Secrets Of Speed Picking, "Tricks of the Trade" Options

[Todd Simpson]

As I've been working with my Soldiers of Shred in my Mentoring Bootcamp, I've realized that there are a few tips that might be able to help loads of folks who are striving to reach the next level in their precision and as a result, in their speed (In my experience, Speed is a byproduct of precision)

These are NOT END ALL BE ALL RULES, just tips to try while you are in "Practice Mode" working intently on your ability. So here are the

TRICKS OF THE TRADE


1.)Use a sharp or sharpened pick that is at least 1.0 MM thick. (Pick Flex Kills Precision, our byproduct!)

2.)Dont sit "Side Saddle" when pushing the limits of your fingers. Maintain the discipline of good posture and classical guitar position with your thumb in the middle of the neck, left foot elevated on a book, good steep guitar angle, etc. The stuff we always talk about.

3.)Focus on relaxing your right hand at speed by taking your left hand off the guitar neck. Focus only on picking for a bit. Turn the metronome up 5 BPM at a time and force you hand to stay relaxed as you progress. Once you "Train" your right hand, you can then bring the left hand back in to it.

4.)Don't make big jumps in speed, E.G. from 120 to 160. Rome was not built in a Day.

These are the "Secrets" of breaking through that Barrier between thumb/wrist picking where things get sketchy. To give you some reference, take a peek at this vid. Look at the right hand. Notice how it barely moves and never gets very tense. I'm using a bit of wrist and bits of finger movement on the right hand.



Please feel free to add!

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This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: May 16 2012, 04:33 AM

[Ben Higgins]

" Secrets of Speed Picking "

Steal the right arms of either:

Michael Angelo Batio
Rusty Cooley
Paul Gilbert
Todd Simpson



Joking aside, this is good stuff and all very true. In addition to point 2 I would also suggest practising standing up as well as you will also get the benefits of correct posture. Tension can start in the neck and translate to the shoulder and all the way down the arm. Not only that, but you'll get more comfortable with playing stood up too

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This post has been edited by Ben Higgins: May 16 2012, 10:33 AM

[Todd Simpson]

" Secrets of Speed Picking "

Steal the right arms of either:

Michael Angelo Batio
Rusty Cooley
Paul Gilbert
Todd Simpson



Joking aside, this is good stuff and all very true. In addition to point 2 I would also suggest practising standing up as well as you will also get the benefits of correct posture. Tension can start in the neck and translate to the shoulder and all the way down the arm. Not only that, but you'll get more comfortable with playing stood up too

Ben has a KILLER point here, playing STANDING UP is the only honest way to prepare for a LIVE GIG. HERE IS THE CATCH!

Many players sitting/standing guitar positions are so different, they can't play the same things sitting and standing. So you can either find a modified standing position (Like Slash does when he pulls his guitar up for a lead) or modify your guitar strap setting. It looks much better IMHO to wear a spiff guitar lower on stage. But of course, makes playing different as well. So try to get a happy medium where your sitting and standing position of the guitar is somewhat similar.

That way, you wont' have to learn a "standing version" of every lick you learn while sitting.

Practice!
Todd

As I always said, good reminders! Can never EVER hear them too often! Thank you Todd!

For students still learning the "Tricks of the Trade" some of this is still fairly new so it's mostly for them but yeah it never hurts to review! I built this list for my SHRED BOOTCAMP students to put some tips in to one handy list.

Todd

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[derper]

Ben has a KILLER point here, playing STANDING UP is the only honest way to prepare for a LIVE GIG. HERE IS THE CATCH!

Many players sitting/standing guitar positions are so different, they can't play the same things sitting and standing. So you can either find a modified standing position (Like Slash does when he pulls his guitar up for a lead) or modify your guitar strap setting.

Or, because I gig out a few times per month, just practice standing at all times. Yep. Hours a day. Standing. I personally, am not a huge fan of sitting anyway. Live I NEVER play sitting, and just most of what I do is in preparation of live gigs, or sitting in on gigs. So why not play standing always? It's not that way for everyone. But, for me....standing is the way to prepare AND to rock!

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!