Picking Angle
Zee Deveel
Jan 20 2007, 01:19 AM
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For speed playing I tend to angle my pick backwards as opposed to forwards (or straight), is this an acceptable technique or is it likely to hinder my playing further down the line?

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Why
Jan 20 2007, 04:36 AM
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It'll probably hinder it. You're likely to be holding the pick wrongly aswell because it's really difficult to be stretching your fingers all the way backwards and this is the first time I'm hearing about something like this. Just stick to the safe side and do it the correct way.

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InstruMental Cas...
Jan 20 2007, 04:57 AM
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I think it's fine. I’ve been told lots of people do it. It's just personal preference, or like being left-handed. You can still be a great player if you practice. I doubt it’ll hinder you in the future. If it helps you play better and feel comfortable, then it’s a good thing. Besides, even if something unexpected came up in the future, it’s something you could still modify and improve upon if needed. I know the famous Paul Gilbert had to change how he held the pick, after having played a certain way for years. It wasn’t a big deal.

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Why
Jan 20 2007, 06:25 AM
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It's just that you will literally be slicing the strings instead of picking them, that way. Everyone has they're own way though, but I'm saying is that it'll put a limit on your speed. I'd change the habit now instead of playing for a few years like that and realising you have to change it.

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Why
Jan 20 2007, 06:37 AM
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Sweeping will be pretty difficult that way too, I'm assuming.

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Zee Deveel
Jan 22 2007, 05:27 AM
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QUOTE (Why @ Jan 20 2007, 05:25 AM) *
It's just that you will literally be slicing the strings instead of picking them, that way.

I don't see why. Seems to me that it's just the same as angling the pick forwards. Anyone else have an opinion on this?

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InstruMental Cas...
Jan 22 2007, 08:20 AM
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QUOTE (Zee Deveel @ Jan 21 2007, 10:27 PM) *
I don't see why. Seems to me that it's just the same as angling the pick forwards. Anyone else have an opinion on this?

Why is assuming you're over exaggerating the pick angle. Like I said, don't sweat it, your way is fine, too.

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Kristofer Dahl
Jan 22 2007, 04:28 PM
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QUOTE (Why @ Jan 20 2007, 04:36 AM) *
It'll probably hinder it. You're likely to be holding the pick wrongly aswell because it's really difficult to be stretching your fingers all the way backwards and this is the first time I'm hearing about something like this. Just stick to the safe side and do it the correct way.


There definately is no right or wrong as far as picking is concerned, only recommendations - have a look at how Marty Friedman holds his pick and you will see what I mean. smile.gif

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Zee Deveel
Jan 22 2007, 06:32 PM
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Thanks for the feedback guys, I'll stick with this way then, it's much more comfortable for me and I can play considerably faster.

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Why
Jan 23 2007, 06:19 PM
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QUOTE (Kristofer Dahl @ Jan 22 2007, 04:28 PM) *
There definately is no right or wrong as far as picking is concerned, only recommendations - have a look at how Marty Friedman holds his pick and you will see what I mean. smile.gif


Yeah I know, but his is called 'Hook style picking' it doesn't alter the movements of the wrist or fingers, only give him more 'attack' on the strings

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Kristofer Dahl
Jan 23 2007, 06:58 PM
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QUOTE (Why @ Jan 23 2007, 06:19 PM) *
Yeah I know, but his is called 'Hook style picking' it doesn't alter the movements of the wrist or fingers, only give him more 'attack' on the strings


...and gives him a hell of time trying to play cleanly with distortion...still Marty is Marty smile.gif

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Zee Deveel
Jan 23 2007, 08:42 PM
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I've never looked at Marty Friedman's picking as I don't listen to Megadeth (or much 80s style metal) but if his picking style causes him problems then does that mean mine could potentially also cause problems? I don't mind changing it if necessary. (By necessary I mean if it could be perceived as a hinderance in the slightest.)

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Steelkonsum
Jan 23 2007, 08:48 PM
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QUOTE (Zee Deveel @ Jan 23 2007, 08:42 PM) *
I've never looked at Marty Friedman's picking as I don't listen to Megadeth (or much 80s style metal) but if his picking style causes him problems then does that mean mine could potentially also cause problems? I don't mind changing it if necessary. (By necessary I mean if it could be perceived as a hinderance in the slightest.)


Look here mate, if you focus too much on how everyone else is doin' it you won't develop the style that is most comfortable to you. As Kris has said many times there is no right or wrong and the way youre holding it may be hindering to others but for you it may just be the opposite.

For example, when I learnt some gallop riffs in the beginning I tried reading on how to hold my pick etc. 'cause I couldn't find a comfy spot. Then one day I just fiddlin around not even trying to do a gallop rythm and there I found the way I should hold my pick for the desired effect. It didnt help reading how others did it cause it didnt fit my way of playing guitar. So keep doin' what you do if it feels good to you and if you ever reach a maxlimit and feel that your lightning fast licks should be even faster then you can start angling it differently though I doubt you will get any problems as long as it feels good for you.

