How Physical Is Fast Picking ?
Ben Higgins
Feb 10 2012, 10:22 AM
Instructor
Posts: 13.792
Joined: 11-March 10
From: England
I'm really interested in how picking fast feels for everyone. We're always told to relax and not play with tension, which I agree with. A relaxed muscle moves easier and faster.

However, in order to demand more performance we still have to make our muscles work right ?

I pick from the wrist but when I start speeding up and playing over my comfort zone, I can feel the muscles engaging somewhere above my elbow. It feels like it's either the tricep or behind the tricep. I'm not consciously 'tensing up' the arm but I'm very conscious of the muscle working. It doesn't hurt and I've not suffered any aches or pains because of it. I've managed to increase the speed and stamina of my picking lately and the speeds which previously felt more 'physical' are now a bit less 'physical'.

To all you fast pickers out there, can you describe how it feels when you pick fast ? I think it would help people who are confused about how relaxed they should be and are afraid of pushing their speed boundaries because they see muscle fatigue as tension so they avoid it and stay in a certain range.

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This post has been edited by Ben Higgins: Feb 10 2012, 10:22 AM
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Marcus Desaiha
Feb 20 2012, 06:23 PM
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Posts: 32
Joined: 27-November 11
From: Sweden
QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Feb 10 2012, 10:22 AM) *
I'm really interested in how picking fast feels for everyone. We're always told to relax and not play with tension, which I agree with. A relaxed muscle moves easier and faster.

However, in order to demand more performance we still have to make our muscles work right ?

I pick from the wrist but when I start speeding up and playing over my comfort zone, I can feel the muscles engaging somewhere above my elbow. It feels like it's either the tricep or behind the tricep. I'm not consciously 'tensing up' the arm but I'm very conscious of the muscle working. It doesn't hurt and I've not suffered any aches or pains because of it. I've managed to increase the speed and stamina of my picking lately and the speeds which previously felt more 'physical' are now a bit less 'physical'.

To all you fast pickers out there, can you describe how it feels when you pick fast ? I think it would help people who are confused about how relaxed they should be and are afraid of pushing their speed boundaries because they see muscle fatigue as tension so they avoid it and stay in a certain range.


Interesting Topic!
When you play in a relaxed state you tend to use your brachioradialis(Popeye's muscle laugh.gif ) muscle, which moves your wrist, but as you speed up and get more tence your deltoid/shouldermuscle starts to do some of the work(And it is almost impossible to avoid this from happening, since your deltoid muscle has a big purpose, and gets engaged in almost every activity you do.) This is why it is important to stretch this part of the body before playing at high speeds, it makes that muscle loose and easier to work with. It is very well explained here from Petruccis DVD Rock Discipline at 0:57 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XsLRQFV7rY (though 10 seconds is not enough as he claims wink.gif , a stretch should always be done in between 17 and 25 seconds and be done more than once.

I've heard alot of diffrent theories on how you should be picking fast, that you should only use small muscles or big muscles to escape from long term injuries. But I think that you should listen to your body, if it feels ok, its ok.
I get the exact feeling your describing, but I just try to make the best out of it and have a good stretch before a practice session to keep my form and my picking relaxed. The relaxation graduately becomes better in due time, the body is something you can adjust and modify, it just does not happen over night. biggrin.gif

PS: Try to give thoose muscles which you use a massage as well to get an exact idea on how they feel and work. When picking, that your left hand and squeeze them abit, get a good idea on what they´re doing. This might raise your consciousness about them when picking, and sort of controll it abit better. (Just taken from my own experience, not a fact.) smile.gif

PS: While picking you can try and feel thoose muscles with your left hand, get a feel of how they work and what they´re doing.
This might raise your consciousness/awareness about them, and help control them a little bit (My own experience, not a fact!"

Muscles!
<- LINK

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This post has been edited by Marcus Desaiha: Feb 20 2012, 06:38 PM


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Posts in this topic
- Ben Higgins   How Physical Is Fast Picking ?   Feb 10 2012, 10:22 AM
- - Sinisa Cekic   Whether I am a valid person to answer ? Anyway, ...   Feb 10 2012, 05:33 PM
- - Gabriel Leopardi   Well, it's true that the idea is always to kee...   Feb 10 2012, 07:02 PM
|- - Ben Higgins   QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ Feb 10 2012, 06...   Feb 10 2012, 08:05 PM
|- - Gabriel Leopardi   QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Feb 10 2012, 04:05 P...   Feb 10 2012, 10:39 PM
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- - derper   Thanks all!! Lovin' this thread!...   Feb 10 2012, 07:27 PM
- - Azzaboi   Fast picking is NOT just going nuts, playing as fa...   Feb 10 2012, 08:13 PM
- - Todd Simpson   BEN! I know exactly what you mean. It's ...   Feb 10 2012, 10:46 PM
- - Saddlefall   QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Feb 10 2012, 10:22 A...   Feb 12 2012, 12:18 AM
|- - Ben Higgins   QUOTE (Saddlefall @ Feb 11 2012, 11:18 PM...   Feb 12 2012, 11:01 AM
|- - Saddlefall   QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Feb 12 2012, 11:01 A...   Feb 12 2012, 11:35 AM
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- - Ben Higgins   Hey Guys, I thought I'd resurrect this thread ...   Feb 19 2012, 05:02 PM
|- - Todd Simpson   Ouch! Sadly this guy is actually doing the exa...   Feb 21 2012, 01:20 AM
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- - maharzan   Great Video Todd. It looks you are actually pickin...   Feb 20 2012, 09:01 AM
- - JaxN4   great video Ben.... very good tips. cheers   Feb 20 2012, 12:49 PM
- - dark dude   Aye, nice video, cheers. I was reluctant to post ...   Feb 20 2012, 06:13 PM
|- - Ben Higgins   QUOTE (Marcus Desaiha @ Feb 20 2012, 05:2...   Feb 20 2012, 07:08 PM
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- - Ben Higgins   Todd, are you sure he's picking from the elbow...   Feb 21 2012, 10:49 AM
- - SpaseMoonkey   QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Feb 21 2012, 05:49 A...   Feb 21 2012, 12:12 PM
- - Todd Simpson   I'm sure he is doing do it, he's not doing...   Feb 22 2012, 01:49 AM
- - Ben Higgins   QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Feb 22 2012, 12:49 ...   Feb 22 2012, 08:43 AM
- - Todd Simpson   QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Feb 22 2012, 02:43 A...   Feb 23 2012, 12:11 AM
- - Ben Higgins   QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Feb 22 2012, 11:11 ...   Feb 23 2012, 10:49 AM
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