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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Clean Speedpicking?

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Feb 14 2007, 12:30 AM

Well my speed picking practice is shaping up - and now I figured out how to hold the plectrum I am making some progress. I have a problem with ringing strings though. Particularly when I play this pattern from Kris' lesson:

E||--------------------12----14----15----|-------||
B||--12----13----15----------------------|-------||
G||--------------------------------------|-------||
D||--------------------------------------|-------||
A||--------------------------------------|-------||
E||--------------------------------------|-------||


When I take my pinky off the B string, it rings and stays ringing, muddying up the whole riff, sounds like this :

 triplets.mp3 ( 188.29K ) : 301


... and gets worse when I try to play it faster. How do I avoid this? Should I be palm muting a little?

Thanks!

Posted by: jete124 Feb 14 2007, 01:26 AM

QUOTE (Andrew Cockburn @ Feb 13 2007, 06:30 PM) *
Well my speed picking practice is shaping up - and now I figured out how to hold the plectrum I am making some progress. I have a problem with ringing strings though. Particularly when I play this pattern from Kris' lesson:

E||--------------------12----14----15----|-------||
B||--12----13----15----------------------|-------||
G||--------------------------------------|-------||
D||--------------------------------------|-------||
A||--------------------------------------|-------||
E||--------------------------------------|-------||


When I take my pinky off the B string, it rings and stays ringing, muddying up the whole riff, sounds like this :

 triplets.mp3 ( 188.29K ) : 301


... and gets worse when I try to play it faster. How do I avoid this? Should I be palm muting a little?

Thanks!


Yeah u basically want to kill any of the strings you are not playing for that lick, with the palm of your right hand. Also another trick i learned is when you are playing on the B string in this case, is to try drape your left hand fingers over the high E string to mute when its not being played. Sorry if i explained that crappy blink.gif

Posted by: MickeM Feb 14 2007, 09:04 AM

QUOTE (Andrew Cockburn @ Feb 14 2007, 12:30 AM) *
I have a problem with ringing strings


+1
The B and high E string often come out ringing for me too when speed picking, same way as for Andrew, and I find it hard palm damping them. And it's a lot more ring for me than in Andrew's clip.

Andrew, try switching to the neck pickup if you havn't already. That should kill some noice.

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Feb 14 2007, 09:55 AM

When playing on the b string the lower parts of the left hand fingers should mute the e string.

When playing on the e string the right hand palm (+ some guitarists use the top of their left hand fingers) should mute the b string!

K

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Feb 14 2007, 02:11 PM

QUOTE (Kristofer Dahl @ Feb 14 2007, 03:55 AM) *
When playing on the b string the lower parts of the left hand fingers should mute the e string.

When playing on the e string the right hand palm (+ some guitarists use the top of their left hand fingers) should mute the b string!

K


Thanks guys! I'll try it all out tonight smile.gif

Posted by: jete124 Feb 14 2007, 10:50 PM

QUOTE (MickeM @ Feb 14 2007, 03:04 AM) *
+1
The B and high E string often come out ringing for me too when speed picking, same way as for Andrew, and I find it hard palm damping them. And it's a lot more ring for me than in Andrew's clip.

Andrew, try switching to the neck pickup if you havn't already. That should kill some noice.


Actually from what my teacher has shown me it is a better idea to play on a setting that makes a lot of noise. That way its more obvious if you are making a mistake or playing it correctly because the sound is amplified so much smile.gif

Posted by: MickeM Feb 14 2007, 10:59 PM

QUOTE (jete124 @ Feb 14 2007, 10:50 PM) *
Actually from what my teacher has shown me it is a better idea to play on a setting that makes a lot of noise. That way its more obvious if you are making a mistake or playing it correctly because the sound is amplified so much smile.gif

Stupid of me! You're right, I should learn to master it instead of cheat. tongue.gif

Thanks mate! smile.gif

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Feb 18 2007, 04:21 AM

On a different thread, (http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=2818) Pavel suggested I upload some video of my playing so he could spot any mistakes - I thought appending it to this thread made more sense, as I am still thinking about getting my playing as clean as possible.

In the attached video I go through 3 of the exercises I do. I can play the first 2 faster, but I think I need to slow down and concentrate on playing cleanly before I go for speed.

The sweep picking is my worst, and I know I should be muting the strings more with my palm, but I am still very new at this one ...

Hopefully Kris and Pavel (and anyone else for that matter) can have a look and let me know if I am at least getting the basics right and just need to practice for a while - any feedback very gratefully received !

 MyPractice.wmv ( 3.58MB ) : 255

Posted by: Pavel Feb 18 2007, 11:43 AM

Hey Andrew!

I checked the video 10 times as first i was not sure what you are doing wrong but than - BINGO:

1. you keep your left hand too close to your body and than your wrist gets the wrong position. Tomorrow the legato lesson is coming online and you'll see how to position your left hand fingers correctly. Actually you will improve your hand position by simply putting guitar on your stomach and not right side of your body. I always practice sitting on chair and putting the guitar on my left leg, as in Sweep Picking lessons. That's perfect position for practicing.

