Trying to pick every note.

Telewanger · 03-05-2010, 01:26 AM

For the past month, I have not done one hammer on or pull off while practicing. I am trying to get my alternate picking, string skipping, and right hand stronger and faster.

It is really hard for me for some reason. It seems like I get so fast and hit a wall. My damn hand don't seem to want to go any faster right now. I will just have to keep working at it every day and hopefully I can get it up to speed.

I made a little video. My playing is pretty sloppy, but it is much better than it was a month ago. I can tell a difference, but I guess it is going to take me quite a while to get good at high speed string skipping and alternate picking. I have been playing with a metronome and it really helps.

Any suggestions on a better technique will also be great!

Sorry for the sloppy chops!

Thanks!

YouTube - Picking Every Note.wmv

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16mcUIF0PWQ

LeBudfrumHull_SG · 03-05-2010, 02:25 AM

Jeez Tele ... are you sure you need to get any faster ..?
That looked plenty fast to me !

The Smitchens · 03-05-2010, 03:09 AM

Here's the thing. Building speed is just like lifting weights. I mean exactly the same thing. You have an abundance of tiny muscles all through your fingers that need time to develop and to become accustomed to such playing.

So, if you're in a gym and you're lifting weights and you decide "piss on this. I'm gonna start curling 75 pounds in each arm" you will regret it. The harder you try to do something your body isn't ready for the more likely you are to, say, pull a muscle.

Granted you probably won't pull any finger muscles or anything from going too fast, but your coordination will suffer in its place. Playing too fast is essentially the same thing. When it comes to practicing it's unfortunate, but playing slowly and cleanly to make sure the finger frets in time for the pick to strike is essential. I trust you're practicing with a metronome. Having that kind of stability to base your playing around certainly helps and also being sure to not speed it up too fast. It sucks, but slow and steady does win the race.

Some other observations that may help to pay attention to when you practice. I noticed you never used your pinky. Having a fourth finger fretting will certainly help with moving the others around as it will further minimize the whole hand movements. The less the hand has to move the easier it is to play faster. Secondly I noticed your fingers fly around like streamers in the wind. Disciplining your fingers to remain close to the fretboard will also help dramatically as it's less distance the fingers have to move further minimizing muscle use.

Telewanger · 03-05-2010, 03:26 AM

I am not having any left hand problems. I was never playing more than 3 frets apart so I never needed the pinky, I am having problems with my picking hand. I just can't seem to get it any faster. My left hand is way faster than my right hand. I guess since I used hammer ons and pull offs so much, it has caused my right hand it to be really slack and lazy. I don't know if it will ever catch up.

boyda · 03-05-2010, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Smitchens

Here's the thing. Building speed is just like lifting weights. I mean exactly the same thing. You have an abundance of tiny muscles all through your fingers that need time to develop and to become accustomed to such playing.

So, if you're in a gym and you're lifting weights and you decide "piss on this. I'm gonna start curling 75 pounds in each arm" you will regret it. The harder you try to do something your body isn't ready for the more likely you are to, say, pull a muscle.

Granted you probably won't pull any finger muscles or anything from going too fast, but your coordination will suffer in its place. Playing too fast is essentially the same thing. When it comes to practicing it's unfortunate, but playing slowly and cleanly to make sure the finger frets in time for the pick to strike is essential. I trust you're practicing with a metronome. Having that kind of stability to base your playing around certainly helps and also being sure to not speed it up too fast. It sucks, but slow and steady does win the race.

Some other observations that may help to pay attention to when you practice. I noticed you never used your pinky. Having a fourth finger fretting will certainly help with moving the others around as it will further minimize the whole hand movements. The less the hand has to move the easier it is to play faster. Secondly I noticed your fingers fly around like streamers in the wind. Disciplining your fingers to remain close to the fretboard will also help dramatically as it's less distance the fingers have to move further minimizing muscle use.

+1! I couldn't agree more.

Focus on getting it right at a slow tempo. Speed comes with repetition.

Silimtao · 03-05-2010, 03:32 AM

You familiar with circular picking? Instead of a straight, up/down with the pick, it becomes a circle, more like an elipse, the shape around the string should look like this- (). The tighter the better, and hybrid picking. If you've picked down, and heading for another string in the downward path, keep going, instead of putting the breaks on, to start going up again; likewise on the up strokes. I find using the very tip of the pick better also.

The Smitchens · 03-05-2010, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telewanger

I am not having any left hand problems. I was never playing more than 3 frets apart so I never needed the pinky, I am having problems with my picking hand. I just can't seem to get it any faster. My left hand is way faster than my right hand. I guess since I used hammer ons and pull offs so much, it has caused my right hand it to be really slack and lazy. I don't know if it will ever catch up.

Well, your left hand may be fine and all. I just figured since speed was the topic a few suggestions based off what I'd seen couldn't hurt. Of course we all have our own styles, so whatever works best for you, dude.

As far as your right hand goes they're just out of sync is all. As I said earlier all you have to do is play slowly until you're better at timing your two hands together and playing with a metronome will definitely help with that. It'll be boring as hell, but for playing fast with quality technique it's essential that you master timing your hands together.

Oh and it takes a long time. I don't like to sugar coat things. No overnight results here and when they do come they'll be a little bit here and a little bit there, but it'll add up and you won't regret it when you get there.

Telewanger · 03-05-2010, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silimtao

You familiar with circular picking? Instead of a straight, up/down with the pick, it becomes a circle, more like an elipse, the shape around the string should look like this- (). The tighter the better, and hybrid picking. If you've picked down, and heading for another string in the downward path, keep going, instead of putting the breaks on, to start going up again; likewise on the up strokes. I find using the very tip of the pick better also.

