Using examples from bluegrass, jazz, folk, and pop music, we cover the basics of good picking-hand technique, with an emphasis on picking-hand posture. Techniques covered include alternate picking, rest stroke, efficient picking, sweep picking, and strumming.

Scott discusses flatpicking technique with musical examples in a few styles. Participants have the opportunity to try out the examples in class and get advice and criticism on their own technique.

Participants in this workshop should be interested in acquiring a good basic flatpick technique that will allow them to eventually play and explore any music they want. You should be comfortable with basic first-position chords and first-position major scales (C, G, D) and have attempted to play some melodies up the neck.

You will leave the workshop with a grounding in good flatpick technique and an idea of what you need to work on to improve your own technique.