Picking From The Wrist Down, (Not The Elbow up) Options

[Todd Simpson]

I"m always singing the praises of picking from the "Wrist down", or starting your picking motion at the wrist. It's almost impossible to not pick from the elbow at some poing in your journey towards GUITAR GOD/GODESS. Sometimes a little video can be worth a thousand words. Here are some quick tips for playing "At Speed"

1.)Stay Relaxed
-Don't let your body tense up, it will do this all by itself and it's not good.

2.)Pick from the Wrist Down
-Focus on picking using the wrist at speed and even finger motion when playing slower to allow for more 'flourish"

3.)Choke up on the pick
-Try holding the pick as near the tip as possible and still have it feel comfy.

4.)Don't Overcommit to the Pick Stroke
-Try to keep the from pulling to far away from the string at each stroke.

Here is a quick vid. Notice how little tension is happening on my picking hand. That's the big "secret" so to speak, keeping the hand loose enough to give it the ability to balance/move smoothly, but tight enough to maintain strike consistency. Give this approach a shot when you work on your alternate picking next practice!

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net

Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!