Printable Version of Topic

Click here to view this topic in its original format

GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Ultra Fast Picking With Thin Picks ?

Posted by: Ben Higgins Aug 1 2012, 09:09 AM

Now, we normally all agree that thick picks are better for high speed accuracy and consistency but every now and then, somebody comes along and throws out the rulebook !


Posted by: WeePee Aug 1 2012, 09:22 AM

Does he do like a "triangle" movement with the pick ?
But that control of the wrist. My god ! Good technique.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Aug 1 2012, 10:54 AM

QUOTE (WeePee @ Aug 1 2012, 09:22 AM) *
Does he do like a "triangle" movement with the pick ?
But that control of the wrist. My god ! Good technique.


I have no idea, it's weird isn't it ?

Yeah, I'd love to be able to do that !! smile.gif

Posted by: Todd Simpson Aug 3 2012, 04:10 AM

It's impressive! But he does sound like he's "stumbling" just a bit when he gets up to speed due to the pick flapping about. Not to bag on his technique, but the pick itself seems like it can't keep up with him and creating fractional lag at the string. Check out time index

2:10

Also, notice how hard he is striking? Something else I found when I used lighter picks, due to the flex you sometimes end up making up for it with brute force. But still, amazing playing considering that wafer thin pick!

Some folks just prefer thin picks and more power to em!

Here is a quick demo vid of my practice this evening while watching ghost busters smile.gif I'm using a thick pick per usual and due to the heft, don't have to lean in to blow as much. But again, it's all down to personal preference. Here is the vid.

Reach "Speed" at time index
0:14



QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Aug 1 2012, 04:09 AM) *
Now, we normally all agree that thick picks are better for high speed accuracy and consistency but every now and then, somebody comes along and throws out the rulebook !


Posted by: Qenzoz Aug 3 2012, 04:31 AM

I know that Paul Gilbert uses a 0.60mm pick biggrin.gif

Posted by: Ben Higgins Aug 3 2012, 09:30 AM

QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Aug 3 2012, 04:10 AM) *
Here is a quick demo vid of my practice this evening while watching ghost busters smile.gif


That is a super sweet lick.. bit of economy in there for the ascent ? smile.gif

Ghostbusters must give out some special powers.. I must watch some wink.gif

Posted by: Todd Simpson Aug 5 2012, 01:00 AM

QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Aug 3 2012, 04:30 AM) *
That is a super sweet lick.. bit of economy in there for the ascent ? smile.gif

Ghostbusters must give out some special powers.. I must watch some wink.gif


Yes! smile.gif I almost always use...


ECONOMIC FOR ASCENDING

ALTERNATE FOR DESCENDING

That way you leverage the natural physics of the motion of the hand as it moves towards higher strings. It's honestly the big thing that allowed me to finally break my own speed barrier.

Posted by: derper Aug 5 2012, 10:17 PM

Are those hardened steel frets on that fretlight guitar Todd? Looks like it/similar to my Parker frets, which I love. I REALLY want to pick up a fretlight guitar sometime this year, and though part of me wants to just get the cheaper model, I KNOW I'll appreciate the more expensive ones.


QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Aug 2 2012, 08:10 PM) *
Here is a quick demo vid of my practice this evening while watching ghost busters smile.gif I'm using a thick pick per usual and due to the heft, don't have to lean in to blow as much. But again, it's all down to personal preference. Here is the vid.

Reach "Speed" at time index
0:14



Posted by: Todd Simpson Aug 5 2012, 11:03 PM

This is the 451 PRO in the vid. It was a prototype at the time but they have since changed the design of the "Pro" Series. This one is flamed maple, the new ones are Birds Eye Maple smile.gif
----
Fretlight 451 Blue Pro

The 451 shows its mature style at first glance. From the curved flamed maple top and body made from Louisiana light ash to the slippery maple neck, the Pro is balanced from head to toe. The Pro has two totally hot Alnico humbuckers with one sweet-singing single coil snuggled in-between to give you the tones you’ve always craved.

