Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 13 Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 7:58 am Post subject: Ney Mello picking technique
Hello, new here, great forum.
I'm experimenting with different picking techniques, as mine's pretty bad, and came across this teacher/player called Ney Mello who seems to explain his quite well. I'm not sure of all the intricacies of it, but essentially it's a turning-door-knob wrist movement (rather than a flat side to side one) with action from the elbow and forearm thrown in as well. I think the idea is that you don't pick solely from the wrist and use larger muscle groups to drive the whole motion. Your picking hand floats over the guitar and the whole thing is supposed to give you the best possible range of motion and the lowest chances of tensing up your muscles when playing faster.
Was wondering if anyone has successfully used this style of picking or even taken lessons from Ney himself? He's got some negative comments on other guitar forums, but I'm not prepared to take those as gospel. Just wanted a bit of feedback before I invest any serious time in this approach. Cheers.
Ney is a bit hardcore and definitely a somewhat arrogant guy, but in my opinion everything he says about picking technique is as true and 'correct' as anything anyone has ever said about picking technique. He's really looked into it.
Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 13 Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 8:17 pm Post subject:
Do you mean his music is a joke or his technique? I haven't heard him play so I've no idea. It doesn't make any odds to me if his music isn't up to scratch, just interested in whether his ideas on picking technique hold any water.
I use the principles book that Ney seemingly endorses, and have found the 'principles' of it to be very good, but the pick hand isn't very well covered.
Ney Mello seems to reign on the GP forums and I seem to have gained a similar view to Carlo and Bill (well the arrogant part anyway).
He talks as if he really is up there with the greatest of players (Mclaughlin etc) but has little to show for it, a crappy website and 'wammie' nominations.
Having listened to the few clips availble from him (unless you want to buy his album there isn't much) I first got the impression that he was ok, but just kind of 'world music-ish rambling' nothing with too much content. I then found the clips he did with some Robert Keeley pedals and was shocked.
Ok so metal might not be this guys forte, but he talks about a whole lot of stuff that would give the impression that he at least LISTENS to what he's playing. He has talked about the three complex ways of bending (but never described what they are), and how these motions cannot be properly conveyed with words over the internet (so hey fly out to him and pay $100 an hour for a lesson), yet in the first example his bending is pitiful.
He has also claimed to have the best and most insightful DVD on picking technique coming out 'very soon'. Picking is another thing that's apparently far too complex to even attempt to properly convey in words. This DVD has been coming out 'very soon' for over 3 years now.
I have yet to see ANY video clips of this guy playing, just some mp3 clips which all seem to be varied in ability and style, leading me to believe that the better ones probably aren't him.
I'm done with this guy, he's like the kid that says "I know the answer, but I'm not telling", or the blackmailer that needs "just a little more money, then I'll destroy the evidence". He has never proved himself, yet has convinced many that he is a world class player.
Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 13 Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 4:08 pm Post subject:
Oh dear. Those clips are wretched, especially the first one. You'd think you'd want to put the best examples of your playing on your own website. Kind of makes me doubt his ideas on technique a bit. As you say, it is weird there are no video clips of him anywhere, especially when, if he was really good, a decent clip on website would presumably bring in more business. Maybe you shouldn't have to prove anything, but it would be nice to see a bit of "evidence" to justify hefty lesson prices.
Btw, this DVD has been postponed again 'cause his bank got taken over and the funding pulled. Not sure I'd want to spend $100 or so on a DVD anyway.
It won't happen, believe me.
He makes huge posts about not letting todays society stop anyone from doing things, and how we unconsciously hold ourselves back, yet it has been over three years and he hasn't been able to complete an instructional video.
Jamie produced a self made DVD in far less time.
...hehe...like I said...he's a bit of joke...or the very least...a quack
I haven't looked at his website in ages..but I took another quick gander. Wow, he really talks himself up. And after hearing those Ney clips art posted, all I can say is pathetic. If I were any of his followers who hung by his every word, I'd feel completely cheated.
There are better technique books out there from more credible and capable musicians, I wouldn't bother wasting my time with this guy. Even if he was a good guitar player, I still wouldn't be able to tolerate such an arrogant personality (well it seems that he's full of himself).
Ironic how some of the most accomplished musicians on the planet (Guthrie, Garsed, Hoesktra, Howe, Holdsworth...etc.), are always the most humble.
Ironic how some of the most accomplished musicians on the planet (Guthrie, Garsed, Hoesktra, Howe, Holdsworth...etc.), are always the most humble.
Not ironic at all, IMO. For me humility means viewing yourself in a wider picture.
A vain person must ignore some parts of the picture to maintain a favourable image, in doing so they forsake understanding that. If an artist is boastful of his work, he's negligent of areas he might grow into. An intelligent person will figure that out and forfend against it.
Going full out on the pseudo-Japanese imagery now.. Bert Quok, Monkey-Magic stylee, Frankus wrote:
For although the king fisher is the finest of birds, it will not eat if it regards it's own reflection in the rippled waters.
_________________ Fabulous powers were revealed to me the day I held my magic Suhr(d) aloft and said "by the power of great scale!"
Ironic how some of the most accomplished musicians on the planet (Guthrie, Garsed, Hoesktra, Howe, Holdsworth...etc.), are always the most humble.
Not ironic at all, IMO. For me humility means viewing yourself in a wider picture.
A vain person must ignore some parts of the picture to maintain a favourable image, in doing so they forsake understanding that. If an artist is boastful of his work, he's negligent of areas he might grow into. An intelligent person will figure that out and forfend against it.
I never looked at it that way.....well spoken and very true.
Damn! I must be great then, 'cause I think I'm shit! Yup, that's how humble I am
Cheers,
Chumbo
I'm thinking Bill and Ted's encounter with So-Crates..
The greatest wisdom is in knowing you know nothing at all
Dude, that's us.. excellent!!
It seems to me the consciencious guitarists, identify their weaknesses and develop methods to remove those weaknesses. I have a list as long as my arm of the things I want to put into my playing, but I lack the experience to disect it and the time to follow those tweaks to see a result. _________________ Fabulous powers were revealed to me the day I held my magic Suhr(d) aloft and said "by the power of great scale!"
Alternatively you can build upon your strengths, although you will need enough strengths to not become monotonous.
I know for a fact that Mattias Eklundh finds things that many players find very simple to be difficult. He has a real problem playing in other peoples styles, but his own style is unbeliveably good.
Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 30 Location: NY State, USA
Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 4:50 pm Post subject:
You guys should check out Ney's latest clip. He absolutely shreds on acoustic! I plan on purchasing his picking DVD when it is finally finished. Whether you feel he is arrogant or not, the man knows how to pick.
You guys should check out Ney's latest clip. He absolutely shreds on acoustic! I plan on purchasing his picking DVD when it is finally finished. Whether you feel he is arrogant or not, the man knows how to pick.
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