He’s live and kicking

Who is Al Di Meola?

Born in an Italian family, then, while growing up in New Jersey, young
Al Di Meola divided his time between guitar lessons and hanging out at
the local salsa clubs. Influenced greatly by jazz guitarist Larry
Coryell, Di Meola enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where
his marathon practice sessions are still the stuff of legends (Al
continues to be the technical master by which other guitarists are
measured). "We had three guys in one space; one in one room, one in the
bathroom and I got the closet". After a brief stint with keyboardist
Barry Miles, Di Meola, at 19 was tapped by Chick Corea in 1974 for
"Return to Forever". His star quickly ascended. Twenty-two recordings,
countless awards, (including three gold albums) and six million albums
later, Al Di Meola is still challenging himself and his music.

I’m not an Al’s big fan. I reckon that his music and creativity are fantastic yet sometimes confusing and not easy listening. What amazes me so that i decide to write here is his picking technique. Unlike many other guitarists who play speed picking, Al technique is bit distinguished, or if i can say, astonishing. He picks every single note on the bars, just like how your master taught you to do arpeggios in your classical guitar class.

If you’re playing triplets, do you pull or hammer the second and/or third note in the triplet? Ask Al, and he will show you how to do it by only using pickings. Here I give a transcription from "Race with Devil on Spanish Highway", bar 7 to 12. Please also note that the intervals are not constant. Cool huh?

His technique is not so easy to follow. Who wants to spend extra energy to pick every single note if one can plainly use simple pulling or hammering? Perhaps nobody, but we have Al. Have you ever heard Al’s song entitled "Orient Blue"? I guess this is a good start to imitate his technique, to answer the challenge that the technique is not divine though it seems sophisticated (but if you’re satisfied enough with echoing effect from your electrical guitar by doing some pullings or hammerings, no need to try, honestly). Please pay attention to the first 12 bars below. You may say it’s just simple arpeggios, but please remember, don’t use your fingers. Do picking instead. Too easy? Oh no, i must have no musical talent. Would you please help me get over my stiff fingers problem?

Credit: Guitar Pro 5, a guitarist’s must-known application for creating and listening to musical transcription