The Windmill

Does anyone have any tips on doing the Pete Townshend windmill move? Every time I try it, I practically bust my hand on the guitar.

tilt your guitar slanted toward your body.... but not so much that you can't get the strings.....
maybe trying to hold the end of the pick with a firm grip will help....

I've never actually seen a clip of Townshend doing this, but I saw someone on TV doing it last week. He picked first, then did a windmill. That was a revelation to me, and will add dimensions to my stage presence. [/sarcasm]

As revealed in previous posts elsewhere on this site, there are associated hazards that await the unwary!

Now that I have dispensed the obligatory disclaimer, catch this:

The 'Townsend Windmill' is a big, bad, attention-getter between rhythm chords. Got that?

Stroke a chord with a solid kind of authority, swing your pick hand around in a wide sweep, and crush that next chord! Do it again for the next one, and continue until the song changes to another part, or you realise that the stinging sensation in your knuckles is due to the skin you have left behind on the strings.

This is about stage presence - this is not a game for the faint-of-heart or for any kind of poseur.

Strut on out there and make 'em believe! :D

and be carefull if you have a wammy bar

anyone heard that story about how pete did the windmill and his wammy bar sliced open his hand on stage

that will give you stage presence

Yeah, I heard that he put the bar on his Strat right into his hand. Had to leave the concert and go to the hospital, I think.
That's why I only try windmills on my Tele.

Just do it slow until you get it down. You could also cheat and never touch the strings with your picking hand. Just hammer the chords with your left. Just make sure nobody catches you doing this. ;)

I've been working on this some more over the weekend. What seems to work for me is to forget about picking the strings and just nail them with the middle, ring and pinky fingers on my right hand, holding the pick between my thumb and index finger. This doesn't sound all that great, but it seems to do the job.

The only way to do it *right* almost always involves personal injury. It's a "commitment to the moment" thing.

It's also a good idea to avoid such theatrics while playing on a wet outdoor stage, standing in a puddle. :rolleyes:

Just so you know, I'm a 17-year-old kid who has yet to play his first gig. However, I've been carefully studying Who concert videos and think I've stolen enough moves from Pete to cover up the fact that I'm not the most brilliant player out there. Thanks for your advice, everyone.

Check out this site about the master of the windmill...

http://www.petetownshend.co.uk/

[Edited by Dr_simon on 01-24-2004 at 12:05 PM]