Got used to holding my pick this way in less than two hours. My speed has increased, my forearm gets fatigued far less quickly, and I'm overall more consistent at playing. All because of one simple adjustment. Unfrigginbelievable
I find this humorous, maybe someone should tell Zakk Wilde he's holding his pick wrong, he will get even faster at those shredding solos if he holds his pick correctly
I was looking up something else and this was in the related. I've been playing for over 6 years and this makes my hand feel a lot more free than what ive been doing. Never thought about altering my picking style before now.
being a selftaught guitar player, this is exactly how I pick, and every video keeps telling me it's wrong. I feel the same way about every point you made in the video, and this inspired me to keep learning my own way. Thank you!
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guitar teacher for 15years now. Real good point here and I've often done what you're saying - however there is one thing to consider. I see you play mostly with distortion. If you play clean, this doesn't generally sound great say with a jazz tone. More pick string hitting can give you a larger jazz style tone with a full tone - we're talking 12gauge stings and a wooden pick or something. Sometimes hitting the string with more pick can be great in terms of expression and dynamics. what you're doing is more of a flat sound (not dissing at all - i really like your playing) because distortion acts like a compressor - more compressor... less dynamics. So if you want to shred and play super fast - do this. If you like BB king or Grant Green stay away from this because they vary the angle of the pick like crazy for expressive purposes. The best players can adapt their technique to the style of music.
I know this is an old comment, but it's very well put together. Since I started learning this technique recently, I've noticed an automatic switch to a more open pick for that expression, and back to using very little of the pick for fast and shreddy parts. There's still a ton of work to do here, but if you make this switching between an open 'jazzy' and closed 'shreddy' grip second nature, you'll have some wonderful tools at your disposal!
I've been playing metal guitar for 3 years now and I've just learned that both of my hand positions are pretty sloppy. I've spent most of today trying to fix my hand positions and I'm starting to see a huge difference in speed, reach, and clarity. I can play XIV/Behold at normal speed now and I'm more relaxed when playing! I usually practice 6 hours each day, but fixing my hand positions really helped me A LOT. Thanks bro
+Old7StringGuy Absolutely! Also, am I supposed to keep my left thumb pointing up(vertical) or pointing towards the tuning pegs(horizontal)? I'm still trying to perfect my fret hand position.
+1n4r0m5d1.m31 when you bring the thumb up - you lose a bit of flexibility (your hand starts to clench) and you wind up 'gripping' the strings as opposed to 'pinching' the strings. so pointing toward the pegs is best for me. every hand is different though - you need to find the optimal position and just use my answers as a guide and not a rule. all the best.
If you watch the best shredders on earth, like Michael Angelo Batio or Malmsteen, the pick movement is so tight, so precise, so minimal that you realize that is the key to their speed and accuracy. And the angle of the pick is also crucial. Pickslanting is a real technique that these guys have perfected. Then look at a guy like George Lynch. He holds it so loose, so far away, each movement is greatly exaggerated, yet he has developed it to fit his style. Like a golfer with an unorthodox swing. Whatever works for you, ride it to the bank!
Been playing for over 30 years and could never get past a certain speed due to my right hand technique. Wow! this works! I notice I am picking with more precision, too. I guess this is what you'd call an a-ha moment. Thanks for the insight!
ah crap, fifteen years in and a lifetime still away from the level I'd always hoped to achieve in terms of speed, and this dude just casually and accurately points out every flaw of my picking technique and now I get to start over, well thanks. really you made my day. but seriously though could you not have made more effort to search me out and save me fifteen years of destructive technique? ain't that what you omniscient oracle like guitar gods supposed to do? perhaps having floated above my bed in a dream or something? ok well I guess better late than never. Many Thanks
Genuinely watching this lesson has helped my playing more than I could have hoped. For the first time ever I have started to find a synchronicity that has improved the feeling of playing that I have never managed to achieve before, to the point where the guitar is truly starting to become a pleasure to practice. If you have a paypal account I'd appreciate the chance to send the cash for this lesson. Cheers!
