Guitar Crosspicking Technique Book
The most comprehensive book ever written on Crosspicking Guitar Technique. Develop a total approach to Flatpicking and take your new skills to the next level. Crosspicking guitar can be used to good effect in most any genre of music: Classical, Celtic, Bluegrass, Jazz, Ragtime, Country or Rock.
- 154 pages of exercises, songs, and technique builders
- Covers basic flatpicking techniques in detail along with the development of the crosspicking style including:
- "Getting Oriented"
- "Practice Makes Perfect"
- How to read tablature (having the ability to read music is not required)
- "Chord Diagrams"
- "Useful Tools"
- "Alternating Bass Pattern"
- "Roll Pattern Studies"
- "Right Hand Technique"
- "Introductory Arpeggiated Chord Exercises for building a solid right hand"
- Many different Rolls are introduced --
This book also makes a good basic instruction manual to learning tablature, flatpicking tips and techniques and ultimately mastering the guitar.
Excerpt from Introduction:
"With applied crosspicking technique, the guitar becomes a forceful solo instrument capable of filling a room with colorfully supported melodies. Crosspicking bombards the listener with a barrage of notes. As is similar to Bluegrass banjo, crosspicking guitar doesn’t seem to pause for a breather. A continuous succession of notes pours forth establishing the melody while filling in all of the spaces with harmony notes. Not only does the guitar support itself, with spaces filled harmonically, but crosspicking technique works effectively for supporting other lead instruments and vocals. As an accomplished guitar player, you are or would be capable of varying the backup of an ensemble (band) with many colorful approaches; for example, one verse you may want to add bass-strum backup while the second verse you could apply a crosspicking backup.
The guitar, as one of the most versatile instruments in existence, has immersed triumphantly in many genres including: classical, rock, country, bluegrass, jazz, and new age music. No matter what style of music you enjoy playing, learning the many applicable possibilities of crosspicking will enhance your musical creativity. There are no limitations on how or where crosspicking can be applied. It’s truly one approach to the guitar that can be adapted to any style of music.
This is a methodology book, which includes a songbook section, designed for the intermediate to advanced guitarist. It will offer you, as a guitar player, a new voice. Or, if you’re already crosspicking, many new ideas can be added to your arsenal. Within the methodology chapters, each song includes a preparatory study that allows you the opportunity to gain a solid footing before attempting the piece itself. These studies can be applied in other areas as backup ideas, song ideas or takeoffs for improvisation. So, don’t think of them only as exercises. Be creative and experimental. Upon completing the methodology section, this book also includes a full songbook section giving you an even wider repertoire to pursue."
Guitar Crosspicking Technique
Level: Intermediate to Advanced Rating: *****
Mickey Cochran's Guitar Crosspicking Technique is a superb book that belongs in every serious flatpicker's library. Following the instructions and materials provided within its pages, it is almost guaranteed that you will be a fluent crosspicker.
The book starts out by giving advice on equipment, strings, and other details that a picker may need. It then begins to teach the crosspicking technique by presenting various short exercises. These exercises are actually the key to becoming an expert crosspicker. If you have ever tried the crosspicking technique, you know that it isn't something you can jump right into. In his book, Mickey provides what you need to work up to fluency.
After you have mastered the exercises and the technique, the book then presents a variety of crosspicking song arrangements. These arrangements include bluegrass, fiddling tunes, and even classical pieces. For a number of the arrangements, Mickey provides preparatory exercises to help the picker work up to the main song. There is enough material in this book to keep you busy for years.
Overall, I would give Guitar Crosspicking Technique the highest rating. It is an excellent book with some excellent techniques and arrangements.
