All Questions
62
questions
3
votes
2
answers
399
views
Alternate picking issue
I'm an begginer/intermediate guitar player and I've been practicing alternate picking for a few months now. Everything's fine except for 2 things.
1)I can easily alternate pick at reasonable speeds ...
- 31
1
vote
2
answers
169
views
How to play Guitar notes fast? 14 notes in 4 beats
I know the traditional explanation is to go slow, but I guess I need to change the technique here. How to do fast alternate picking?
There’s a song in which 14 notes are played in 4 beats. See the tab....
user87564
4
votes
1
answer
160
views
Economy picking exercise that uses two consecutive upstrokes on the same string
I have started looking into Joseph Alexander's Complete Technique for Modern Guitar where economy picking is recommended. Before starting to practice, I want to understand the logic behind economy ...
- 201
3
votes
5
answers
291
views
How do I hold/use a pick
Seriously. Most people say between the thumb and index coming out the side of your thumb, but I keep messing up, hitting wrong strings, bad rhythm/timing, etc. Any other ways of holding a pick or ...
- 101
2
votes
4
answers
1k
views
How do people play fast tremolo on guitar (with a plectrum)?
I've noticed that to play good, consistent sounding tremolo, especially on short, thick strings, you can't just move the pick back and forth because the sound is inconsistent - the string doesn't ...
- 553
3
votes
3
answers
301
views
Touching muted strings with picking hand
When I move across strings quickly (e.g. on arpeggios), I can feel bumping lightly into muted strings. For example when I inside-pick E and A, I will start with an upstroke on E and then slightly ...
- 173
4
votes
3
answers
402
views
My pick gets stuck and I'm trying to fix it with downward pickslanting. ( ~ 8 months of playing )
I've been playing for 8 months and I think that this is a common newbie problem: my pick gets stuck. I started to analyze my picking motion/hand and I realised that the pick is too flat ( ...
5
votes
3
answers
859
views
Should you pick strings up and down in a straight line? Does it matter?
It may sound dumb but let's say we play A minor scale. When I change strings do I have to hit the next string in the exact same spot? Each time I change strings I keep picking closer to the bridge. ...
1
vote
6
answers
1k
views
The proper right-hand picking technique for playing the electric guitar
When I was taking electric guitar lessons for a year I was told, by my former teacher, that the pick should be parallel to strings at all times and so he insisted on it.
The other thing he was very ...
- 53
1
vote
3
answers
394
views
Strict alternate picking help for advanced player
I'm trying to learn strict alternate picking, but I cannot find lessons and/or exercises that address my problem. My problems is due to years of a self-taught regimen of hybrid/economy picking, or as ...
4
votes
1
answer
596
views
Recommended thumb position and motion when using a thumbpick on an acoustic guitar
I'm looking for specific best practices around hand position and motion while using a thumbpick on an acoustic guitar. I haven't found any specific resources on this. I have been impressed with Troy ...
- 140
3
votes
2
answers
338
views
Alternate picking from string 1 to string 3 - ACDC back in black
I am a beginner guitar player and I am currently learning how to play back in black from ACDC. I can already pretty play the whole song, though the part I struggle the most is on the first section of ...
- 272
3
votes
1
answer
196
views
Is there a special term for this type of alternate picking?
I'm looking to see if there's a special word for a type of alternate picking commonly heard in metal that involves playing a series of notes on a lower string while also playing notes on a higher ...
- 31
1
vote
1
answer
302
views
Is pizzicato louder than finger picking?
Is pizzicato on a violin family instrument louder than finger picking an acoustic guitar?
It seems that way, since those instruments are played in large concert halls that a guitar would probably need ...
- 13
3
votes
3
answers
3k
views
How can I improve my picking speed and accuracy
I've been playing acoustic guitar for almost 4 years and I just started electric. The way I see it there is a lot more picking involved in electric which I'm not so good at. Are there any exercises I ...
- 175
3
votes
6
answers
9k
views
My alternate picking technique has reached a plateau
I've played guitar for over ten years, and my alternate picking really blows when it comes to fast stuff like 7 to 10 notes per second range. I sometimes wonder if I have reached my natural limits? ...
