finger-picker - Posted - 02/07/2021:  17:42:12

Just curious if there's a technical name for playing notes on an individual string vs. playing the notes in a chord position like root, barre, etc.? E.G. Root/position 1 D @ 12th fret = 4(12)-3(11)-2(10)-1(12) but if playing a sequence 4-3-2-1, you could just as easily play all the notes working up the 1st string if it made more sense, 1(0)-1(4)-1(7)-1(12).

Reason why I ask is that I've noticed on many tabs that the arranger will put notes in a chord position but sometimes it's way easier fretting wise just to work up a single string.

beegee - Posted - 02/07/2021:  17:46:33

Reno vs, Scruggs.

Old Hickory - Posted - 02/07/2021:  17:57:46

quote:

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Originally posted by dan_the_man

Reason why I ask is that I've noticed on many tabs that the arranger will put notes in a chord position but sometimes it's way easier fretting wise just to work up a single string.

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And that's what it's called.

If you find single string preferable in a particular situation, you can execute it and it sounds good, do it. There are no rules. The convention, however, is thumb-index thumb-index, even when there are cross-overs. Middle finger in singl string is considered an advanced technique.

finger-picker - Posted - 02/07/2021:  18:46:13

quote:

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Originally posted by Old Hickory

quote:

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Originally posted by dan_the_man

Reason why I ask is that I've noticed on many tabs that the arranger will put notes in a chord position but sometimes it's way easier fretting wise just to work up a single string.

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And that's what it's called.

If you find single string preferable in a particular situation, you can execute it and it sounds good, do it. There are no rules. The convention, however, is thumb-index thumb-index, even when there are cross-overs. Middle finger in singl string is considered an advanced technique.

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Perfect, and yes I've heard Reno popularized single string technique just didn't put 2 and 2 together. And RE: middle, yes that makes sense, some of the single string "rolls" on tunes I know can get pretty quick and thumb-index over and over really simplifies things. 

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 02/08/2021:  06:50:13

In formal music terminology, the notes of a chord played one at time instead of simultaneously is called an arpeggio. Is that what you're asking, Dan? 

Old Hickory - Posted - 02/08/2021:  07:59:02

From his first message, he's clearly asking about playing on a single string. But the example he gives does arpeggiate a chord: open, 4, 7, 12 on first string.

Dan: Upon reflection, I find it difficult to see that 4-note sequence ever being easier or making more sense than playing them either within a chord shape or in melodic technique -- approaches that would provide economy of motion.

I think a 1-3-2-1  forward roll pattern of open, 11, 10, 12    makes tremendously more sense than  doing them all on the first string.

Maybe your example should have been an actual melody sequence and not simply an arpeggiated chord.

Texasbanjo - Posted - 02/08/2021:  08:15:04

Dan, I presume you're talking bluegrass banjo and if so, you have 3 fingers to pick with. Why would you want to walk up and down one string when you can pick those same notes using 3 fingers and very little movement?

There are times when single string picking is appropriate (as already mentioned about Reno picking) and there are other times when 3 finger arpeggiated picking is easier, quicker and faster.

I guess it depends on what you're playing, how fast and how much movement over the fretboard you want to do.

finger-picker - Posted - 02/08/2021:  11:48:49

Thanks for the replies, I've found each of them useful - single string, Reno, and arpeggiation I think all describe parts of what I meant to ask even if I didn't quite ask it in those words. I was asking mainly from a chord fragment perspective up the neck when fretting the partial chord takes more time due to limited spacing than playing 2-3 notes up a string within the general vicinity instead.

E.G. In Pachelbel's Canon in D, there's that catchy part A (1st, 19) F# (2nd, 19) G (1st, 17) A (1st, 19). That F# is hard for me to fret quickly but I could fret 1st on 16 much more quickly instead and then its just all on the 1st string: 19 pause 16 17 19.

As I've been learning notes on the fretboard I'm starting to see examples of easier fretting everywhere in tunes I know and I think, why should I make things more difficult on myself if I can just do a quick adjustment? Sometimes single string makes an otherwise difficult melodic run waaay easier.

250gibson - Posted - 02/08/2021:  12:55:36

If you use the 5th string, that sequence is just a forward roll which should be the easiest way to play it without moving the fretting hand. Fret the A on the 5th string at 19, play with thumb, then, roll index to get the F# on the 2nd, middle to get the G on the first and then back to thumb to get the A on the 5th again.

finger-picker - Posted - 02/08/2021:  13:56:16

quote:

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Originally posted by 250gibson

If you use the 5th string, that sequence is just a forward roll which should be the easiest way to play it without moving the fretting hand. Fret the A on the 5th string at 19, play with thumb, then, roll index to get the F# on the 2nd, middle to get the G on the first and then back to thumb to get the A on the 5th again.

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That's a great point - why use just 1 or 2 fingers when you can use all 3 but just reconfigure the pattern