Hi all, I have a question to make sure I've come up with the right solution and am not pissing my time away. My picking hand technique is good, and my fretting hand technique for the following patterns are good

12-13-15 and 11-13-15

for some reason though, I have trouble with 12-14-15, especially when alternating between that pattern and the above two patterns on the same string.

Sorry that this is kind of a stupid question and I have started practicing the 12-14-15 pattern using the pointer ring and pinky by itself and then alternating between that and the 12-13-15 pattern using pointer middle and pinky alternatively. Is this the right path? I'm just confused why I'm so weak here when my speed picking is otherwise pretty decent, I can play the intro to Scarified decently.

So should I continue as I am? Is there a more effective way to practice? Or am I missing something entirely?

EDIT: Just to clarify why I'm confused and frustrated, I thing Muris labels as level 5 without even having to practice any of the parts but I'm having trouble with this one solo he has marked as level 4 because it has the alternating patterns on the same strings.

Hi my friend. It's quite a common problem so you're not on your own. Shapes that use the 3rd and 4th together are notorious because it feels like those fingers are not independent of each other.

You're doing the right thing which is 1. Noticing what the problem is and 2. Doing something about it

There's not a specific method apart from doing stuff which utilises those fingers.. that shape is one that does so go for it !

As Ben says, practice and give yourself time mate Don't be hard, but instead practice hard and focus on the task at hand.

You can also try the following drill to work on your finger independence:

1) keep your hand parallel to the ground palm facing down in the air
2) bend each finger at 90 degrees, one at a time, without moving the others

See how fast you get and the best part is, you don't even need a guitar to do it

Cosmin

I've never heard of that one before ! Is this one of your samurai drills ?

Join Ben's Video chats, he regularly drills licks involving these posititions. It really drives home the discipline needed when working on the mechanics of a technique

No man, I just stripped down one of Guthrie's ideas I heard him tell: While on the bus for instance, he would create chromatic shapes with his left hand fingers and slowly tap them on anything at hand. In that way, he developed his finger independence even when he did not play/ practice

Hey guys, thanks for all the advice and it's good to hear that shapes involving the 3rd and 4th finger are a bit tough. Thanks for the exercise idea too Cosmin, I know what I'll be doing at work tomorrow

Be careful not to freak people out! It happens! At least it happened to me

Yeah don't do it with your hands in your pockets...

Todd here I'd say JOIN MY BOOTCAMP! And start working through process. It's built around Alternate Picking. If you can make it to RANK 10, you'll have made huge strides. Also join every video chat you can!

Todd

Todd's chat is always a good idea!

Absolutely ! Joining GMC and wanting to improve alternate picking but NOT joining up with Todd Simpson is like going to the best restaurant in Paris and not eating any food !

Do it !!!

Thanks! Join the BOOTCAMP AND EAT FRENCH!!!!!!!

SAUCISSON !!!

Ou Souflee

Cafe au Lait, sil vous plait !!