- 208
3
votes
5
answers
991
views
Concerning individual string picking - when (it what situations) should the pick be angled, and when should it be perpendicular to the string?
I've learned a lot of guitar stuff from YouTube videos. But this really irks me: some YouTubers insist that their technique is the only way you should play guitar, and that any other way is a "mistake"...
- 31
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
Difference between Strike, Brush, Crescendo and Arpeggio
When playing guitar I stumble upon tabs that either have striking the chords, brushing them with the pick, doing a crescendo or playing them as an arpeggio. As far as I learned when you strike you hit ...
- 3,842
5
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Gym exercises for picking speed
When I was younger, I could never get my riffing speed up to where I wanted it to be, even tough I excessively practiced.
After years without progress I got frustrated and kind of gave up on fast ...
- 193
4
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Tremolo picking, anchor palm or not?
I'm learning tremolo picking and until now I've been resting my palm just above E string and anchoring with my pinky. I noticed that when picking 2 strings at the same time I also mute the first of ...
- 143
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Alternate double palm mute picking between notes
Some songs that I really like feature double palm-muted notes (usually open strings or low pitch frets) between lead notes. Those are played by one guitar.
Good examples would be:
Parkway Drive - ...
- 121
0
votes
2
answers
191
views
Difference in action between pressed and unpressed strings too much?
When pressing an individual string at lower frets on the fret board, I sometimes miss the string with my pick due to its height in relation to the other strings. In other words, I feel like the ...
- 3
0
votes
1
answer
78
views
How to best play this Los Lonely Boys run?
I'm trying to perfect the run at the end of the solo of "Heaven" by Los Lonely Boys which occurs at about 2:13.
I think this is how the left hand is played:
E|----------------------------------------...
- 613
4
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Is it OK to pick over the neck pickup?
I am experimenting to get a jazz sound on my semi hollow body Ibanez. Of course it involves my hand, the amp and its settings, the pick and the strings. This topic is only about picking.
I found ...
- 630
1
vote
1
answer
991
views
Should I now relearn my picking from mainly alternate to economy?
I was learning (jazz) guitar for 4 years. There was some pause, but now I am back in track and learning again for 6 months. I do some 0.5-1 hours/day scale and pattern practice with a metronome, then ...
- 630
7
votes
5
answers
5k
views
How to train for faster picking speed on guitar?
I've been training on speed picking on major scale as my daily routine, following this Justin Guitar's guide on scale picking for one year since last year June, but until now my G major scale picking ...
- 173
5
votes
3
answers
2k
views
When should you change your pick?
Sometimes when I try to play a solo I feel that I can't pick the notes because the pick is too short, and when I look at it, it is about 0,5mm shorter on the end than a new one.
When should you ...
- 151
1
vote
2
answers
4k
views
Guitar Alternate vs. Economy vs. Directional Picking Styles
Paul Gilbert has this simple lick in his Intense Rock 1 video (see video).
The notes are:
d u d u d u
e|----------12-----------|
B|-12-13-15----15-13-----|
G|-----------------------|
D|---...
- 113
7
votes
3
answers
438
views
Developing good muscle memory and avoiding bad
If I'm practicing say, alternate picking with just my right hand for speed and wrist rotation am I better off just stopping and going on to something else if I'm just not dialed in that day. And for ...
- 221
6
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Playing with a pick with less pick-sound
I have two types of guitars, electric and acoustic and have been playing for over a year. How does one learn to or adjust their strum so that there's not so much sound of hitting the strings (as ...
- 63
3
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Why picking direction indicators in music?
In music notation specifically for the guitar, there are often picking symbols meaning to pick up or down. What is the purpose of these picking indicators (sorry, don't know the real term for them)? ...
- 1,033
0
votes
1
answer
102
views
Learning Appropriate Finger Picking Styles with Alternating Tunings
I play with alternate tunings on my guitar. I've noticed several things.
No matter how I play it, the key of the song will be whatever my tuning is. Open C tuning leads to the song being in the key ...
- 1,589
6
votes
4
answers
9k
views
Alternate picking while palm muting
I've been practicing alternate picking and palm muting for a while now, but I have extreme difficulties when combining these two techniques together. My picking hand can't move freely when resting on ...
