Hybrid picking masterclass

Hybrid picking is a guitar technique that involves using a pick combined with one or more fingers, alternately or simultaneously. When it comes to soloing the hybrid picking technique can be used in many situations to conveniently increase speed with less movement and effort than what would be required with normal picking. This technique works very well with string skipping sequences or any licks with large string jumps between notes. Hybrid picking is often used to replace the pick downstrokes with your fingers plucking upwards on the strings.

GET RESULTS WITH A metronome

As with everything you practice make sure you use a metronome and start super slow to make sure you are playing the lick correctly with the right fingers, technique and attack (it's fine to not use a metronome at first while first learning it).

I recommend starting at 60pm and use 8ths notes until you can play the lick without mistakes three or four times in a row then speed up the metronome by 5bpm. If you are really struggling playing the whole lick break it down to a bar or two. CLICK HERE to get a metronome.

The best way to really get any licks under your fingers is to practice them over a backing track and this may help inspire your own lick ideas as well. I have a free backing track channel http://www.killerbackingtracks.com

ESSENTIAL LEAD GUITAR TONE

In terms of gear for getting a good lead tone I recommend getting a healthy amount of gain on your amp (not too much maybe at 12 o'clock !) and add an overdrive pedal to really help boost the guitar signal going into the amp making the notes a lot clearer.

I like to use an Ibanez Tube Screamer

🎛 CLICK HERE to get a TubeScreamer

FRET WRAPS & STRING DAMPENERS

Not essential but you can use fret wraps or string dampeners to keep any unwanted noise at bay. This can be frown upon by some players as they believe you should be able to control the noise without any extra help! I have to agree to some extent but if some of my favourite players such as Guthrie Govan and Greg Howe use them it's ok with me!!

I like to use the Gruvgear Fretwraps which I am using in this lesson. You can get these in lots of different fun colours! 

CLICK HERE to get a fretwrap.

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