Speed Picking Options

[Outlaw2112]

Ive been working on my speed picking lately... just putting on the metronome and hitting 4 notes per beat..
Just going 1234 up and down the neck on my fingering...
my question is when its at a lower speed my hand is nice and relaxed, but when i speed it up my hand tenses up and my finger straightens out on the pick.. I can hit the faster speeds on time, but i want to know how to keep my hand relaxed like it is at the slower tempos..

Is there some kind of trick or is it just practice, practice practice like everything else with this instrument?

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[Oxac]

Also, no offence bro', but that exercise is bad. When you improvise, you play what you've practised so if you want to improvise like that... be my guest.

I'd take the oppourtunity to practise scales and patterns that you will use when practising speed. And also, try to practise cool timing, like a lick with 5 notes in it played as quarter notes. I.e.

CODE

A -------3-5
E-3-5-7

repeat 4 times and you'll be back on time.

I just recently read in a post by Cael or Organizedconfusion (dunno whom) that complained a little about their jamming sounded like the exercises they've been doing. There's an easy solution, practise things you think sound good! That way, your jamming will sound good and you won't have to practise speed first, then learn all the patterns you wanna use. Do both at the same time!

Just my 2 cents.

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This post has been edited by Oxac: Jan 20 2009, 10:43 PM

[Outlaw2112]

Also, no offence bro', but that exercise is bad. When you improvise, you play what you've practised so if you want to improvise like that... be my guest.

I'd take the oppourtunity to practise scales and patterns that you will use when practising speed. And also, try to practise cool timing, like a lick with 5 notes in it played as quarter notes. I.e.

CODE

A -------3-5
E-3-5-7

repeat 4 times and you'll be back on time.

I just recently read in a post by Cael or Organizedconfusion (dunno whom) that complained a little about their jamming sounded like the exercises they've been doing. There's an easy solution, practise things you think sound good! That way, your jamming will sound good and you won't have to practise speed first, then learn all the patterns you wanna use. Do both at the same time!

Just my 2 cents.

yeah, makes since but if i just want to push my picking and just practice speed picking, my fingers wont go as fast as my picking hand so ive just been practicing this at 4 times picking for each beat and 4 times picking for each finger movement

I see what you are saying though

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