- 2,067
6
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Learning pick and finger-picking at the same time?
I am picking up the guitar again, being now 30 and having played when I was about 9, and I'm a bit confused on what approach I should take while self-learning.
I would ideally like to play things ...
- 163
6
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Where along the strings to pick?
How does picking position affect a guitar’s sound? I can make some general observations – the strings are brighter near the bridge, and they can be more percussive near the neck – but I’m not sure how ...
- 6,718
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What are the reasons for using strumming and picking patterns?
From what i can tell so far, STRUMMING patterns are for two things, making sure the right beats are accented (because on the up strokes, youre only supposed to hit two strings) and keeping track of ...
- 121
5
votes
1
answer
8k
views
How to improve right hand picking/strumming technique for electric and acoustic guitar?
How can I raise my picking (and strumming) to 16th notes at 160 beats per minute or higher? I have been trying to incorporate more forearm rotational movement into my picking (imagine turning a ...
- 51
19
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Alternate picking vs down picking
When I see professional musicians play their songs on guitar, I see them down picking certain parts where I would prefer to alternate pick.
Follow the url below to a riff that I play first using ...
3
votes
4
answers
2k
views
"Breaking through the wall" with guitar speed and accuracy
I'm really struggling with improving my hand speed in both hands while keeping the accuracy, anyone got anything that really worked for them that they would recommend?
- 548
10
votes
4
answers
32k
views
Is there a "correct" position for the right hand when playing guitar?
Normally when I am playing I support my right hand by putting my pinky finger below the E string, but when I try to play past a certain speed I have difficulty keeping up. I have found a couple sites ...
- 401
7
votes
6
answers
5k
views
Strumming, picking patterns for unusual time signatures
If the time signature is 8/8 or 4/4 and let's say we have 8 eighth notes in a bar the picking should just be down up down up down up, etc. But what happens if we have 7/8? Particularly in the next bar....
- 211
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Making alternate picking palm muting sound like downpicked palm muting
I was told that my alternate picking palm muting should not sound like it does, there should be little difference vs downpicking. What should I practice to remedy this?
Here's an example, using ...
- 469
4
votes
1
answer
731
views
Picking using forearms vs Picking using wrist for palm muting
I have been playing for around 3 years and am mostly self taught.
I have seen many people recommend the use of your forearms for picking instead of using your wrist as this might lead to Carpel ...
- 375
5
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Good exercise for precision in picking (with pick)?
Can you suggest me exercises for precision in picking? My goal is to pick and sing at the same time and it is hard for me for now because since I'm pretty used to strumming while singing where not ...
0
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Finding a balance point learning to pick a guitar at a right angle?
I've been playing guitar for ten years or so and have the rather bad habit of striking across the strings diagonally. This is partly due to how I hold the guitar, and partly because I play a lot of ...
- 741
12
votes
5
answers
4k
views
When using strict alternate picking, is it OK to play a downstroke twice in order to start a new phrase on a downstroke?
There are a lot of advocates of absolutely strict alternate picking, like Chris Thile (dead YouTube clip removed). I've been practicing that for a couple of weeks now, and I'm at the point where I can ...
- 618
6
votes
5
answers
8k
views
Flatpicking: how can I make my floating-pick-hand less bouncy?
Can anyone suggest how I might improve my "floating fist" style flatpicking? I'm trying to clean up my pick technique for the sake of accuracy, feel, speed, and general ease-of-playing. I use the "...
- 161
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Inconsistent Right Hand Technique - Mixing economy and double picking
I am coming back to the guitar after almost 10 years away. I have been around the instrument as a jazz player for almost 25 years.
The biggest challenge coming back is what, I believe, drove me ...
- 31
10
votes
9
answers
30k
views
How do you strum an upstroke without striking an unwanted string?
It could be a silly question. I started learning guitar 2 months ago but the progress are not going very well.
Apart from the previous problem, which I haven't solved yet, I have a problem with the ...
- 731
3
votes
2
answers
31k
views
How do I know what pattern to strum based on chords alone? [duplicate]
I find a lot of music with only chords:
They don't tell me the pattern I should strum. How can I know when to strum up or strum down?
- 1,467