3 immediate thoughts/questions from a fellow long-time teacher (12 years) and player (23 years): how does this allow for palm muting on the treble strings if needed or desired for a certain effect? Also, what if, for a certain passage in a solo, you didn't want that thick "pick by the neck" tone on the B or E strings? Finally, this would really limit the options for variety with pinch harmonics as it automatically boxes your picking into a certain area of each string. All that said, I appreciate seeing someone else's viewpoint on this topic.
Yep.I'm more of the circle picking variety,not that great though.But I can quickly get pinch harmonics,tuck my pick away in my palm and do two handed hammer on's/tapping,muting..Everybody adopt's their own technique I guess;I could never use Paul Gilbert's,though I love his playing and he's one of my favorites.
I amazed when someone can relay at a level that is both rudimentary and advanced through the observation of what the problem is to begin with. How simple things are, eludes most of us and I thank you for being so aware of the tiniest detail. The title of this video stands as truth and that means so much in this virtual place....
Best tutorial ive seen so far. Will try when get home today. I been playing lead for 30 yrs and cant get my right arm to relax enough no matter what i try.
Out of all of the guitar videos that I have watched, this one has been the most helpful in some time. Sometimes things that are taken for granted aren't learned by others and they are stuck in the wrong place for some time. Thanks for the video!
Been playing for years and noticed my picking was my road block... struggling to adapt to your teachings but slowly playing off, thanks heaps for uploading
This method has a profound effect on tone !! And it makes sense. Comparing to a piano, by putting the fingers behind the index finger you are strengthening the "hammer" that strikes the strings. Improvement of the foundation with no change in attack !! Thank you !!
Good pointers, Great job. "Genius is breaking the complicated down to simple lighter blocks. That is to say, doing what he has made info more understandable more quickly. I've played and taught for 37+ years and, This guy is someone to listen to.
Thanks man! That is so amazing! I saw lots of videos for picking properly but that tiny trick changed my whole picking feeling in the right hand! Metal on!!
It's funny you should mention this but I am a cow and trying to shred here in the meadow.....I only have about a half hour a day to practice (after milking). In the afternoons I have to lie down to warn all the humans that it's going to rain.....any suggestions?
Sprout Breeze Holy milk that made my day,maybe we can meet sometimes for some jamming and banging ? I'll bring milk.And that guy is right,if only i had opposable thumbs...
I've been trying to learn some proper lead/solo techniques for a year now with no particularly success until.. I somehow found this tutorial.. And after 20 minutes of practicing the Old7's stuff I eventually managed to play a simple scale progression that sounds AWESOME AT LAST!!! I FEEL JUST SO FCKIN GOOD!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Thanks for this video. My instructor once told me there was no right way to pick, but rather methods that have a better chance of making you successful. I'm starting, after playing for 5 years to begin what he was saying. Thanks again!
This vid gave me the 'eureka' moment. I never thought I can actually pick in near future with the way I used to do it. But now it seem so simple. So 'just' synch hands and I belive I'm already half-way through Cheers, mate
Hi! I see this video's been around for a good long while! I think I first encountered it way back in late 2020, and I FINALLY watched it. Thanks! This is a truly useful video. I appreciate your brief, clear explanation of the mechanics of how the fingers, hand, wrist, and arm work together to keep the picking process as simple and streamlined as possible. "Less is More!" ;-) I'll note for the record: I am a quite accomplished piano player with decades of experience, as well as a proficient violinist (and used to play the French horn, too). I've been frustrated for years at my inability to get beyond a sort of late-beginner stage on the guitar. For one thing, I got thrown by the major third interval between the G and B strings that breaks the long parade of fourths between all the other strings. [To a pianist or even a violinist, that seems strangely illogical! Though it's also part of the special magic of the guitar, I know!] And I also had an exceptionally hard time with picking. Maybe from a piano background, I've been instinctively better at finger-picking than at controlling a pick. Anyway, recently, I've been going "back to basics," and am trying to learn the guitar from the ground up, and to unlearn some of the things I taught myself wrong over the years. And finally, it's kind of working, I think! [For instance, I FINALLY know my way around the fretboard!] And I have no doubt that your video will help in this long-delayed process. [By the way you speak, you sound just like one of the law students I worked with at my job over the past year. As with him, I might guess that you're Canadian - but as with him, also, I might be wrong, because he turned out to be from I think upstate Michigan instead.] Anyway, thanks again for helping us all out - including "slow learners" like myself. ;-)
This is the best video I've seen yet on the topic. This is how I want to learn to do it. I have a habit of using my pinky finger as a rest, and moving my hand around too much. I was just watching a video on how to play a solo from a very popular UA-cam guitar teacher and noticed that they held the pick as you recommend and I noticed that they moved forward slightly as they worked down the strings. Just as you described. Thanks for explaining!
