Hi everyone,

I'm currently working on "Angeline the Baker", and am learning the version as tabbed out on Mike Iverson's website.

Anyway, I need to know how to interpret something on the tab. In the last beat of the first measure, you slur up from open C to open D, and there's a lower case 'p' under the open D.

How is this played? I have been striking the C and then dragging my nail up to catch the D. Does the 'p' mean "pick"? Would that mean that if I strike the C with my index that I would pick the D with my middle finger or something like that? I can't imagine in my mind that it means "pull off". How would you pull off from one open string to another? Mike's mp3 of the song is so fluid and smooth that I can't make out what he's doing there.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Jeff

Posted - 11/19/2009 :  21:26:30    

Hi, Jeff. Sounds like you should pluck the open 'D' with your LEFT hand. Use your middle or ring finger. So...strike the open 'C' with the right hand finger, then pluck the open 'D' with a left hand finger. It takes a little getting used to, but you will see this technique quite often.

Posted - 11/19/2009 :  21:27:26    

quote:

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Originally posted by trick420

I can't imagine in my mind that it means "pull off".

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Posted - 11/19/2009 :  21:56:25            

I'm familiar with that tab and it is indeed an ASPO.

However I don't agree with the youtube video Mirek posted that says hammer-ons and pull-offs are the same thing. A hammer on is bringing the finger down STRAIGHT and hard on the given fret. A pull-off is done to the side. the finger is DOWN, and is snapped off toward the palm. This is true of normal hammers and pulls and of ASPOs and of Double pulls double hammers

There is an extensive chapter in Rocket Science Banjo on the alternate string pull off or hammer on (I leave normal pulls and hammers to beginner's books and sites). The Chapter also goes into Double Pull-Offs and other "fancies" that are never covered in most books. You can get a copy of the book - free - at:
http://www.rocketsciencebanjo.com
Besides full instructions on this and many other techniques Rocket Science Banjo also has an extensive tab collection and all of the tabs can be played on your computer's MIDI, so you can watch, and hear the tunes and exercises and even play along with them. MIDI is going to evolutionize instrument instruction. I get a fw emails a day from satisfied users. And If you don't like RSB - you can hit delete. Try it tonight!

Posted - 11/19/2009 :  22:00:21        

With an alternate string pulloff you're not simply lifting your finger. Actually pluck the string with the left hand finger. There is no involvement of the right hand.

Posted - 11/20/2009 :  00:04:52    

quote:

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Originally posted by oldwoodchuckb

However I don't agree with the youtube video Mirek posted that says hammer-ons and pull-offs are the same thing.

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Posted - 11/20/2009 :  06:21:29    

ditto on the ASPO and it should be done as Chip describes, lest you find yourself playing an inadvertent hammer on as well, that would be an extra note although it may be a quiet one, pluck it in the air with your left ring or middle finger as suits you, no need to start with pressing the string down to the fingerboard, nice simple tune that can kind of get hypnotic after a while, i think Iverson's was the second tab i learned of that tune.

Edited by - majikgator on 11/21/2009 16:45:05

Posted - 11/20/2009 :  07:26:43      

Hey gang,

Thanks for all the information. That helped greatly. Now I just have to practice and execute!!!

Regards,
Jeff

Posted - 11/20/2009 :  10:13:24    

quote:

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Originally posted by trick420

Hey gang,

Thanks for all the information. That helped greatly. Now I just have to practice and execute!!!

Regards,
Jeff

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Posted - 11/20/2009 :  11:12:03            

quote:

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Originally posted by Mirek Patek

quote:

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Originally posted by oldwoodchuckb

However I don't agree with the youtube video Mirek posted that says hammer-ons and pull-offs are the same thing.

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I do not think the video or the text next to the video says that.

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Posted - 11/20/2009 :  13:54:05            

Zepp,
Sorry for the error.
I don't hear the spoken word too well on videos and completely misunderstood what you were saying. I didn't even recognize your voice - (If I had I would have checked with you before shooting my foot off with my big mouth).

I don't know how much time I have spent trying to get students to do HOs and POs correctly, especially in the Jeff beck era when they could SEE you didnt need to do anything special. So they would be attempting left hand feats done on 2G custom guitar on thier 75 dollar Sears -- and failing. So I've gotten kinda paranoid on the subject.
As I said at the top - My apologies. I know you know as much about technique as I do.

Tony
http://www.rocketsciencebanjo.com