · #11 03-04-2010, 04:48 AM

i wonder....

does he touch the string with his index on upstrokes?

I mean...

downstrokes - pick and then thumb hits the string

upstrokes - pick and then index

does this make sense?

alexhornbake · #12 03-29-2010, 08:15 AM

wow, thanks for the tip, been trying to learn some of his licks. I dunno about you guys but the thumb/pick style just improved my feel immensely, something about being able to feel the string. I find my time is better with fingers, but this is like the best of both worlds, makes a lot of sense.