Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Ever since I first starting digging into my playing and starting to get the aggresiveness of Pete Townshend, I haven't been able to Windmill properly. I've tried, but for some reason I always seem to miss when I go for it.

Is there a technique on doing it?

How long are your arms?

Id make sure the bridge plate was removed before practice, less damage to the wrists.

I prefer to do my windmills like this:

When the moment is right, you'll know what to do...

Careful with that bridge plate, sonny!

You're probably overthinking it.

I'd suggest bowling as a good practice; just remember that it's an underhand move, and let the weight of the ball do all the work.

Don't try it with an Accent tailpiece without removing the arm or you could get gigged like a bullfrog. Didn't something like that happen to Pete?

kiramdear wrote:Don't try it with an Accent tailpiece without removing the arm or you could get gigged like a bullfrog. Didn't something like that happen to Pete?

I must be very lucky; I windmill, and all My Accents have the arm still on them.

I must admit, I've never understood the reasoning behind the icepick tip design on those things. What's weird is that the really old "Accent by Paul" vibrato arms do not have nearly so sharp or pointy a tip.

I'm waiting for captain sandwich to find this thread.

Pete had an accident with a strat tremolo arm (drove it right through his hand on the first swing) and then did a tour with his hand wrapped up playing an accoustic guitar. (It sounded rather good)...
Or so the story goes.....
Eden.

Hey, Jake...here are a couple of clips featuring an activity that might help your 'windmill' technique:

Jake.......I hate to ask the obvious....but WHY?

It's not a musical move. It won't affect the way you sound or play one bit. It's a bit of an odd placement in this forum for musicianship.
It's like teaching you a dance move or something.
In addition, if you ever do that in front of people, especially with a Ric around your neck....it's like "meh....seen THAT before, somewhere." right?

I'd say perfect normal playing, and develop your own moves!

Problem is, Collin, I think I'm shorter than Pete was when he first started (he was 18, my age), and I think my arms are longer.

Thank you, Dane, I will watch the videos.

JakeK wrote:Problem is, Collin, I think I'm shorter than Pete was when he first started (he was 18, my age), and I think my arms are longer.

You need to turn off your brain RIGHT NOW.