autocrow how about Michael Angelo Batio he uses his pinky to anchor and he rips not like this guy I watched all three unimpressive videos just watch a Paul Gilbert video take the time to use a metronome and practice daily there are no secrets no tricks these videos and all the videos that are similar are a waste of time everybody finds their own way with practice also check out Rick Graham he's an amazing picker who uses those fingers for hybrid style
Raw beginner here..but, I tried it..IT WORKS! HUGE improvement in my pick accuracy...Thanks!!!!! It's MUCH easier to hit a string if you're anchored at the wrist and not just the elbow...
This works flawlessly, I didn't take any notice of this video because of how arrogant I was about my pick holding technique. I soon found I lacked the stability in the pick, now I have picked this holding technique up and it has made me come along leaps and bounds! Great way to hold the pick!
It's cool because Hetfield holds his pick with 3 fingers I believe, and he's the god of rhythm/picking imho. Disposable Heroes is, to me, the benchmark of amazing Thrash but also a test of stamina.
Not enough instructors focus on proper picking. Excited to adopt this method for myself. Thanks for the vid. Have a feeling it's going to be really helpful.
So simple but so effective !!.....the finger support and wrist reference point/angular path across the strings instantly improved my picking noticebly....thanks !!
Subbed. This was a great tip and an original way to look at picking. I have watched many videos and have been shown so many different ways to pick, but I think this one has suited me the best.
Have been playing with a pick for 6 years now and I used to have the other three fingers on my picking hand sort of spread out slightly a little bit like Paul Gilbert or Joe Bonamassa, and got reasonably accurate and quick that way.some times it would feel comfortable and other times there was something that just didn't feel right I know it takes a long time to sync the left and right hand so I put it down to metronome work and just good old practice!!😀. Well one day I was just practicing some excercises and decided to just curl the fingers on the right hand up to make a fist. Well within minutes that changed the way I pick. Litraly like a wand had been waved over my right hand. The accuracy and precision improved instantly. Almost to the point where I thought it was just a lucky run that I had played. But no again and again more accuracy and synchronisation was there without a doubt. My personal opinion on why it changed my picking is that when I had my other fingers hanging down I think that subconsciously your brain is sort of thinking of two separate units, your thumb and index finger being one and the rest of the fingers the other. Yet when I made a fist the whole thing kind of becomes one thing for the brain to deal with. I know that might sound crazy but that is how it felt!! On top of that the resistance of the pick through the string feels sooo much less than when I was playing that other way, as Old7StringGuy says the other fingers a backing the thumb and index ffinger up, making a very strong connection between the pick and the hand. This may not work for everyone but my god how that's changed my playing is unreal. 😀😀
Seriously, Thanks for the tips. I just bought "Rocksmith" and I am having fun. But I do see the need for some technical tips and skills. This is and will be helpful. Thanks again.
