Nick Jennison - Picking Strategies by Nick Jennison

Explore the intricacies of guitar picking with Nick Jennison's comprehensive course, "Nick Jennison - Picking Strategies." This series of guitar lessons delves deep into essential picking techniques, guiding you through every step to enhance your playing skills. From understanding core concepts to mastering advanced picking strategies, this course offers a thorough education designed to elevate your guitar prowess.

Core Concepts and Terminology

Before diving into the practical techniques, Nick Jennison lays the groundwork with an in-depth exploration of core concepts and terminology. Understanding these basics is crucial as they form the foundation for all advanced techniques. Topics such as alternate picking, sweep picking, and hybrid picking are explained in detail, ensuring you have a solid theoretical background to build upon.

Physical Technique

Physical technique is a critical component of effective guitar playing. In this section, Nick focuses on developing your dexterity, hand strength, and precision. Exercises and drills are provided to enhance your picking accuracy and speed, preparing you for the more advanced strategies covered later in the course.

The Six Picking Strategies

Nick Jennison introduces six unique picking strategies designed to tackle various musical challenges. These strategies offer a versatile toolkit for any guitarist looking to expand their technical repertoire. Each strategy is broken down with clear explanations and practical demonstrations.

1. Single Escape Picking: Focuses on minimising pick motion for speed and efficiency.
2. Asymmetrical Economy Picking: Combines alternate picking with sweep picking for fluidity.
3. Two Way Economy Picking: Merges economy picking with direction changes for complex passages.
4. Double Escape Alternate Picking: Emphasises clean alternate picking across strings.
5. Hybrid Picking: Integrates fingerpicking with traditional plectrum techniques.
6. Sweep Picking: Utilises sweeping motions to play arpeggios smoothly.

Discovering Your Preferred Picking Strategy

Nick helps you discover which picking strategy best suits your playing style and musical goals. Through guided exercises and reflective practice, you'll identify your strengths and preferences, allowing you to focus your efforts on the most effective techniques for you.

Solo Study Introduction

In the Solo Study Introduction, Nick Jennison provides an overview of how to apply the picking strategies in a musical context. This section prepares you for the subsequent detailed solo studies by setting clear learning objectives and demonstrating how each picking strategy can be integrated into solo performances.

Solo Study - Single Escape Picking

This solo study focuses on the Single Escape Picking technique. Nick demonstrates how this strategy can be used to achieve rapid, precise picking in solo passages. The study includes practical exercises and a solo piece designed to reinforce the concepts taught.

Benefits

• Enhances picking speed and efficiency.
• Reduces unnecessary hand movements.
• Improves accuracy in fast passages.

Solo Study - Asymmetrical Economy Picking

The Asymmetrical Economy Picking study explores how to combine alternate and sweep picking for a smoother, more fluid sound. Nick breaks down complex phrases and demonstrates how to seamlessly integrate this technique into your playing.

Benefits

• Achieves fluid, legato-like phrases.
• Combines speed with musicality.
• Enhances ability to navigate string changes effortlessly.

Solo Study - Two Way Economy Picking

In this study, Nick teaches the Two Way Economy Picking technique, which combines economy picking with directional changes. This method is particularly useful for playing complex, multi-string passages with ease.

Benefits

• Efficiently handles complex string transitions.
• Reduces picking hand fatigue.
• Improves overall picking fluidity.

Solo Study - Double Escape Alternate Picking

Double Escape Alternate Picking emphasises clean and precise alternate picking across multiple strings. Nick provides exercises to develop this technique, followed by a solo study that integrates it into a musical context.

Benefits

• Ensures clean string transitions.
• Enhances control and precision.
• Ideal for fast, intricate passages.

The Importance of Performance Context

Seeing techniques applied in a performance context is crucial for understanding their practical utility. Nick Jennison includes performances throughout the lessons to demonstrate how each picking strategy can be used in real musical scenarios. These performances offer valuable insights into timing, expression, and how to seamlessly integrate techniques into your playing.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Course

• Alternate Picking
• Sweep Picking
• Hybrid Picking
• Economy Picking
• Legato
• Arpeggios
• String Bending

Embark on your journey to mastering guitar picking with Nick Jennison's expertly crafted lessons. Whether you're a beginner looking to develop a strong foundation or an advanced player seeking to refine your technique, "Nick Jennison - Picking Strategies" offers the guidance and inspiration you need.