Chordal Tremolo picking --dyads, triads etc..

[curiousgeorge]

having a problem with this technique...I use a fairly thick pick most of the time, usually a Dunlop 1.5 mm Gator Grip, but sometimes I'll use a 2mm or even 1.14mm pick. And that's mainly to make alternate picking easier...I can tremolo pick very fast on one string but I seem to get caught up in the strings when trying to tremolo pick dyads and sometimes triads, like for instance, the part after the clean then dirty intro in Vai's The Audience Is Listening, when he goes up high on the neck on the G and B strings... Also, how would you guys mute that lick? thanks!

[Nolly]

I find that it's easiest to tremolo pick chords by slightly lifting the picking hand off the guitar, and really brushing the strings very lightly. It still sounds great and makes it much harder to get caught on the strings. IMO it's best to mute as much as possible with your fretting hand for that kind of stuff (play the notes with your ring or pinkie and use your index, middle, and even thumb to mute).

[Bizarro]

Great question! I saw that song in the new Guitar 1 mag this month. I worked that out in the early 90's... hard to believe it was 15 years ago!

Vai had a lesson thing where he said he practiced tremolo picking on groups of strings (2, 3, 4, etc). The exercises said first practice with open strings w/ a metronome. I did this with groups of 2. So E&B string, G&B string, D&G string. And then I expanded to groups of 3. After about 1 week it was really easy to do.

I basically sat around all day tremolo picking groups of strings. I got bored with open strings and played chord fragments. I didn't worry too much about the low strings (E&A)

For that particular song, I mute that lick with my index finger and fret the notes with my middle and ring fingers. It's sort of the same technique used when playing slide guitar. :)

[curiousgeorge]

Great question! I saw that song in the new Guitar 1 mag this month. I worked that out in the early 90's... hard to believe it was 15 years ago!

Vai had a lesson thing where he said he practiced tremolo picking on groups of strings (2, 3, 4, etc). The exercises said first practice with open strings w/ a metronome. I did this with groups of 2. So E&B string, G&B string, D&G string. And then I expanded to groups of 3. After about 1 week it was really easy to do.

I basically sat around all day tremolo picking groups of strings. I got bored with open strings and played chord fragments. I didn't worry too much about the low strings (E&A)

For that particular song, I mute that lick with my index finger and fret the notes with my middle and ring fingers. It's sort of the same technique used when playing slide guitar. :)


Sweet....thanks B! So, do you mute the high E and D with the index with a barre, or do you just mute the high E with the tip of the index? I will try doing that stuff....Man, I gotta get that G1 mag! Who's on the cover? Thanks!

[Bizarro]

BB King is on the cover. It's a blues special.

For muting, I use my index finger like you mention, covering the high E and D.

I use this a lot in blues solos for tremolo picking diads. It is usually a crowd pleaser and people think it is really hard or something. ;) Showmanship... :)

[curiousgeorge]

Cool, thanks Bizarro! I've been getting a lot more into blues phrasing and licks lately...Actually, I'm learning a lot from playing Satch songs like SMF from his self titled album...He studied all the blues greats styles and licks (including Hendrix of course, Joe's idol), and you can hear it in his music..that's why I think he's a great influence for picking up blues licks and phrasing...Tasty! :D