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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Alternate Picking Problem
Posted by: lefthandman Apr 27 2010, 11:41 PM
about a month or two ago i realized that i was using all arm when i alternate pick, probably as a result from learning to play with a poor down picking technique. I have spent an hr or more each night on my alternate picking technique for the last month and a half; however, i cannot seem to get my arm to stop moving when i pick. Does anybody known anyway that i might fix this?
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Apr 28 2010, 12:28 AM
You will fix it in time, it cannot happen overnight. In a year or two it will pass, just focus to do your picking from the wrist. Don't worry about it 
Posted by: Daniel Realpe Apr 28 2010, 02:54 AM
It's good that you are aware of what's going on.
Just don't fall into the bad habit of not correcting what you know it's not right, and fix it now. Even if it gets in the way of your practicing session
Posted by: Santiago Diaz Garces Apr 28 2010, 06:35 AM
Start slow, with slow tempo (let's say 60bpm) whatever you are working on. Start to re-educate your wrist and arm, and the most important thing, be patient
Posted by: superize Apr 28 2010, 08:06 AM
You need to start very slow and really concentrate and force your arm not to move.
In a while you will notice it feels more natural
Posted by: Staffy Apr 28 2010, 08:45 AM
You can try to practice picking while putting Your wrist to rest on the bridge (if possible, if there is no Trem), otherwise the wrist can rest on the body of the guitar. I even think that Guthrie suggests this is in one of his books, however the arm shall be able to move in different positions later, because of the sound You wanna obtain by picking on different spots on the string.
//Staffay
Posted by: maharzan Apr 28 2010, 09:12 AM
And all your arms and fingers will hurt. 
Posted by: Todd Simpson Apr 29 2010, 12:55 PM
Try adding some practice time using techniques such as "Economic Picking" to help your brain stay flexible on your picking technique. Also, planting your palm on the bridge to palm mute the strings you aren't picking can help reduce random string noise.
It will take some practice but you can do it Start trying to pick from the wrist and do it very slowly and work your way up.
Also, join me for a video chat lesson this Saturday as we are talking about ALTERNATE PICKING!
Practice!
Todd
Posted by: lefthandman May 10 2010, 04:02 AM
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Ive been tryin it since the post 1st went up. Its gone a bit better but still have work to go. Patience is definitely being practiced 
Posted by: Bogdan Radovic May 15 2010, 01:37 PM
Since you identified the problem you already done the very important part. Now its time to hit the exercises and practice slowly looking and concentrating at the picking hands wrist movement. I'm sure with some dedicated practice sessions you will be able to fix the issue relatively fast.
Posted by: jstcrsn May 15 2010, 02:24 PM
do you rest your pinky on your guitar or not
if you do there will always be some movement in your arm, even if the majority of your picking comes from you wrist
Can you play what you are trying to or if there is alot of pain after practicing would determine if you need to change
changing styles is a very long process so make sure that is what is wrong
Posted by: Vasilije Vukmirovic May 17 2010, 12:07 PM
Yeah, as Ivan said it can't happen overnight. You should play simple scalar pattens in which you go from low E to top E and vice cersa, and also, 2-3 strings patterns in which focus will be on playing from the wrist.
Posted by: Azzaboi May 19 2010, 05:18 AM
Gets out the duct tape!
Posted by: Todd Simpson May 24 2010, 04:58 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.
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=34550
Above all
Practice!
Posted by: Vasilije Vukmirovic Jun 4 2010, 11:21 PM
On the other hand, don't go to other extreme and play only from the wrist.
Your wrist motions only cover 2-3 strings so you have to move your arm as a reference point.
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