How do you pick like Billy Strings?

Billy Strings is an award-winning American guitarist and bluegrass musician whose album Home won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album in 2021.

Billy Strings uses a technique called flatpicking to play fast and intricate melodies on the acoustic guitar. Flatpicking involves using a pick to pluck individual strings, rather than strumming chords. Here are some tips on how to pick like Billy Strings:

Hold the pick firmly: Use a thick and rigid pick, and hold it between your thumb and index finger. Apply enough pressure to prevent the pick from slipping, but not too much to cause tension in your hand.

Use alternate picking: Alternate between downstrokes and upstrokes, following the rhythm of the song. This will help you play faster and smoother, as well as sync your picking hand with your fretting hand.

Angle the pick slightly: Tilt the pick slightly towards the headstock, so that it glides over the strings rather than digging into them. This will reduce the resistance and noise, and create a more fluid sound.

Practice with a metronome: Start with a slow tempo, and gradually increase the speed as you master the technique. Focus on accuracy, timing, and tone. A metronome will help you develop consistency and precision in your picking.

Learn from the masters: Billy Strings is influenced by legendary flatpickers like Doc Watson, Tony Rice, and Bryan Sutton. Listen to their recordings, watch their videos, and study their licks and solos. You can also find many online lessons and tutorials on flatpicking, such as this one by Hayes Griffin1.

Flatpicking is a challenging but rewarding technique that can take your guitar playing to the next level. With practice, patience, and passion, you can pick like Billy Strings and impress your listeners.