Can someone explain this John Norum technique?

From an interview:
Then I started watching Gary Moore and Schenker to see their fingering and how they do it. It's quite different from how most people do it. It's just the fingering…it's a rolling kind of thing with your second and third finger. I look at it like a kind of wheel. Not many people actually use that technique. Most people will play with their first and third finger and maybe the pinky, which I hardly ever use except for when I do scales because it's the weakest one and it has the worst tone. So what I do instead of using the first and the third finger I use the second and the third to kind of roll off the strings. That's how I get all the speed. I could never do it like, for example, Tony Iommi. He plays Blues licks but he only does it with two fingers, his first and third. I use the first, second and third. Always anchor my first and then I kind of roll with the other two. It's very hard to explain. It's something I'd have to show you. It mainly comes from watching Gary and Michael Schenker. They do it a lot. That's how they get the speed with the pentatonic scale. Otherwise you wouldn't be able to get it so fluid. And I've been doing that pentatonic stuff for 25 years! I've taken it as far as you can possibly take it. Also Frank Marino does exactly the same thing. It is a special technique to make it sound like that.

Is it more pull offs or picking?

It's both actually. I mix them together. I'm always fretting the first finger and the other ones are all over the place. Like I said. It's a rolling motion. I can go all over the place with this technique, all over the neck. It gets very fluid and you get up to very high speeds that you can't do with just your first and third finger. Some people might be able to but it's not as fluid. I don't think I could take the pentatonic any further than I've done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siYhAAIKch4

check at the end of the video I think that's what he's refering to

and Schenker doing it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEBmLNgNAws

When did Norum stop playing a Strat?

that's 2 string sweep licks with penta scale, sweep picking

Hmmmm so kind of like 12ft fret B string to 12th E string hammer on 15th fret E and pull off?

:|::QBB:

keano":c51ab said:

Hmmmm so kind of like 12ft fret B string to 12th E string hammer on 15th fret E and pull off?

Click to expand...

What he's talking about is really simple not really a technique and it's something most of you already use or seen before. All he's talking about is say you're playing a G note on the D string 5th fret and your next note for a 3 note lick is the A note on the same string 7th fret then the C note on the G string 5th fret. Now most people will lift their fingers off to hit that C note on the G string but he doesn't. He just frets both D and G strings with his index finger and rolls back and forth between that G and C note that's all. It's not a technique and it just sounds complicated or even cool but it's something you have ALL done at one time or another. I know exactly what he's talking about because I do it myself but not with the pentatonic scale. I have huge hands and long fingers so I have no problems fretting anything fast enough and it's actually easier for me to lift my finger off but on 3 note per string scales I do it.

Like he says you have to see it done to fully understand it but it's not anything special. It sure as hell makes it smoother and more fluid..obviously because you're creating a legato feel by rolling back and forth and the C note is almost a ghost note. This is where Satriani made a living his first 3 albums using Modes.

Actually that's a good example you put but instead of playing the G on the 15th fret..play the 12th fret B note on B string then 15th fret D note on same string and then roll finger down (from where you where fretting the B note) to the E string E note and roll back to the D note on B string and finally the B on the B string where you started it all. This all depends on the player and it won't make you faster or slower (that's all up to practice not technique you can pick with your elbows and fret with your nose for all I care but you have to practice it to be fluent and fast) but it WILL like he said make it sound smoother and more fluid.

Makes complete sense thanks. And yes I do it all the time. ha!

:|::QBB:

keano":627b4 said:

Makes complete sense thanks. And yes I do it all the time. ha!

Click to expand...

You're welcome. Well, I don't know if you've taken lessons before or been to any music school but they will teach you that so that's why I said, you probably did it before.

It's no big deal though like I said, you can pick with your elbows and fret with your nose as long as you do it right. You always have to practice wether you do the right technique or the wrong one. Don't fall for the BS of "YOU HAVE TO DO IT THIS WAY" or "HE WAS BORN WITH IT". I laugh every time I hear those two ridiculous things.

Take Pagannini, Django, Polland (with deformed fingers or hands. limited but listen to them play) and then those that have basically ZERO use of their pinkies like Malmsteen and Satriani. They'll use them from time to time but to rip they mostly use 3 fingers. I've seen some strange things in my years as a guitarist and it proves that there's no such thing as a right way. Most of the top guys except for Vai and Angelo and a handful of others all use BAD form or technique. You'll see it with the thumb over the fretboard while playing 3 note per string licks or runs which is "supposed" to be bad form but who's going to tell them they're wrong? Just listen to them. I met a guy in Korea that would shred with the hand OVER the fretboard and also with the guitar laying on his lap because he just couldn't play like normal people can (his shoulder wouldn't take it) and he fucking ripped. He also did nothing but that day in day out..what was he born with?

It's why it's bullshit that you have to be born for it or have this and that..you have to practice that's IT. That's all there is to it. So take up any technique you want but remember one thing it takes approximately 10 years of CONSTANT daily playing to master an instrument. If you use good form and technique it takes 10 years..bad form, bad technique..ten years as well like it or not. Those that claim to play for over 10 years and still say, "bUuT d00oDe..i sTILL cANt pl4Y aS fAST YnGWeeI"..well, tell them to quit bullshitting themselves and start playing. then there's also slow people that don't grasp reality and it is what it is..they're stupid and don't know it. there's practice and there's playing with yourself.

Well said!!