As I mentioned in the first hybrid picking article, there are many right-hand variations possible using combinations of the fingers and pick. In my case, I utilize the pick and remaining three fingers. The initial challenge when using fingers and pick together is to create a balanced sound. A good practice routine would be to take some simple four-note diatonic voicings and slowly move up the scale with the appropriate chords, playing them with pick and fingers technique.

Another useful exercise involves playing double stops on non-adjacent strings and using the pick for the bottom note and the middle finger for the top. With practice and repetition your left-hand fingering will communicate the necessary combination of fingers and pick that your right hand will need to use.

In Exercise #1 I'm using a standard ii-V-vi dom.-ii-V-I, and then moving up in 4ths from the I chord. Note the use of tensions in the two dominant chords, and the minor 2nd intervals with the perfect and flatted fifths together in the case of the C and F major.

Exercise #1:



For Example #2 I'm also using a common progression basically centered around F major 7. Again, note the use of a minor 2nd in the E-flat major and the tensions employed in the two dominant chords.

Exercise #2:



Example#3 is a different sequence applying major and relative minor chords, again using numerous close intervals.

Exercise #3:



Example#4 is primarily a progression of minor chords favoring the Aeolian sound using the flat 6th.

Exercise #4:



Play these exercises slowly to familiarize yourself with the new sounds and fingerings. With practice, the pick/finger combination will feel comfortable and enable you to achieve some interesting sounds and intervallic possibilities.

John Stowell has performed and taught internationally for more than twenty-five years. His Mel Bay Book/DVD Jazz Mastery, will be out in late 2005. For questions, comments or information, John can be reached at http://www.johnstowell.com or jfstowell@earthlink.net.