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Posted by: quadrium Mar 1 2011, 04:57 PM

Hey all.Lately i realized that when it comes to play very fast licks with alternate picking only(for ex:some parts of the canon rock)i am playing those licks with both hammer-on & pull-offs and some alternate picking.No matter what i do i can't change that.i am losing my control over my right hand if i try to play with alternate picking only.Are there anyone with that same problem here?And what are your suggestions for me to overcome this situation?

Posted by: dark dude Mar 1 2011, 06:06 PM

When you're losing control, you need to slow the tempo down, and practice at just before the speed you lose control at.

Try to figure out the problem at this speed.

Design a short exercise, that you can loop, based on your problem. Isolating it, and slowly pushing the tempo up should help you. Here's an example! Assume you're having trouble with playing this lick at a certain speed.

You could be having any of these problems when playing it fast: (Starting on a downstroke)

* Picking the first 2 notes means your pick is travelling in the opposite direction (towards the high E), to which it needs to, for the next note (towards the low E, the 15th fret). You could be moving your pick too far in the direction of the high E.

* You could be inexperienced in starting with an upstroke (15-14-12-14-15).

* The inside picking concerning the 15th fret on the G and 12th fret of the B, could be catching you out.

* The bigger stretch on the B string (12-15-17) may be something you're not used to.

* The outside picking concerning the 17th fret on the B, followed by the 13th fret on the high E, could be the problem.

Or it could be not being used to changing strings, basic alternate picking ability (assuming you're alternate picking this), finger strength in your fretting hand, etc.

--
When you find your weak-point, e.g. inexperienced in starting with upstrokes, make a short exercise (that you can loop, preferably):



As you can see, when starting with a downstroke, you have to do an upstroke on the next note (when alternate picking). Practice this regularly, at a speed at which you can play it comfortably, and perfectly, then increase the tempo.

Posted by: quadrium Mar 1 2011, 10:03 PM

Thanks man!This will definitely help.

Posted by: Todd Simpson Mar 2 2011, 02:04 AM

Some great advice from Dark Dude There are wads of practice workouts on my lesson notes page as well if you need some more.

http://bit.ly/lessonnotes


We do a lot of this type of work on our Sat Vid Chat, stop by if you can

Todd

Posted by: quadrium Mar 2 2011, 02:32 AM

Thanks Todd.I will check them. I am trying to join your Video chats but lately we have some internet speed problems at my dorm.As soon as they fix it i will join them all

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Mar 4 2011, 12:56 PM

If you tend to use legato licks in faster passages, it means your picking hand needs development. Your fretting hand can fret, but picking hand cannot manage to pick all those notes.

Try Todd's AP lessons, they are excellent, and just practice more alternate picking runs. This will help a lot. Be sure to practice it slowly. In time, this problem will become smaller and smaller.

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Mar 11 2011, 03:10 AM

It seems that you are playing "too fast" and that your picking had can't keep up so you're using legato to get it executed.
Just slow down a bit and practice regular straight alternate picking exercises against a metronome. It will do wonders for your technique.

Posted by: Michael AC Mar 12 2011, 02:30 AM

I just slow down. I use alternate picking almost all the time. I am just starting to use legato. I have more trouble not picking. Then again I am still not very fast. Always thought if I focus on accuracy and tone that the speed will come.

Posted by: quadrium Mar 12 2011, 02:53 PM

Thanks for the advices guys.I started to improve myself already Practicing Todd's AP lessons now

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Mar 12 2011, 08:41 PM

Glad to see there is progress! Keep us informed of your progress!

Posted by: quadrium Mar 14 2011, 02:27 AM

You bet i will Ivan