Hype up your Hybrid picking

Hybrid picking is one of those techniques that fascinates and terrifies guitarists in equal measure. This may stem from that the fact that our first exposure to the technique is often via the burning licks of players like Albert Lee and Brad Paisley – country pickers for whom hybrid is second nature. However, there are many guitarists who use it in other genres often to more subtle and less challenging effect. For instance, the intro to Cream’s Crossroads is largely played hybrid. Rock and roll and rockabilly are also areas where hybrid picking finds favour (check out Brian Setzer), and of course there are many great blues guitarists that opt for a similar appproach, like Rory Gallagher. Rock players such as Brett Garsed, Zakk Wylde and Ron Thal also use it to create blistering licks.

Hybrid picking means combining the pick and fingers when plucking the strings. Some guitarists will use the