The Pro incorporates 22 Stainless Steel frets imported from Germany which gives the Pro an amazingly slick feel - talk about playing and bending like butta! A deluxe fixed bridge with through body design and a set of locking tuners ensure that the Pro’s playability is solid and in tune all the time. Finished in Natural Blonde or Translucent Blue, you just can’t go wrong. And don't forget, the Advanced Polymer Fretboard gives your tone sustain that you've only dreamed about! For more information about the guitar, visit www.fretlight.com
------

It's a great learning tool IMHO (Although, it's not everyone's cup of tea). The new starter version is much more affordable and has the neck lights which is the party piece of the axe. The nicer models do have better pickups etc. But yeah the price spikes up pretty quick. The model I have listed for $899 for example.

The frets feel like super jumbo which is nice smile.gif I wish it came with a locking trem, but the fixed bridge works fine.

Shoot some pix if you get one!

Todd



Read more: http://www.premierguitar.com/Survey/20/survey.aspx#ixzz22iB9rQJ0

QUOTE (derper @ Aug 5 2012, 05:17 PM) *
Are those hardened steel frets on that fretlight guitar Todd? Looks like it/similar to my Parker frets, which I love. I REALLY want to pick up a fretlight guitar sometime this year, and though part of me wants to just get the cheaper model, I KNOW I'll appreciate the more expensive ones.

Posted by: casinostrat Aug 6 2012, 01:25 AM

QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Aug 5 2012, 12:00 AM) *
Yes! smile.gif I almost always use...


ECONOMIC FOR ASCENDING

ALTERNATE FOR DESCENDING

That way you leverage the natural physics of the motion of the hand as it moves towards higher strings. It's honestly the big thing that allowed me to finally break my own speed barrier.


Just wanted a little clarification, by ascending you mean going from the low E string to the High E string(Ascending according to tone), with descending being the opposite?

Posted by: Todd Simpson Aug 6 2012, 02:47 AM

BINGO! That's exactly wink.gif Finding out that one little thing and incorporating it in to my playing allowed me to break through to the "Speed Wall" so to speak smile.gif

Toodd

QUOTE (casinostrat @ Aug 5 2012, 08:25 PM) *
Just wanted a little clarification, by ascending you mean going from the low E string to the High E string(Ascending according to tone), with descending being the opposite?


Posted by: Ben Higgins Aug 6 2012, 11:33 AM

QUOTE (derper @ Aug 5 2012, 10:17 PM) *
Are those hardened steel frets on that fretlight guitar Todd?


They are steel, forged in hell from The Devil's own cutlery !! cool.gif

Posted by: Yash Aug 6 2012, 11:44 AM

Even I use .73 mm laugh.gif

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Aug 9 2012, 04:10 PM

I don't think there is a right or wrong pick, it has to feel "right" for you, that is what matters in my opinion. Personally I definitely need a hard pick, something around 1,6-2.0 mm is perfect for me and my whole way of picking is based on using those kind of picks. I guess if I would switch to thin and flexible picks now I would completely have to change my way of picking, bu I guess it would be possible... I am just too lazy to even try it and I don't see a reason to do so ;-)

Posted by: Ben Higgins Aug 10 2012, 07:58 AM

QUOTE (Marcus Siepen @ Aug 9 2012, 04:10 PM) *
I guess if I would switch to thin and flexible picks now I would completely have to change my way of picking, bu I guess it would be possible... I am just too lazy to even try it and I don't see a reason to do so ;-)


I don't think it's laziness really, I think you've got the right idea. If you have something that works for you and has worked that way for numerous years then there's no reason to change it smile.gif

Posted by: Todd Simpson Aug 11 2012, 01:22 AM

Well said smile.gif I agree all the way. As I"m always banging on about, there really isn't a "Best" pick/pickup/guitar/head, it really comes down to the player at the end of the day.

I suggest thicker picks for students as a training tool to help them progress as they work through my lessons in particular. Once they have gotten the skills they need, they can probably play whatever they like with paper thin picks, or with huge 2.0 monsters. It depends on the tone/style they are developing.

But personally, I'm a HUGE fan of thick picks for a variety of reasons as they suit my style of play. I do a TON of very fast pick articulation which I've tried with thinner picks. I lose microseconds to the flex of the pick. That's fine when playing blues. Not so fine when shredding at top speed.

