Product Details

• Actors: Steve Kaufman
• Directors: Happy Traum
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Homespun Tapes
• DVD Release Date: June 1, 2004
• Run Time: 70 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0002DVBLC
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #155,813 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

It’s every bluegrass flatpicker’s dream to be able to build up speed while maintaining good tone and timing. Now one of America’s hottest players gives you the tools you need to get over the musical speed bumps -- without crashing and burning as you go.

It’s all a matter of getting your right- and left-hand mechanics working correctly, and Steve has powerful advice and well-thought-out exercises to help you. Using tunes like "Old Joe Clark," "Soldier’s Joy" and "Big Mon" as drills, Steve works on your hand and pick coordination and shows how to practice for best results. Tips on left-hand fretting positions (keep a light touch, very little skin on the back of the guitar neck), combined with how to hold and move your picking hand (use a wide swing with proper depth of pick; right hand should act as metronome or pendulum) help solve mechanical failures that often slow you down.

You’ll learn how to play syncopated runs and crosspicking patterns with ease, as well as a cross-picked version of "Wildwood Flower" that will amaze your listeners. Steve shows you how triplets and doubletime picking will help build your flatpicking technique and allow you to play blazing bluegrass instrumentals. As Steve puts it, "once you’ve got the mechanics of your right hand down, it doesn’t care what your left hand is doing." Then it’s up to you to "oil the machinery" by practicing, burning tunes and licks into muscle memory so you don’t have to think about them. Finally, you’ll combine all the elements in a show-stopping display of chord runs and picking combinations on the Don Reno classic "Little Rock Getaway." This lesson will help all aspiring flatpickers develop their potential and keep up with others in hot jam sessions and performances.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Faster, faster..., April 12, 2006

By 

Steve Cooper "Rural America" (Kansas, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DVD-Picking Up Speed-Drills and Tunes for Flatpick Guitarists (DVD)

I have been playing Guitar for quite a while, but mainly just strumming. A few years ago I started practicing scales. I got fairly good at them, but felt like I didn't know what to do with them. I bought this video along with the 4 Hour Bluegrass workout and together these have really helped a lot. I feel that I have a much better command of the fingerboard, in the first position especially. After 1 month of practicing at least 1 hour a day and sometimes more, my speed has definitely picked up and my right hand crosspicking is more accurate.

Both this DVD and the 4 hour workout push you to go faster, usually faster than you feel like you are ready for. But that is the way that Steve helps you build up speed. Even though I thought in the beginning that it would take a long time to build up that kind of speed, I can notice the difference already.

I now find myself wanting to play Guitar more often because of the improvement. There are only a few songs on the DVD, so I would recommend getting the 4 hour workout to go along with the video. That way you have plenty to practice with. Then, practice, practice, practice...

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, not Kaufman's best, December 13, 2006

By 

Michael Williams "snaphooks" (Oceanside, CA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: DVD-Picking Up Speed-Drills and Tunes for Flatpick Guitarists (DVD)

There aren't a whole lot of tunes here, and not that many drills either. It's a good price, but you'll learn just as much with the 4 hour workouts and the Parking Lot Series, and always play slightly faster than your comfort zone.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kaufman delivers!, September 23, 2009

By 

Ronald E. Warren (Edwards, Missouri United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: DVD-Picking Up Speed-Drills and Tunes for Flatpick Guitarists (DVD)

Once again, I have purchased a Steve Kaufman lesson and been well satisfied. He gets to the point and gives solid advice and backs it up with drills and tunes. I wish I had every Kaufman lesson produced by Homespun. I own countless guitar study guides and lessons including videos by Albert Lee,Johnny Hiland etc. I have everything from Jazz to country and all points in between. None have delivered like Kaufman's stuff. Buy just one of the parking lot series(not cheap) and you will see what I mean. Tabs,backing tracks and solid foundation based on work not some magic formula. The best part is the work pays off! This one is more of the same. Thanks Steve!