2. sweep picking - you are doing mistake in picking - you pick all of the notes - but when you are moving down to 1st string you should not pick the last note but hammer it on. Check out the sweeping lesson again and you'll notice i don't play two upstrokes as you do - but finish the ascending part with downstroke on E, than hammer-on and only 1 upstroke.

Well try to change your guitar positin practice that way and keep us informed on a progress. smile.gif
Good luck!


Edit: just noticed one more thing: when you play the first excercise:


|----------------|
|----------------|
|---------9-11---|
|--9-11----------|
|----------------|
|----------------|


After you played the 9th fret on G string, as soon as you touched the 11th fret with your ring finger you should move the index finger to D string to prepare it for 9th fret - that way you are making it faster and don't have noise which occures in fast jumps between the strings. If don't understand what i mean i will record a video of that and post it here! smile.gif

Posted by: Norven Feb 18 2007, 03:00 PM

QUOTE (Pavel @ Feb 18 2007, 11:43 AM) *
I always practice sitting on chair and putting the guitar on my left leg, as in Sweep Picking lessons. That's perfect position for practicing.


I find it harder to stand and play than sitting down and play.
Will It get easier to stand if I practise with the guitar on my left leg?

Posted by: Pavel Feb 18 2007, 03:27 PM

Sure! Because when you sit with your guitar on the left leg, it is almost the same position as if you were standing.

Posted by: brainlesswonder Feb 18 2007, 03:35 PM

QUOTE (Pavel @ Feb 18 2007, 09:27 AM) *
Sure! Because when you sit with your guitar on the left leg, it is almost the same position as if you were standing.


My first band practiced in a basement, so we always were sitting. The first time we actually played standing up we couldn't do it.... biggrin.gif

Posted by: Pavel Feb 18 2007, 03:40 PM

It depend's on how you were sitting! If you were sitting with your guitars on the right leg - ofcourse you were not able to play standing! smile.gif

Posted by: ezravdb Feb 18 2007, 05:45 PM

hmm it feels pretty weird playing with your guitar on your left leg for the first time. ive always played with my guitar on my right leg. playing standing was pretty hard for the first time
im right handed, (picking hand) and with my guitar on my right leg the fretboard is heading more to the right on my left leg pretty far to the left, while standing kinda in the middle.
mayb we should put our guitar on our dick blink.gif blink.gif blink.gif laugh.gif

Posted by: Norven Feb 18 2007, 07:00 PM

QUOTE (Pavel @ Feb 18 2007, 03:27 PM) *
Sure! Because when you sit with your guitar on the left leg, it is almost the same position as if you were standing.


Yeah I noticed that now, Thank you very much:)

Posted by: Pavel Feb 18 2007, 07:25 PM

QUOTE (Norven @ Feb 18 2007, 07:00 PM) *
Yeah I noticed that now, Thank you very much:)


You are welcome m8! Always ask if there is something unclear!

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Feb 18 2007, 10:32 PM

QUOTE (Pavel @ Feb 18 2007, 01:25 PM) *
You are welcome m8! Always ask if there is something unclear!


Hey Pavel !

Thanks for taking so much time to think about this and figuring out what I was doing wrong - I have been out all day, and saw your post just before I left ... now is the first time I could pick up a guitar to check this out, I'll let you know how it goes, I am very grateful for this incredible help in undoing the bad habits of so many years! When I played classical guitar I sat with my guitar on the left leg, with a footstool. So I used to do it right, then got lazy, and you are right, it crowds out my left arm. Its amazing that I didn't see it myself - lets see how it helps my playing :-)

Also, thanks for the other tips on the exercises, I am just about to have a monster practice session, and I will try and put all of this together (along with all the other great things I have learnt, like a different way to hold the pick, and even using a new type of pick!). I feel like a beginner again, but I know this is going to improve my guitar playing beyond recognition so I am up for it!

Thanks again Pavel !

Posted by: Pavel Feb 18 2007, 10:49 PM

Sure Andrew, you're welcome!!

You are in better position than i was. I didn't have anyone to look for my mistakes and correct them but i found my way watching pro's like Rusty, Michael Angelo, Vai, etc. I think GMC will be a huge site in the future with great amount of useful stuff for guitarists. So always ask for anything you have doubts about. That way we help other guys reading the posts.

My practice session today was 7 hours long and i was killing myself with sweeps and legato stretches. Now i am tired as hell.

Good luck correcting mistakes and keep us informed on the progress! smile.gif

Posted by: Norven Feb 19 2007, 12:04 AM

QUOTE (Pavel @ Feb 18 2007, 10:49 PM) *
My practice session today was 7 hours long and i was killing myself with sweeps and legato stretches. Now i am tired as hell.


legato stretches would be nice lesson:)

one question for you pavel, ehm.. maybe wrong thread or whatever.
How long have you been playing seriously? like 4+ hours a day?

Posted by: brainlesswonder Feb 19 2007, 12:10 AM

I'd love a close up shot of someone doing the speed picking exercise that gives a clear shot of the string muffling that is going on.

