Question for Philip Chevron

[Will]

Hi,

I'm not big on posting on forums, which is why I haven't posted here before, but I've been lurking for sometime, picking up scraps and tidbits of information I find useful or interesting.

I picked up guitar about a year and a half ago, and I'm now at the point where I can play slow pieces using simple chord structures without too much difficulty, but the inability to play speedily, particularly with a pick, has become a major hangup both in terms of playing songs written by other musicians and translating whats in my head onto the guitar, (I've written a good deal of songs I'm not technically proficient enough to play, which is frustrating as hell, as I'm sure you can imagine). My guitar teacher suggested that part of the difficulty I've been having is due to the pick I've been using: http://www.fender.com/products//search. ... 0980346300 So my question is simple: What kind of pick would you suggest for playing fast, (in the vein of The Pogues)?

(This question is geared specifically towards Philip Chevron, but by all means, I'm open to suggestions from anybody.)

Cheers,

Will

PS: Not sure if this is the place to post this, but I had a look around, and it seemed to make the most sense.

[Cdn Steve]

Hello Will,

There has been much discussion on the finer points of guitar, capo, strings, tunings and plectrum selection in this thread:

http://www.pogues.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=4379&start=435

some rambling, some barely descipherable, but all entertaining - feel free to jump right in!

[philipchevron]

On the matter of picks, Will, there isn't one that will make you play faster - only practice does that - but it will help if you feel comfortable with your pick. Try a few until you find the right one. It's all trial and error and no two guitarists are the same, so keep an open mind.

[IrishRover]

http://www.pogues.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=4379&start=435

and by loird, tois' the best guoitar thread oin the woirld !

[Will]

On the matter of picks, Will, there isn't one that will make you play faster - only practice does that - but it will help if you feel comfortable with your pick. Try a few until you find the right one. It's all trial and error and no two guitarists are the same, so keep an open mind.

Figured you might say that. Good advice though. Just recently switched to Jim Dunlop nylons for my banjo, and as it happens, that's what my teacher recommended for the guitar. Seems to be working alright for now. The thinner gauge makes the pick less liable to get caught on the strings, which helps.

I think a lot of my problem stems from bad technique though. As a former drummer, I tend to want to bang away violently at the strings rather than treat them gently and with respect -- not all that different from my approach to women, actually. Of course, there's a time and a place for that, but all good things in moderation, (except drinking). I seem to have lost track of what I was talking about . . .

At any rate, mighty cool of you to give this kind of attention to your fans, Mr. Chevron. Mighty rare as well. Thanks for the advice. And I'll be sure to check out the other thread as well.

Cheers,

Will

[philipchevron]

On the matter of picks, Will, there isn't one that will make you play faster - only practice does that - but it will help if you feel comfortable with your pick. Try a few until you find the right one. It's all trial and error and no two guitarists are the same, so keep an open mind.

Figured you might say that. Good advice though. Just recently switched to Jim Dunlop nylons for my banjo, and as it happens, that's what my teacher recommended for the guitar. Seems to be working alright for now. The thinner gauge makes the pick less liable to get caught on the strings, which helps.

I think a lot of my problem stems from bad technique though. As a former drummer, I tend to want to bang away violently at the strings rather than treat them gently and with respect -- not all that different from my approach to women, actually. Of course, there's a time and a place for that, but all good things in moderation, (except drinking). I seem to have lost track of what I was talking about . . .

At any rate, mighty cool of you to give this kind of attention to your fans, Mr. Chevron. Mighty rare as well. Thanks for the advice. And I'll be sure to check out the other thread as well.

Cheers,

Will

Drumsticks are not recommended although, as I say, keep an open mind.

[IrishRover]

As a former drummer, I tend to want to bang away violently at the strings rather than treat them gently and with respect -- not all that different from my approach to women, actually.