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Zee Deveel
Jan 23 2007, 09:15 PM
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QUOTE (Steelkonsum @ Jan 23 2007, 07:48 PM) *
if you ever reach a maxlimit and feel that your lightning fast licks should be even faster then you can start angling it differently though I doubt you will get any problems as long as it feels good for you.

Yeah but I'd rather find this out now instead of finding out in a year when it's much harder for me to change.

I don't care that everyone does it differently, I just care that my way might be a bad way.

Kris said it doesn't matter about how you hold it just look at Marty Friedman but then later went on to say that the way he holds it makes life more difficult for him to play certain things. No doubt Marty Friedman is an extremely good guitarist regardless of this but perhaps he'd be even better if he had a better picking technique (who knows?) I'd rather not put myself at a disadvantage if I don't have to.

I don't mind carrying on my way, in fact I want to. I just want to make sure it's as good as other ways.

I appreciate what you're saying about using the way that's comfortable to you, but like Kris says, it's possible to learn anything with enough practice. Other ways are not as comfortable simply because I've not practiced them.

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This post has been edited by Zee Deveel: Jan 23 2007, 09:20 PM


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MickeM
Jan 23 2007, 09:54 PM
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QUOTE (Zee Deveel @ Jan 23 2007, 09:15 PM) *
Yeah but I'd rather find this out now instead of finding out in a year when it's much harder for me to change.

I don't care that everyone does it differently, I just care that my way might be a bad way.


I think you're smart to find out already now. I was holding my pick in a certain way which became a habit and of course after a while you think it's the right way.
After 15 years I got sick of the inaccuracy and mistakes in my playing. I started all over again and among other things I changed the way of how I hold my pick. Now I almost never miss and my speed increased a lot.
In the beginning I was a newbie again, it was VERY difficult to get rid of all the time playing incorrect.

So for me who has been there I think it's damn important to find tthe right way instead of just setteling for a way that works.

Don't know how to describe it but instead of holding it between the thumb and fingertip, like I used to (it was a very weak grip) and now it's like maiking a fist and then stretching the finger joints forward lowerng the knuckles until the thumb's and the finger's upper parts (above the last joint.. .where the nail sits) come together... like forming a karate chop hand rolleyes.gif
And I hold the pick between the entire fingerprint part of he thumb and the side of the finger and I only use the tip of the pick. Now it's a firm grip, I'm 100% more secure with this technique.
If you don't get anything of my description I don't blame you biggrin.gif

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Zee Deveel
Jan 23 2007, 10:06 PM
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I know exactly what you mean, in order to hold the pick slightly backwards I have to point my index finger slightly into the strings (instead of being parallel with my thumb which I do while holding it forwards).

Micke I had a similar experience to you (except I've been playing 4 years not 15). I recently got sick of all the short cuts and sloppy techniques in my playing that were holding me back and I'm out to get rid of them.

For example my alternate picking was REALLY shitty when string skipping, I'd just hit in whichever random direction felt easiest but it sounded crap and looked terrible. So I sat down with Rock Discipline for about 20 hours and nailed my alternate picking using Pettruci's string skipping exercises. My playing is MUCH better now as a result.

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This post has been edited by Zee Deveel: Jan 23 2007, 10:10 PM


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MickeM
Jan 23 2007, 10:13 PM
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I took pictures of how I used to hold the pick and how I hold it now with my mobile but right now I don't get it over to the comp with Bluetooth.
I'll post em later when I get it to work, even though you got what I meant. Not saying I'm doing it right but just for show of what I did.

EDIT:
QUOTE (Zee Deveel @ Jan 23 2007, 10:06 PM) *
For example my alternate picking was REALLY shitty when string skipping, I'd just hit in whichever random direction felt easiest but it sounded crap and looked terrible. So I sat down with Rock Discipline for about 20 hours and nailed my alternate picking using Pettruci's string skipping exercises. My playing is MUCH better now as a result.

I also had problems with that, it was like going from one string to the next was ok but while skipping I was lost. I had no control of the pick. Now I do it more accurate. I also limited my hand movement to slight movement of the wrist instead of huge waving of the entire hand.

What I learned is that one can always improve technique. When I feel limited or failing I ask myself if I'm doing it right tecnically.
If I realize in a year from now that I can do my picking in an even better way I will not hesitate to drop it all and start all over again.

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This post has been edited by MickeM: Jan 23 2007, 10:22 PM
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InstruMental Cas...
Jan 24 2007, 06:33 AM
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I just found out that Conrad Simon picks like that, too. Only he's one of the fastest and cleanest guitarists alive! He didn't even know he was doing it until he went under Troy Grady's slow-motion close-up producing ShredCam.

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