Crosspicking for Rhythm Guitar: How Tony Rice and Wyatt Rice Transformed Bluegrass Accompaniment
Both Tony and Wyatt Rice played, and continue to play, rhythm guitar like no one else in the bluegrass world. There are a few techniques they modified and made their own that have made their sound so unique.
One of those techniques — and perhaps the most powerful?
Crosspicking.
Beyond Boom-Chuck: Using Crosspicking in Your Rhythm Playing
Usually we think of crosspicking as a technique for playing lead and breaks. It can also be used to enhance your rhythm guitar and accompanying skills. If you've ever felt like there might be something more beyond the boom-chuck baseline of bluegrass rhythm guitar — which, don't get me wrong, is a great baseline, always — then you might be ready to dive into the world of crosspicking for rhythm.
A G Chord Example
Here's a quick example of a way Tony Rice liked to use crosspicking over a G chord.
The Most Important Rule: Start Slow
Try it out when you get a chance. The key is to start very slow. Let me repeat: very slow. The goal is to be articulate with this crosspicking when boosting the speed. If you are not articulate slow, how can you expect yourself to be articulate fast. Do not skip this step — ever.
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