Some players simply can't stand thick picks. For those folks, I usually suggest a training pick like the STYLUS PICK to get through my chat/lessons and then switch to their regular pick for daily practice. The firm/thick/sharp pick, really can help when students are learning to control their precision. I've seen it for years. But again, after "Boot Camp" it's much less of an issue.

MARCUS: Thanks very much for adding your thoughts to this thread!

Todd

QUOTE (Marcus Siepen @ Aug 9 2012, 11:10 AM) *
I don't think there is a right or wrong pick, it has to feel "right" for you, that is what matters in my opinion. Personally I definitely need a hard pick, something around 1,6-2.0 mm is perfect for me and my whole way of picking is based on using those kind of picks. I guess if I would switch to thin and flexible picks now I would completely have to change my way of picking, bu I guess it would be possible... I am just too lazy to even try it and I don't see a reason to do so ;-)



Bingo! We have a saying here, "If it isn't broken, don't fix it". But if it is broken, that's another matter!

QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Aug 10 2012, 02:58 AM) *
I don't think it's laziness really, I think you've got the right idea. If you have something that works for you and has worked that way for numerous years then there's no reason to change it smile.gif



That should be a new line of picks! DEVILS CUTLERY PICKS!

QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Aug 6 2012, 06:33 AM) *
They are steel, forged in hell from The Devil's own cutlery !! cool.gif


Posted by: Ben Higgins Aug 11 2012, 09:12 AM

QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Aug 11 2012, 01:22 AM) *
That should be a new line of picks! DEVILS CUTLERY PICKS!


A joint venture maybe ?? laugh.gif


Posted by: Todd Simpson Aug 12 2012, 11:02 PM

QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Aug 11 2012, 04:12 AM) *
A joint venture maybe ?? laugh.gif


DEVILS CUTLERY:
First Line: DRAGONS TOOTH picks.

Let's do it! wink.gif We could make some special designs and what not. Maybe give the picks little shaped horns at the top which would aid in pick grip. We could put angel wing graphics on one side, and devil wings on the back. Then have them sharpened at the factory and call the first line "Dragons Teeth". After the old legend about burying the teeth of dragons on the battlefield so that they will resurrect when needed for battle.

Todd

Posted by: Max Sokolov Aug 13 2012, 06:43 AM

Wow, amazing technique!

I use 1.0mm picks, strike strings hard too and don't feel comfortable with thiner picks.

But if it works for him (you), why not? smile.gif

Posted by: Ben Higgins Aug 13 2012, 11:46 AM

QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Aug 12 2012, 11:02 PM) *
DEVILS CUTLERY:
First Line: DRAGONS TOOTH picks.

Let's do it! wink.gif We could make some special designs and what not. Maybe give the picks little shaped horns at the top which would aid in pick grip. We could put angel wing graphics on one side, and devil wings on the back. Then have them sharpened at the factory and call the first line "Dragons Teeth". After the old legend about burying the teeth of dragons on the battlefield so that they will resurrect when needed for battle.

Todd


Hehe yeah ! Isn't that thing from that old Jason and the Argonauts movie, where he scatters dragon's teeth on the ground ? I could be getting mixed up and they may not be dragon's teeth at all... tongue.gif

Posted by: Todd Simpson Aug 14 2012, 12:13 AM

QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Aug 13 2012, 06:46 AM) *
Hehe yeah ! Isn't that thing from that old Jason and the Argonauts movie, where he scatters dragon's teeth on the ground ? I could be getting mixed up and they may not be dragon's teeth at all... tongue.gif


It's an old legend but yeah it's the same thing they did in the Argonaut film! Good pull!

Posted by: Ben Higgins Aug 14 2012, 09:24 AM

QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Aug 14 2012, 12:13 AM) *
It's an old legend but yeah it's the same thing they did in the Argonaut film! Good pull!


