Pick Angle When Speed Picking Options

[Viz]

Hi everyone

My goal with learning guitar has been to play decently as a rhythm guitarist. I sing okay, so being able to add a guitar seemed like a natural step. As a metal rhythm guitarist long one string speed picking licks are of course very important.

Somehow I just cant get a stable rhythm going at high speeds. I thought it had to to with practice, and of course it does, but I cant help thinking that after this long perhaps it has something to do with my technique as well. I have been practicing for several years, but without any significant progress in this technique. Reading the lessons here about speed picking I know that angeling the pick is important, but that I have done all along.

My main problem has is that it takes hours of practice to get up to a decent speed and even then I struggle with keeping an even beat without straining myself and/or bouncing with the pick against the string hence loosing speed and evenness.

I have gone as far as to provide two pictures (yes I need to dust my guitar! )

This one is how I hold the pick now:


And this is how I imagine many others hold it, a better technique?


thanks in advance, and sorry for the long post.

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net

Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

This post has been edited by Viz: Aug 16 2007, 10:16 PM

[shredmandan]

\
hEY man
Imnot sure by the picture if your holding the pick at an angle o not.I hold mine completly straight when striking the strings no angle.Also how much of the pick you use to strike string with will effect tech.So maybe try letting some slack on your pick or maybe even holding it even lower with your thumb and first finger i mean and try that.Were do you runinto the problem as far as bpm?

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net

Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

[Pavel]

Viz: visit my new Ionian Scale Lesson and you'll see new angles showing how i pick and how i hold the pick. Hope it help!

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net

Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

[Viz]

Thanks for the reply.

Well I run into problem at diffrent BPM every day, but my main source of frustration is that no matter how much I practice I don't seem to make any progress. I do "loosen" the pick somewhat, letting it move a little. Also I find it more difficult while picking open strings, probably since they vibrate more.

Well, it seems there is no "easy" technical solution to this problem so I guess I have to practice even harder!

Thanks Pavel, will do!

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net

Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

This post has been edited by Viz: Aug 16 2007, 10:43 PM

[Muris Varajic]

\
hEY man
Imnot sure by the picture if your holding the pick at an angle o not.I hold mine completly straight when striking the strings no angle.Also how much of the pick you use to strike string with will effect tech.So maybe try letting some slack on your pick or maybe even holding it even lower with your thumb and first finger i mean and try that.Were do you runinto the problem as far as bpm?

Agree.
Holding pick lower and leaving more space for pick to hit strings will help while playing rhythm.

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net

Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!