Finger Picking Choices in Blackbird

[jayswett]

From jamesbkline

Greetings Neil,

Love T.A.R.G.E.T. !! I'm sure you'll get the web server stuff settled down soon. I'm very happy to have found you and your site.

I have a question on Blackbird. Using the "non-Paul" method of finger-picking, why use the thumb on the 3rd string drone note instead of the Index finger? The index finger is pretty much loafing in this song and moving my thumb to the 3rd is a new trick for me, indeed!

Thanks, Brad

From Neil

I like to have students learn this version of Blackbird for a couple of reasons. One is just to introduce the alternate bass technique. Many other songs do this as well, Brain Damage and Dust In The Wind for example.

More importantly though, the thumb will naturally hit the strings a little harder than the index finger. In order to get a consistent sound on all the bass notes, they should be played with the thumb. I would be able to tell whether someone was playing the G string with their thumb or their index blindfolded. If you hit it with your index, it blends in more with the melody notes, not the bass notes.

Again though, this is to get a desired result by practicing certain techniques on a song, not necessarily to sound just like the recording. I have different students play songs differently, depending on what they need to work on the most.

By the way, your last sentence about it being a new trick could be enough of an answer sometimes.

Neil