Melody using alternate picking & D note
With
Tommy WebbTommy Webb teaches the D note on the B string and uses it to practise alternate picking, building coordination between both hands.
What's in the course
50 lessons (1h 52m) · 1 free
01. Intro to the Indie guitar sound
Free lesson2:09
02. Melody using B&C notes
3:45
03. Melody using B&C notes (performance)
0:55
04. Melody using alternate picking
2:36
05. Melody using alternate picking (performance)
0:55
06. Melody using alternate picking & D note
You are here2:47
07. Melody using alternate picking & D note (performance)
0:51
01. Melody using B C & D notes
4:16
02. Melody using B C & D notes (performance)
0:58
03. Melody using E note
2:08
04. Melody using E note (performance)
0:46
05. Rhythm part using C chord
2:00
06. Rhythm part using C chord (performance)
0:48
07. Parka Life bars 5-8
1:57
08. Parka Life bars 5-8 (performance)
0:50
09. Summary of Indie section
0:21
01. Intro to Pieces
1:00
02. Rock City
5:51
03. Rock City (performance)
0:50
04. Party People
7:20
05. Party People (performance)
0:46
06. Road to Nashville
6:08
07. Road to Nashville (performance)
0:47
08. Lead Boots
6:33
09. Lead Boots (performance)
0:49
10. Parka Life
5:01
11. Parka Life (performance)
0:43
12. Represent
5:23
13. Represent (performance)
0:46
Lesson transcript
Example Three: D Note on the B String
In example three, we're using a D note on the B string. This is the octave up from our open D string. As always, you can play these two together to hear the differences in range, but not in pitch.
Alternate Picking
This is another example that is testing our alternate picking.
The First Bar
The first bar is quite tricky. We need to build our coordination.
- Practice Transitioning: Before we start this phrase, I'd like you to work on going from D (the third fret on the B string) to C (the first fret), using alternate picking.
What I mean by that is:
- D
- C
- D
- C
- D
- C
Tip: Leave your first finger pushed down the whole time. This gives you the smoothest sound. Rather than lifting your first finger, it's much easier to keep it pushed down.
This technique also helps when you come to hammer-ons and pull-offs eventually, as this is essential for playing these correctly.
Building Coordination
So, we're leaving our first finger down. Take some time to welcome going between those two notes and connect your fingers up, building your coordination.
Example Breakdown
Taking a look at example three, we've got:
- The third fret on the B string, which is D, our new note.
- To C.
We're going to play D, C, D, D, all with alternate picking:
- Down, up, down, up.
In the second bar, we just have C, so we're only focusing on our picking:
- Down, up, down.
You can see the third note is a half note lasting for two beats, which means we don't need to play the up.
Starting with a Down Pluck
You can also see in bar three, it's telling us to start with a down pluck. We went over this earlier, saying that at the start of every bar, beat one should be plucked down.
So, we might need to work on this for a second, getting used to switching between alternate and down plucking.
- Bar three is the same as bar one, and the final bar is finishing on a whole note on D.
Practice Slowly
So let's take that really, really slowly, working through that together.
- Count: 1, 2, 3, 4, down pluck.
Playing with the Backing Track
Now, we're going to try and play along with the backing track. It's a little bit faster, so build up to it gradually before you give it a go.
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Tommy Webb is a London-based guitarist who completed a BA(Hons) Degree in guitar at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, studying under Sandy Beales (One Direction, Wheatus) and Nicolas Meier (Jeff Beck). His own playing moves freely across rock, pop, indie, hip-hop, country and metal - the exact ground his guitar methods cover.
Tommy has worked with a wide range of artists and bands across the country, including Jarki Monno and Indira May, sharing stages and sessions with guitarists Paul Murray (Jess Glynne, Zak Abel) and Adam Chetwood (Paolo Nutini, Mark Ronson), and drummers Alex Woodward (Black Honey), Luke Robinson and “Bambi Music” (N-Dubz, Lethal Bizzle, Wretch 32, Tinie Tempah).
On stage, he has performed at the Jazz Cafe opening for soul singer Jocelyn Brown, plus venues and festivals including Ronnie Scott's, Troy Bar, The Watford Colosseum, Camden Assembly, Kensington Roof Gardens, Notting Hill Arts Club, Meraki Festival and Sundown Festival.
On record and radio, Tommy has played live sessions for BBC Three Counties Introducing, Vibe FM and Pulse 88, with tracks featured on BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2. He has recorded at studios including South Lanes Brighton, Hempstead Road and Titan Studios with producers such as Steph Carter (Gallows, Lyoness) and TMS / Froe Barnes (Lewis Capaldi, Dua Lipa).
In his guitar methods, Tommy passes all of that working-musician know-how on to you - teaching the techniques, tones and feel behind real styles, from rock and pop to indie, hip-hop, country and metal, so you can play the music you actually love.
