Getting Out Of Economy And Into Alternate ! |
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Getting Out Of Economy And Into Alternate ! |
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Aug 18 2008, 04:39 PM |
This is exactly what happened to me when i was a begginner! This is why i wish i had a guitar teacher...
Now and then, i feel that economy picking slips in, but this is mostly in my phrasing. I figure this is cool as i only want scary alternate picking chops for the scary speed runs. So- how i managed to get out of it was a combination of the classic PG string change lick and also practising my 3 note per string scales using AP. I made a GP5 file quickly for you to show the PG-style string changing licks: AP.gp5 ( 2.07K ) Number of downloads: 161 These patterns took up the majority of my practise time for a long while- few months unfortunately. Practise it across all strings- don't even bother changing the fingering to keep in key- just use the same position and fretting pattern on all string sets. We're concentrating on picking here- not making music. Next when i heard the word "scale" and figured i should be practising them. I started going straight up and straight down this A minor pattern- stopping every time i made a mistake in the picking. Which was just about every 5 or so strokes I made alot of mistakes, would stop, start again, concentrating on that picking hand! Atleast now you know what you should be doing- that upstroke on the next string is probably the challenge for you, yes? Next- try and apply those AP licks to that 3nps scale, changing the fingering so that its all in key. This part is taking you from alternate disaster to alternate competency. So licks aside..some advice...relearning a forgotten technique is relatively easy, learning a new technique is pretty tricky....correcting a technique like you and I have had to attempt- that takes hard work, concentration and commitment. You have to be really vigilant with your picking hand- is it your number one priority at the moment? (like it was for me). If so then allocate the right amount of time for it. It was normal for me to be playing these same licks for 1-2 hours at a time, sometimes before breakfast and before bed. Unfortunately it is hard work- but in my experience completely doable. I had the exact same problem as you- but it looks like i was lucky the second time when i decided to practise these things (as opposed to the initial mess-up of trying to immitate what guys on youtube were doing but explaining poorly, YJM was the chief of what messed up my picking!, i honestly thought he said alternate picking was what economy is). This is about the best advice i can give- as it is exactly what i did, good luck man |
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Aug 18 2008, 04:47 PM |
Well... it's not like knowing economy picking is a bad thing. I'm thinking about sticking to economy picking actually. Haha...
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Aug 18 2008, 04:56 PM |
It is because you practiced all these fast licks mostly with EP, but don't worry mate, it si not a big problem at all. The good thing is that you've localized the problem and now you can work on it to make it better. IMO you just need to spend more focused practice on AP runs in order to play them. Check out some alternate picking lessons on GMC, specially Muris ones. He has advanced AP technique and with a couple of tips from those and some dedicated work you can really take AP to the next level.
-------------------- - Ivan's Video Chat Lesson Notes HERE
- Check out my GMC Profile and Lessons - (Please subscribe to my) YouTube Official Channel - Let's be connected through ! Facebook! :) |
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Aug 18 2008, 05:03 PM |
This is exactly what happened to me when i was a begginner! This is why i wish i had a guitar teacher... Now and then, i feel that economy picking slips in, but this is mostly in my phrasing. I figure this is cool as i only want scary alternate picking chops for the scary speed runs. So- how i managed to get out of it was a combination of the classic PG string change lick and also practising my 3 note per string scales using AP. I made a GP5 file quickly for you to show the PG-style string changing licks: AP.gp5 ( 2.07K ) Number of downloads: 161 These patterns took up the majority of my practise time for a long while- few months unfortunately. Practise it across all strings- don't even bother changing the fingering to keep in key- just use the same position and fretting pattern on all string sets. We're concentrating on picking here- not making music. Next when i heard the word "scale" and figured i should be practising them. I started going straight up and straight down this A minor pattern- stopping every time i made a mistake in the picking. Which was just about every 5 or so strokes I made alot of mistakes, would stop, start again, concentrating on that picking hand! Atleast now you know what you should be doing- that upstroke on the next string is probably the challenge for you, yes? Next- try and apply those AP