Hybrid Picking Masterclass: Single Note Fundamentals

Hello fellow guitar player, thanks for checking out my hybrid picking masterclass. This package is part of a series of lessons dealing with different aspects of the guitar technique we refer to as hybrid picking.

Despite its popularity, there is very little serious information on this topic out there. Most teachers or instructional materials still completely ignore this way of playing. Time to shed some light and have a closer look at the technical and tonal possibilities in a conceptual fashion.

Keep in mind, that the approach I’m presenting comes from a personal perspective. It represents how I approach and utilise this technique and is not entitled to be a universal truth. Since hybrid picking is still a fairly young technique in the entire spectrum of guitar playing, there is no standardised way of doing it yet.

IN THIS PACKAGE

In the first part of my masterclass we will discuss the fundamentals of the technique with regard to single-note or lead guitar playing. However, the principles discussed also apply to rhythm or polyphonic playing. After discussing some technical aspects we will be covering some preliminary exercises, to get the technique under your belt. Note that in this first volume, we’ll be concentrating on using the pick in conjunction with the middle finger exclusively.

What is Hybrid Picking?

The term “hybrid picking” refers to a right hand picking technique (assuming you’re right handed) combining the notes played with the pick and notes plucked with any of the remaining right hand fingers. Picked notes and finger-plucked notes can either be played separately or simultaneously.

Why use Hybrid Picking?

The world of hybrid picking opens up a whole new dimension of expression for guitar players. If you’ve only ever played with a pick, you can incorporate hybrid picking into lines that you already know, to play them more easily. Since you can prepare a string change by placing your right hand fingers on the strings you’re about to play, this will avoid large jumps with your pick and therefore reduce hand movement.

Also, as I’ll show you later, hybrid picking extends your tonal options. Depending on a few factors you can either make the pick and finger notes sound similar or get tones that are unobtainable by only using a pick.

Another huge advantage over pick-only playing is the vast polyphonic possibilities. Hybrid Picking bridges the gap between techniques commonly used in plectrum guitar and those more typical of fingerstyle guitar. By simultaneously being able to pick/pluck up to four notes at the same time without having to strum you can now delve into the world of folk picking, bossa nova rhythms, chord melodies, jazz comping or even classical fugues.

If you’re primarily a fingerstyle player, you can use the skills you already have and largely expand your single-note vocabulary by combining it with the advantages of playing with a pick: rapid alternate picking, palm muting, rock rhythm guitar, funk strumming, economy/sweep picking, pinch harmonics, etc.

Who Uses Hybrid Picking?

This technique has been used by both electric and acoustic players for several decades now, but has recently become extremely popular. Some players particularly known for their use

of hybrid picking are: Albert Lee, Danny Gatton, Johnny Hiland, Tim Miller, Tom Quayle, Brett Garsed, Wayne Krantz, Tommy Emmanuel, Eric Johnson, Guthrie Govan, Greg Howe, Zakk Wylde, Jimmy Page, etc.

As you can see, there is a huge stylistic diversity within that list of players. Hybrid picking is not particular to a specific type of music, it’s what you do with it! This is also the reason that the patterns provided in this instructional can be modified and applied to any type of music.