Hehe yeah, that films was like the ultimate CGI in its day ! biggrin.gif

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Aug 16 2012, 09:00 AM

I like the dragons teeth pick idea, we should make them breath fire too, would be a nice show effect :-)

Posted by: Ben Higgins Aug 16 2012, 10:42 AM

QUOTE (Marcus Siepen @ Aug 16 2012, 09:00 AM) *
I like the dragons teeth pick idea, we should make them breath fire too, would be a nice show effect :-)


I hope Gene Simmons won't sue us just for the fire idea.. I'm sure he'll find a way !! biggrin.gif

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Aug 16 2012, 02:16 PM

hahaha, most likely he already owns the copyright on those picks ^^

Posted by: Todd Simpson Aug 17 2012, 08:54 AM

QUOTE (Marcus Siepen @ Aug 16 2012, 04:00 AM) *
I like the dragons teeth pick idea, we should make them breath fire too, would be a nice show effect :-)


Thanks smile.gif The breathing fire is a nice touch! I'm thinking I'm gonna have to have some of these made by Clayton picks. They do custom designs of just about anything.

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Aug 17 2012, 07:20 PM

I am using stone picks, I found a great online shop from Israel who does great work, no flame throwers though

Posted by: Ben Higgins Aug 17 2012, 07:40 PM

QUOTE (Marcus Siepen @ Aug 17 2012, 07:20 PM) *
I am using stone picks, I found a great online shop from Israel who does great work, no flame throwers though


Buying sharp objects from Israel ? I'm surprised the customs officials let it into Germany ! biggrin.gif

Posted by: Todd Simpson Aug 17 2012, 11:43 PM

QUOTE (Marcus Siepen @ Aug 17 2012, 02:20 PM) *
I am using stone picks, I found a great online shop from Israel who does great work, no flame throwers though


Cool! Post some pix/links maybe so we can check them out?

Todd

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Aug 18 2012, 10:54 AM

Sure, here is the link:

www.stone-guitar-picks.com/

I am using stone picks since more than 20 years now, but I always found it difficult to find good ones, until I found this place. He makes great picks for good prices, in the moment he is even doing some custom picks for me. I love the tone that stone picks give me, they absolutely don't wear out (I still have my very fist stone pick which I bought around 1990, you don't see ANY traces of my playing, and I have been using this pick exclusivly for most of those 22 years!) and most important: they feel perfect for me. Definitely check his work out if you are interested, it is worth it!

PS: After 20 years with the regular shape I just went back to the Jazz III shape, I will post some pics later.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Aug 18 2012, 01:00 PM

QUOTE (Marcus Siepen @ Aug 18 2012, 10:54 AM) *
Sure, here is the link:

www.stone-guitar-picks.com/

I am using stone picks since more than 20 years now, but I always found it difficult to find good ones, until I found this place. He makes great picks for good prices, in the moment he is even doing some custom picks for me. I love the tone that stone picks give me, they absolutely don't wear out (I still have my very fist stone pick which I bought around 1990, you don't see ANY traces of my playing, and I have been using this pick exclusivly for most of those 22 years!) and most important: they feel perfect for me. Definitely check his work out if you are interested, it is worth it!

PS: After 20 years with the regular shape I just went back to the Jazz III shape, I will post some pics later.


The pick hasn't worn out in all that time ?? Wow ! Does it affect your string life ? smile.gif

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Aug 18 2012, 07:12 PM

That depends on the pick, bad ones with sharp edges might affect your strings, good ones won't. I can't even remember when I broke my last string, I guess it was sometime during our Night at the opera tour, which was in 2002/2003, so much for harming your strings with a good stone pick ;-)

Posted by: Todd Simpson Aug 22 2012, 01:41 AM

QUOTE (Marcus Siepen @ Aug 18 2012, 02:12 PM) *
That depends on the pick, bad ones with sharp edges might affect your strings, good ones won't. I can't even remember when I broke my last string, I guess it was sometime during our Night at the opera tour, which was in 2002/2003, so much for harming your strings with a good stone pick ;-)


Along this line, I"ve been using V-Pics (Switchblade "Buffed") which the owner made just for me then very kindly agreed to share with the world on his web site. And then I tried the Vpick Switchblade BLACK which I had VInni cut to a very fine point. These are current fave. 1.5 MM thick and zero flex which I prefer quite a bit for precision work. I'm very interested in these stone picks so I'm going to have to order some! Here is the SWITCHBLADE BLACK custom sharp.


Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)