I’m going to college for music (technology) but I have to audition. I’m interested into classical so I’m leaning towards the jazz audition. I play guitar with a flat pic. Is this ok, or is it best to play jazz guitar fingerstyle?
Tagged with: going to college • guitar fingerstyle • jazz guitar • music technology
Filed under: jazz guitar
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I started in jazz using just my fingers and thumb, as many great guitarists did, but then I heard Django Reinhardt, whose playing requires the use of a very thick pick, in conjunction with a completely different technique, so that is what I do when playing most anything now; fingerstyle arrangements are the obvious exception.
Go with your strength. Learn to use finger picking techniques in your time after you get into college.
A very popular jazz style incorporates both pick and fingers.
Either is okay as long as you develop the style to a level where you can play proficiently, although I would say that it is better to use your thumb and fingers, just as many jazz greats have done over the years (:
An ice pick, a hammer or a saw
Both can be equally effective in jazz, but of course it’s best to be fairly proficient in both styles. Most use a pick, but many people use just their fingers and sound incredible. If you use a pick, you will be jealous of what fingerstyle players can do; if you play fingerstyle, you will be jealous of what pick users can do.
My advice though is to use a pick if you plan on playing other styles than jazz. Fingerstyle players are less versatile overall stylistically.