licks to that 3nps scale, changing the fingering so that its all in key. This part is taking you from alternate disaster to alternate competency. So licks aside..some advice...relearning a forgotten technique is relatively easy, learning a new technique is pretty tricky....correcting a technique like you and I have had to attempt- that takes hard work, concentration and commitment. You have to be really vigilant with your picking hand- is it your number one priority at the moment? (like it was for me). If so then allocate the right amount of time for it. It was normal for me to be playing these same licks for 1-2 hours at a time, sometimes before breakfast and before bed. Unfortunately it is hard work- but in my experience completely doable. I had the exact same problem as you- but it looks like i was lucky the second time when i decided to practise these things (as opposed to the initial mess-up of trying to immitate what guys on youtube were doing but explaining poorly, YJM was the chief of what messed up my picking!, i honestly thought he said alternate picking was what economy is). This is about the best advice i can give- as it is exactly what i did, good luck man Where were you all these years ? You have no idea how much that post is going to help. I thank you from the bottom of heart By Double stroke, do you mean when u for i.e play a descending lick and you have just played the upper string ( lets say lower E) with a downstroke and continue with a downstroke on the next string ( A string ), although you should start with a upstroke... did I get it right Economy picking.... Yes. Exactly, Its not the motion itself, but when you take motion and apply it to changing strings Well, you shouldn't be down about using economy picking! It's not like it's something that kills your playing. You should practice both economy and alternate picking, but the trick is to KNOW when you are using which and WHY. So my advice for you is to lay of the economy and practice slowly on alternate picking, so that you can get used to the movement of alternating. You don't have to play anything, just pick the strings using strict up-down-up-down-up motions. And really pay attention that you are using that motion only and don't fall into economy again. When you have practiced the motion long enough to be comfortable with it, the you can use this exercise: Start with your finger on the low E-string on any fret, and just continue cromatically like if you start from the 5th fret, E ----5-6-7-8 and then continue on the A-string A ----5-6-7-8 and on the D-string D ----5-6-7-8 and so forth and back again from the high e-string e -----8-7-6-5 B -----8-7-6-5 etc. Hope this helps. Thanks Seagull. I have been doing that for awhile except on frets 1-2-3 and 4. As well as switching up finger postions for things like 2-3-1-4. But thank you Well... it's not like knowing economy picking is a bad thing. I'm thinking about sticking to economy picking actually. Haha... Never said it was a bad thing, but It is a bad habit to ONLY Economy Pick. It is because you practiced all these fast licks mostly with EP, but don't worry mate, it si not a big problem at all. The good thing is that you've localized the problem and now you can work on it to make it better. IMO you just need to spend more focused practice on AP runs in order to play them. Check out some alternate picking lessons on GMC, specially Muris ones. He has advanced AP technique and with a couple of tips from those and some dedicated work you can really take AP to the next level. Thanks Ivan All these Posts and helpful responses are helping me rebuild the courage I need to practice hard and get to Gilbert-Speed ! Yippie ! Thanks to everyone for all their help -------------------- Join Me On the Lyrics Board !
"Find something worth dying for... ...And live for it"-The Uncreator |
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Aug 18 2008, 05:07 PM |
That is usual problem is cause most of us play
3nps runs and those runs are just made to be executed be economy. Try some 2nps(pentatonics usually) or even 4 nps runs (like chromatic exercises that Seagull mentioned), that cannot be sweepped and you'll push yourself to play strict alternate. -------------------- Youtube
MySpace Website Album "Let It Out" on iTunes and CD Baby Check out my video lessons and instructor board! The Pianist tune is progress,check it out! "ok.. it is great.. :P have you myspace? Can i to personalize this for you guy?" |
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Aug 18 2008, 06:29 PM |
I have a question. Is it better to practice Alternate Picking Runs - Clean- or -Distorted- ? Or does it depend what your working on ? Ex. Clean-----> Hearing the Notes, Accenting etc. / Distorted------> Muting, etc. Just as you pointed,there are cudos for both ways. -------------------- Youtube
MySpace Website Album "Let It Out" on iTunes and CD Baby Check out my video lessons and instructor board! The Pianist tune is progress,check it out! "ok.. it is great.. :P have you myspace? Can i to personalize this for you guy?" |
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