Will, oi knoiw what yer sayoin', started the same way, hoipe oi became moire gentle duroin' the toime !
anyway, oi was never a drummer, but oi guess the oinoitoial feel ois that oif ye bang away voioilently as ye saoid, then the soiund woill turn oiut to be woith moire energy and moire rockoin' oin the foinal result; tois' what oi thoiught as well but sadly thoings aren't that soimple, oi had to learn thois the hard way.

oif ye oinvest energy ointo excessoive bangoin' of the stroings, that moight be the very reasoin of looisoin' the speed ye were talkoin' aboiut and want to achoive; roight strummoin' technoique oi also oimpoirtant, oi never really learned oit as default but troied to foind me oiwn feel of strummoin' ups 'n' doiwns;

also oimpoirtant, ye can play clear, fast & stoill get the raw rockoin' soiund at the end; coinsoider doifferent guoitar effects ! oif ye really want hardcoire foir soime song, throiw oin doistoirtion oiver yer playoin' !

[IrishRover]

Drumsticks are not recommended although, as I say, keep an open mind.

yeah, keep em' cloise just oin case

[Mike from Boston]

Drumsticks are not recommended although, as I say, keep an open mind.[/quote]

Mr. Chevron, have you ever gone the Jimmy Page route and done the violin bow??

[philipchevron]

Drumsticks are not recommended although, as I say, keep an open mind.

Mr. Chevron, have you ever gone the Jimmy Page route and done the violin bow??[/quote]

Reminded me, there was a Horslips live number around 1972 - sadly never recorded - called "Johnny's Gone To France", in which drummer Eamon Carr came out from behind his drumkit to tap rhythmically on the strings of Charles O'Connor's fiddle with tiny drumsticks while Charles continued to play the main tune.

[fluke]

Reminded me, there was a Horslips live number around 1972 - sadly never recorded - called "Johnny's Gone To France", in which drummer Eamon Carr came out from behind his drumkit to tap rhythmically on the strings of Charles O'Connor's fiddle with tiny drumsticks while Charles continued to play the main tune.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvC2_nsVJv0&feature=player_embedded

and how about this one? The Tielman Brothers.. a Dutch band with Andy Tielman on guitar

[Ross]

Reminded me, there was a Horslips live number around 1972 - sadly never recorded - called "Johnny's Gone To France", in which drummer Eamon Carr came out from behind his drumkit to tap rhythmically on the strings of Charles O'Connor's fiddle with tiny drumsticks while Charles continued to play the main tune.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvC2_nsVJv0&feature=player_embedded

and how about this one? The Tielman Brothers.. a Dutch band with Andy Tielman on guitar

The band Enter the Haggis does something similar on the song Congress. It is pretty impressive live. Here's a video (it is at about the 4 minute mark).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UHBkDpmzWE

[JOY]

Philip,
My husband Gerry and I (JOY) have been following the pogues since the reunion tour.We are going to see the guys in Austin and Houstin. It will be my husband 55th birthday on the 29th and his 25 pogues show. Is there anyway to meet or get backstage after one of the show. We have met Spicey and James before. We have never met you and waiting for Shane in San fran and met him so of. Please let me know if you get this
Thank you very much
Joy McCarville
Buffalo,NY

[philipchevron]

Philip,
My husband Gerry and I (JOY) have been following the pogues since the reunion tour.We are going to see the guys in Austin and Houstin. It will be my husband 55th birthday on the 29th and his 25 pogues show. Is there anyway to meet or get backstage after one of the show. We have met Spicey and James before. We have never met you and waiting for Shane in San fran and met him so of. Please let me know if you get this
Thank you very much
Joy McCarville
Buffalo,NY

Joy

Register with the Forum - it's free and quick - and then PM (Private message) me.

[irish hillbilly]

Mr. C, while we're on the subject of plectrum instruments (sort of), on a few recordings you're listed as playing mandolin, which is my weapon of choice. Was there a favorite you relied on or did you have an arsenal to choose from?