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

[Yash]

This is not what Todd suggested but I like my pick as thin as possible. At the moment I use one that is 0.73mm thick. It gives me more room to move in between strings.. But maybe I am wrong, most probably I am since Todd says opposite what do you think GMCers?

I am with you. I use Tortex TIII .73mm. Its got the tip of a Jazz III and its thin, so works well for me. It takes much more force when using thicker picks. But that's just me.

I do often use Jazz III and ocassionally Tortex Sharpie .73mm

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[Nihilist1]

I am with you. I use Tortex TIII .73mm. Its got the tip of a Jazz III and its thin, so works well for me. It takes much more force when using thicker picks. But that's just me.

I do often use Jazz III and ocassionally Tortex Sharpie .73mm

I think you may need to choke up on your guitar pick, friend. Try using the least amount of guitar pick possible. It will allow for greater accuracy, control, and dare I say, AMAZING pinch harmonics.

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