Hey, I have been looking for someone that has Rocksmith. I would just like to know after a little playing with it if you would think it is worth getting for a beginner and how long have you played the guitar?
eddy haskle Hey i just bought Rocksmith 2014 one week ago and i have to say i see progress in playing guitar. Rocksmith wont teach you everything but it helps a lot!
eddy haskle I can definitely recommend Rocksmith for both beginners and advanced players. The games help you internalize things that you might be overthinking or putting more effort into than you need to be. It helps to make things second nature without all the stress that can come with sitting in your room beating yourself up mentally about it;
eddy haskle I highly recommend it. I gave up trying to learn guitar 2 decades ago. I concluded that if everyone could play... it wouldn't be so special. Besides... if there are guitar players, there needs to be listeners. I relegated myself as a listener. In the 3 weeks I've had Rocksmith, I can get through 6 songs and can feel improvement with each session. PS... look for more videos like this one to teach somethings you won't learn from RS...like picking up AND down.... and forcing yourself to use all 4 fingers on the fret board. Thanks Mike.
There is nothing better than breaking an Eddie Van Halen pick you got from a concert back in '84. I used it, broke it, and it felt great because I did not like the gauge of his pick. Rock on, thank you for your stuff, and I will check out all your vids!!
Batio, Govan and many more alike use the "anchor". I don't think it's a massive detriment providing it works for you, but having the ability to switch between different positions can't hurt.
Me too!! If I'm playing higher strings I rest my middle and ring finger on the pick guard. If I'm playing an E, A, or D I curl my right ring finger under the high E. Bad habits are hard to break.
I used to anchor. I didnt get how "more talented" guitarists could have such control without it. Then I watched a pebber brown video and practiced. In a couple days I anchoring felt inefficient. Anchoring isnt so bad in some circumstances, but if you need to anchor, your hand lacks freedom.
Not sure where you are anchoring your palm. Are you starting with your palm touching the bridge? Everything I play trying to anchor the palm or wrist mutes the strings.?? Anyway you play really well. Thanks for the video.
YellowCharizar d there's a guitarist by the name of Batio or something close to that and well... he's nothing short of amazing... although I prefer emotionally evocative playing as opposed to technical proficiency... i.e. shredding... Although 3 necks sounds like the beginning of a dirty joke...
I cannot do your angled approach. I've tried it and it REALLY slows my picking speed down (not that I am fast to begin with... still learning). I find some people say to rest on the bridge, other's say that's a no-no. They say your hand must be free-floating. Others say rest your pinkie on the high strings when picking the low strings and rest your back palm on the low strings when picking the high strings. It is just so confusing for a beginner. I think I may just have to do the method that's most comfortable to me even if I'm sacrificing accuracy because all these "techniques" are too contradicting.
My advice to you is to learn every techniques ande later on BE dynamic with them, change positions and give your picking different aproaches according to what feels "right" in every circumstance you'll have to be flexible with everything! have a nice day
I would say start with this guys advice and just practice it. If your hand is on the bridge the weight of it can affect the sound the same way a tremolo bar would (by making the strings looser or tighter).
I know that you uploaded this video a while ago, but nowadays I'm learning to play the guitar and in the pretender by foo fighters I must strum 2 strings at a speed of 360 bpm, but I get stuck. How would you do that???
consistency is the key, start at about half that speed and do it a 5-10 times, then gradually increase the speed. use a metronome to track your tempo. hope that helps.
Wow, that was the best pic instruction I've seen yet! Revolutionary! You answered about 5 questions at once, from how to assist your fingers in staying healthy to how to move down the strings without your forearm getting stuck!! Thank you!
hey ive been trying to follow this but i dont know if im doing it correctly, as i hit the lower strings i find that my pinky knuckle is resting a lot on the guitar itself and when i try to use my wrist as a reference point i end up touching the strings that im picking, im totally new to this so any advices please?
I find alternate picking works for me. It's been a while since I 1st started so I can't remember if I had this problem before. I know when I started I had an issue with timing. That is, timing my fretting fingers with my picking.
Oh so I should find my own picking style which I am comfortable with? I have no problems with timing right now but having a hard time reaching some frets sometimes :) thanks for the tip !
Yes you should find a style that suits you. For beginners it's sometimes hard to get their picking style correct. Try alternate picking slowly between strings. And I do mean slowly. I know the need to pick quickly is hard to resist, but if you start out slowly and just repeat the pattern daily, eventually you pick speed easily and you become more precise with your picking.