Posted by: Pavel Feb 19 2007, 12:17 AM

I've been playing electric guitar for around 3 and a half years. Before that i played classical guitar in music school for 5 years. I practice guitar 5-10 hours a day. Usualy it's around 7 hours. My record is 13 hours in one day, only did it once.

Today i noticed unbelieveable progress as a few weeks now i felt like i am in the same spot. Today - a huge breakthrough!!! cool.gif

The stretches lessons will be there... be patient! wink.gif


@Brainelss: right hand close-up or left hand close-up?

Posted by: brainlesswonder Feb 19 2007, 12:49 AM

QUOTE (Pavel @ Feb 18 2007, 06:17 PM) *
I've been playing electric guitar for around 3 and a half years. Before that i played classical guitar in music school for 5 years. I practice guitar 5-10 hours a day. Usualy it's around 7 hours. My record is 13 hours in one day, only did it once.

Today i noticed unbelieveable progress as a few weeks now i felt like i am in the same spot. Today - a huge breakthrough!!! cool.gif

The stretches lessons will be there... be patient! wink.gif
@Brainelss: right hand close-up or left hand close-up?


the left hand

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Feb 19 2007, 02:41 AM

QUOTE (brainlesswonder @ Feb 18 2007, 06:10 PM) *
I'd love a close up shot of someone doing the speed picking exercise that gives a clear shot of the string muffling that is going on.


+1 - That would help me a lot too ...

QUOTE (brainlesswonder @ Feb 18 2007, 06:49 PM) *
the left hand


AND the right hand - I'm thinking about seeing what kind of palm muting goes on if any ...

Posted by: Pavel Feb 19 2007, 09:39 AM

OK guys - i'll mix up a little video later because i gotta study for my exams today. I'll post it in here in the evening!

Posted by: Norven Feb 19 2007, 10:04 AM

QUOTE (Pavel @ Feb 19 2007, 12:17 AM) *
I've been playing electric guitar for around 3 and a half years. Before that i played classical guitar in music school for 5 years. I practice guitar 5-10 hours a day. Usualy it's around 7 hours. My record is 13 hours in one day, only did it once.

Today i noticed unbelieveable progress as a few weeks now i felt like i am in the same spot. Today - a huge breakthrough!!! cool.gif

The stretches lessons will be there... be patient! wink.gif
@Brainelss: right hand close-up or left hand close-up?


okey nice:)
I practise 4-8 hours a day. My record is 12 hours.

Congratulation:)

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Feb 20 2007, 04:06 PM

QUOTE (Andrew Cockburn @ Feb 18 2007, 04:32 PM) *
Hey Pavel !

Thanks for taking so much time to think about this and figuring out what I was doing wrong - I have been out all day, and saw your post just before I left ... now is the first time I could pick up a guitar to check this out, I'll let you know how it goes, I am very grateful for this incredible help in undoing the bad habits of so many years! When I played classical guitar I sat with my guitar on the left leg, with a footstool. So I used to do it right, then got lazy, and you are right, it crowds out my left arm. Its amazing that I didn't see it myself - lets see how it helps my playing :-)

Also, thanks for the other tips on the exercises, I am just about to have a monster practice session, and I will try and put all of this together (along with all the other great things I have learnt, like a different way to hold the pick, and even using a new type of pick!). I feel like a beginner again, but I know this is going to improve my guitar playing beyond recognition so I am up for it!

Thanks again Pavel !


UPDATE :::

Well, annoyingly I had hardly any time over the last few days to try this out, but I sat down with it for 10 minutes or so and immediately felt more controlled, and able to play more cleanly. There is still a lot of work ahead, but this is an important breakthrough I think! Thanks again Pavel smile.gif

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Feb 26 2007, 08:57 AM

QUOTE (Pavel @ Feb 19 2007, 12:17 AM) *
I've been playing electric guitar for around 3 and a half years. Before that i played classical guitar in music school for 5 years. I practice guitar 5-10 hours a day. Usualy it's around 7 hours. My record is 13 hours in one day, only did it once.

Today i noticed unbelieveable progress as a few weeks now i felt like i am in the same spot. Today - a huge breakthrough!!! cool.gif


Great routine and awesome progress - this evidence of how fast one can make progress with a serious routine! smile.gif

Posted by: brainlesswonder Feb 26 2007, 05:06 PM

I had a speed picking breakthrough today. I was downstairs playing and realized that I was comfortable enough with it at higher speeds that I could actually just focus on my palm more when I was playing and have officially conquered the ringing B string. I also can actually do it standing up now, thanks to Pavel pointing out that practicing on my left leg would be better.

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Feb 26 2007, 05:39 PM

QUOTE (brainlesswonder @ Feb 26 2007, 11:06 AM) *
I had a speed picking breakthrough today. I was downstairs playing and realized that I was comfortable enough with it at higher speeds that I could actually just focus on my palm more when I was playing and have officially conquered the ringing B string. I also can actually do it standing up now, thanks to Pavel pointing out that practicing on my left leg would be better.


I'm envious! That B string still gets me, although I think I am improving. What exactly did you to to conquer it? (Other than practice a lot) - can you give me any tips????

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