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Posted by: Shredly Aug 11 2009, 07:58 AM

Ive picked up quite a bit of speed in the last month. Im still not close to my desired point. The only finger movement is to angle the pick while the wrist makes the strokes. I seem to be gripping the pick very tight and my thumb gets sore. If i loosen up things get sloppy. Im very fast and articulate playing sextuplets on one string with a good ability to accent with the metronome. Im not sure to stay on the same path with what im doing or if I should adjust my technique. please let me know.

A

Posted by: mattacuk Aug 11 2009, 08:21 AM

Hi there

On reading this it seems to me your are focusing on speed as your overall goal.

You mention that your holding the pick tight and getting a sore thumb. This would indicate to me that you probably dont yet have the control you need over your instrament (although it sounds as if your on the right track).

When you practice speed picking, are you mostly practicing over one string? or perhaps one box? Its really good to practice sequences up and down (vertically and horizontally) over each box, on the entire fretboard to build up such control and technique.

Both your picking hand and fretting hand should feel relaxed, and if this means practicing at a lower speed that dosent make you any less an awsome guitarist

Paul Gilbert once said that he never thought a guitarist was bad if they played slower and had good tone, only the ones who played beyond their current limit (or something along those lines )

Posted by: Muris Varajic Aug 11 2009, 11:36 AM

Well obviously some things don't work right
cause your thumb gets sore.
But also there's no need change things radically,
just try to be more relaxed and your grip will be as well.
Speaking about speed, speed cannot be measured just like that,
it depends of what you actually play, some licks are just harder to play
even if they are slower compared to some other licks,
it's order of notes, maybe string skipping is involved etc.
So keep practicing, add all 6 strings as well, not just sextuplets on one string,
give it some time and things will get better, grip shall become more
natural and relaxed.

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Aug 17 2009, 09:12 AM

I totally agree with Muris.
Keep working with your current picking technique. It is essential that you are not rushing the progress. Practice every day, warm up (which is essential for technique based studying) and good things will happen.

Posted by: Ivan Zecic Aug 18 2009, 05:09 PM

just concentrate on loosening your hand and practice everything like that, don't let your hand become too stiff. it all comes with time...

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Aug 18 2009, 07:55 PM

I agree with everything mentioned above basically. In order to really achieve speed you just have to rehearse string transfers as this is where it will get really fun. You can create good lines with one string, but guitar has 6 of them, so all of them can be used to create some cool melodies. Regarding your grip, definitely loosen up the grip, and focus on a loose grip while rehearsing. Don't let the grip become too tight as you go up the speed. Take it easy, step by step..

Posted by: Daniel Robinson Aug 19 2009, 09:02 AM

I very much agree with the sentiments here, but as a side note you more than likely are getting stiff and sore because your not comfortable with the fingering you are using.

I find even myself that when trying to assimilate a new lick at a decent speed that if the fingering pattern is out of my comfort zone that i tend to making my picking hand and arm suffer a bit.


I think relaxation and muscle memory go hand in hand.


Personally i find the easiest way to get my muscle memory so i can relax and go faster what i will do is play the lick or excersise over a backing track. This way i am incorporating the lick into a musical context, it helps me focus more for some reason as well.

And do your practicing by mixing it up. If there is a particularly hard lick you are trying to learn...practice the fingering for like 2 to 3 minutes..then play something else for a few minutes..and come back to it. Switching like this will keep your hands more nimble and your muscles have a time to adjust to the new lick

Daniel