Alternate Picking "tips And Tricks", Some Killer "Tips and Tricks" for those working on their AP |
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Alternate Picking "tips And Tricks", Some Killer "Tips and Tricks" for those working on their AP |
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May 27 2010, 12:58 AM |
Todd here For Alternate Picking I'd suggest gripping the pick so that not much pick is sticking out. Try to get the point of the pick to point out at a 90 degre angle from your thumb. Here is a picture to demonstrate.
Also, here are some things to try. ALTERNATE PICKING TIPS AND TRICKS 1.)Choke up on the pick. Only the point should be sticking out. 2.)Don't pick from the elbow! Control the motion from your wrist or fingers. 3.)Try a very heavy pick, 1.2 MM or greater so as to eliminate "flex" in the pick. 4.)Try to sharpen your pick to a point with sandpaper or dremmel or what not so that the surface area striking the string is as small as possible. There are some "training" picks that are shaped this way on purpose. 5.)Work with a metronome ALWAYS so that you keep your picking even. 6.)MOST IMPORTANT: Join me this saturday and every saturday for a live VIDEO CHAT lesson on ALTERNATE PICKING. We have been doing a series on that very topic for several weeks now. Here are the notes so far. Many great workouts to try. LESSON NOTES ON GMC FOR MY ALTERNATE PICKING SERIES Above all Practice! This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Jun 19 2010, 11:11 PM |
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May 3 2011, 04:13 AM |
Introduction to the Pick / Pick Choice
Picks for "Alternate Picking" I'd suggest you get a thick pick that doesn't bend/flex for working on your AP. Maybe 1.0 MM or thicker and then sharpen it to a bit of a point using sand paper. Don't make a weapon, just sharpen it up a bit. Even if you don't use this for your regular playing, it will help during these lessons. I use CLAYTON 1.2mm picks. I'm currently endorsed by Clayton but I was using their picks loooong before that. It's important to use a pointed pick when practicing Alternate Picking. DUNLOP has some new picks (Dunlop Sharp's)that are well suited for practicing your "Alternate Picking". I just found these in my local guitar shop and I hadn't seem them before so hopefully they are widely available. Notice the shape of these picks. Tear drop shape with a long, sharp, point. This is the shape that I've been creating by shaving/carving/sanding standard picks for years. Creating this fine point really helps to decrease the amount of "Pick Drag" and reduce the amount of pick striking the string at any given time. This will help you essentially play in a more accurate, consistent fashion and with increased speed. This shape is becoming more and more popular as evidenced by it's adoption from a large distributor like DUNLOP where as for quite some time, these large picks in this shape were seen more from boutique vendors like V-Picks. (Here is a link to the Dunlop site or more info on the "Sharp" picks) http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/tortex-sharp See the picture below. I've included a V-Pick Switchblade for reference on the left. Check out these new dunlop picks. Get the thickest one you can find as thickness reduces flex and flex is your enemy when you are practicing your AP. Especially at first. These are "Tortex" picks, so they will have a pinch more "Flex" than the V-Pick Switchblade. But if you like Dunlop picks, these may be the pick for you. If you don't like Tortex Picks, try the V-Picks I mentioned earlier. They have Zero Flex and are very stable. You can get a 3.0 MM "Trainer" pick called the DIMENSION that is pre sharpened, is hard to dull and will help train your hand to glance the string when Alternate Picking. V-Picks are Boutique/Custom picks and they are not cheap. But they are well worth it. Here is a picture of the DIMENSION from V-Picks. Here is a link to the V Picks Web Site with more info. Vpicks Web Site This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: May 3 2011, 06:22 AM |
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May 3 2011, 10:16 AM |
Just added this to the knowledge base
https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/wiki/inde...k_/_Pick_Choice I've also tried many picks, and I've been using Jazz III Ultex for nearly a couple years now, and I'm happy with them. I get a bright sound from the string with them, and they are small so I can do pinch harmnics comfortably (there's something in teh way I hold the pick that prevents me from getting pinch h. with bigger picks, or so it seems after lots of trial and error) -------------------- Guitars:
Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster, Ibanez RG2570MZ, Epiphone SG G-400 Amp: Vox AC4TVH head + V112TV cab Effects: Vox Satchurator, Vox Time Machine, Dunlop CryBaby, Boss MT-2, Boss CE-5, Boss TU-2, Boss ME-70 Recording: Line-6 POD X3 + FBV-Express, Pandora PX5D GMC wants YOU to take part in our Guitar-Wikipedia! Have a good time reading great articles and writing your own with us in our GUITAR WIKI! Share your playing and get Pro-advice from our Instructors: Join REC |
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