I watched the Eric Johnson video on circle picking, but it didn't look like much of a circle. I will search for some more videos on the subject. It's like my wrist, or motor functions, are maxed out on my right hand for now. I am not going to use any more hammer ons and pull offs until I get my right hand really fast and accurate, even it it takes a few years. I would like to pick like Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, and Al Di Meola.

The Smitchens · 03-05-2010, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telewanger

I would like to pick like Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, and Al Di Meola.

Yeah, that'll take a few years. But hey, luckily for us we've all got a few years.

lespaulgb · 03-05-2010, 09:01 AM

One tip I'm currently using is practising an exercise for 3 minutes every day. Stick to the same tempo and time for a week and up the BPM next week. What it's supposed to do is give both hands more stamina and raise your overall speed long term.

+1 to getting both hands in sync and using the pinky too. I've heard of circular picking but it feel awkward to me.

EDIT

With the picking thing I mentioned, you may hit a ceiling at X BPM; don't sweat it as picking at slower tempos will become easier.

03-05-2010, 01:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
Telewanger Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 927	Trying to pick every note. For the past month, I have not done one hammer on or pull off while practicing. I am trying to get my alternate picking, string skipping, and right hand stronger and faster. It is really hard for me for some reason. It seems like I get so fast and hit a wall. My damn hand don't seem to want to go any faster right now. I will just have to keep working at it every day and hopefully I can get it up to speed. I made a little video. My playing is pretty sloppy, but it is much better than it was a month ago. I can tell a difference, but I guess it is going to take me quite a while to get good at high speed string skipping and alternate picking. I have been playing with a metronome and it really helps. Any suggestions on a better technique will also be great! Sorry for the sloppy chops! Thanks! YouTube - Picking Every Note.wmv http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16mcUIF0PWQ Last edited by Telewanger; 03-05-2010 at 04:25 PM.

03-05-2010, 02:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
LeBudfrumHull_SG Old Noob Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Gatineau, P.Q. Posts: 1,448	Jeez Tele ... are you sure you need to get any faster ..? That looked plenty fast to me ! __________________ Are you suggesting coconuts migrate ? I drink to make other people interesting...

03-05-2010, 03:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
The Smitchens Villainous Mastermind Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: 12-Lat, 32-Long Posts: 4,760	Here's the thing. Building speed is just like lifting weights. I mean exactly the same thing. You have an abundance of tiny muscles all through your fingers that need time to develop and to become accustomed to such playing. So, if you're in a gym and you're lifting weights and you decide "piss on this. I'm gonna start curling 75 pounds in each arm" you will regret it. The harder you try to do something your body isn't ready for the more likely you are to, say, pull a muscle. Granted you probably won't pull any finger muscles or anything from going too fast, but your coordination will suffer in its place. Playing too fast is essentially the same thing. When it comes to practicing it's unfortunate, but playing slowly and cleanly to make sure the finger frets in time for the pick to strike is essential. I trust you're practicing with a metronome. Having that kind of stability to base your playing around certainly helps and also being sure to not speed it up too fast. It sucks, but slow and steady does win the race. Some other observations that may help to pay attention to when you practice. I noticed you never used your pinky. Having a fourth finger fretting will certainly help with moving the others around as it will further minimize the whole hand movements. The less the hand has to move the easier it is to play faster. Secondly I noticed your fingers fly around like streamers in the wind. Disciplining your fingers to remain close to the fretboard will also help dramatically as it's less distance the fingers have to move further minimizing muscle use. __________________ To that I say balderdash. *An egg - nature's perfect container. The container of all our hopes for the future.* *I think I am a genius, therefore I am a genius.* Last edited by The Smitchens; 03-05-2010 at 03:10 AM.

03-05-2010, 03:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
Silimtao Super Model Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: here Posts: 10,686	You familiar with circular picking? Instead of a straight, up/down with the pick, it becomes a circle, more like an elipse, the shape around the string should look like this- (). The tighter the better, and hybrid picking. If you've picked down, and heading for another string in the downward path, keep going, instead of putting the breaks on, to start going up again; likewise on the up strokes. I find using the very tip of the pick better also. __________________ Instant Karma's gonna get you...... If you don't know where you're going, you will probably end up somewhere else. <http://www.xcomment.com/g3/img/poster___boobs052708113237.gif>

03-05-2010, 09:01 AM	#10 (permalink)
lespaulgb Guitaraholic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire Posts: 1,295	One tip I'm currently using is practising an exercise for 3 minutes every day. Stick to the same tempo and time for a week and up the BPM next week. What it's supposed to do is give both hands more stamina and raise your overall speed long term. +1 to getting both hands in sync and using the pinky too. I've heard of circular picking but it feel awkward to me. EDIT With the picking thing I mentioned, you may hit a ceiling at X BPM; don't sweat it as picking at slower tempos will become easier. __________________ LesPaulgb; Star Fleet, caring, humanitarian, likes sausage and mash and cookery, has a Les Paul guitar. Homepage for lespaulgb My Soundclick lespaulgb on Youtube My Guitar Forum The Music Forum Last edited by lespaulgb; 03-05-2010 at 09:07 AM.

03-05-2010, 03:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
Telewanger Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 927	I am not having any left hand problems. I was never playing more than 3 frets apart so I never needed the pinky, I am having problems with my picking hand. I just can't seem to get it any faster. My left hand is way faster than my right hand. I guess since I used hammer ons and pull offs so much, it has caused my right hand it to be really slack and lazy. I don't know if it will ever catch up.

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