PIck the A string at 11-12-14-12-11 over and over again, then change the exercise so its a move from A at 11-12-14 then D string at 11-12-11, then back to A at 14-12-11, and learn to alternate it so each stroke comes down on the next string. Also learn to mute the strings that are unpicked with the left hand as you play. Ex., use the tip of your index finger to mute lower strings and the arch of your fingers to mute the top strings
Thank you. I have had some problems with my index finger while playing, but I didn't think it could have anything to do with me playing. Now I see a good technique to play with the picking hand, and I can assure it will help me. Thanks.
As some of the others are saying: do what this man says. Practiced for a few hours, and this has revolutionised how I play. It's boosted my enthusiasm for the instrument through the roof.
this has helped me so much. my playing is way more controlled and clean than when i was anchoring my pinky and gripping the pick with only one finger. awesome vid.
What an easy to understand, concise, useful explanation of your alternate picking technique, complete with demo as you explain it. You are a very good teacher.
I just love it when a person gets technical, it really shows you what their talking about. See I would of NEVER thought, in a 1000 years, that you should dissipate the energy towards all four fingers, or even how the thumb is such a big muscle compared to all 4 fingers (well, I mean, explicitly at conscious level), or, how you should hold the pic towards the tip, so props to this guy :)
Very enlightening! I actually had some cramping and pain in my right index finger and was super confused how that could come and probably it's exactly what you are talking about in the first part!
I really like this advice - I have been playing for 16 years and this is something I never learned to do properly (too much of a rush)...fine-tuning my playing recently very well by myself and by experiment, this was the only bit lacking. I think you may have solved it for me. Thank you!
Been struggling with stuff like Thunderstruck, fighting ringing strings, fatigue....after 40 years of playing guitar.. In 5 minutes everything just got easier...Thanks!
Im a newbie so I have not developed any bad habits yet and I do not plan on doing so. Im glad I found this because its an important fundemental function and I think this has saved me some frustration
Guys like you make the learning process of guys like me go much more smoothly. I hope to one day be good enough to teach a new batch of new guys a trick or two. Thanks for the video!
This has been a problem with my playing for years. I have been trying to figure out what the heck is going on with the pain in my index finger after I play. You solved the mystery for me. I did it exactly like you said and no pain after three hours. Thanks for sharing this information.
Eddie Van Whalen uses his thumb and middle finger, go with what feels natural and use a metronome, it's the single best suggestion for improving your pick speed period. If your not progressing and feel like your not improving or are in a rut. Your probably practicing what you can already do easily too much, practice what your not good at, sure your going to sound terrible but using a metronome you can play a complex pattern very slowly and watch how you find yourself speeding up the ticker daily. I couldn't sweep pick but I could rip solos and scales for years, I finally pulled out the ticker and began sweeping at a slow 82bpm a 5 string arppegio I felt was simple enough, in 1 week I was sweeping clean clear notes muted just right at 135bpm now about 2 years later I sweep pick as fast as I want to depending on the situation.
I applied that concept within the first minute of your video, and I can already feel/hear the difference. It's totally logical. Thumb and index finger alone is rather "flimsy". Rather than ALL fingers, I'm supporting the index [at the first joint] with just the middle finger. I've gotten back into shredding the past few weeks, and this now helps tremendously. The extra stability and mass gives increased picking momentum, thus less "drag" and I'm picking faster now. Thank you for sharing!!!!
Thanks. I subscribed for your simplicity in imparting knowledge. I loved the thought of going diagonal, while going towards the high End. I guess that's the most important thing I need to work on, to get a better approach working.
Super good lesson and good logic throughout. I've tried various styles and this approach makes the most sense for me. I've been playing 20+ year and always focused on the L hand - but realize my R hand has been the limiting factor in my progressing. I'm getting better because of lessons like these. Thanks!
Having practised this way for the past month I have noticed a marked improvement in my playing, and the way I sound. It is not just the result of more playing - I practise two hours a day, and have been playing 45 years - it is the result of doing it in a more efficient way. Thank you for the video. :-)
Thank you. Thank you... I play many hours per day because I love it, but I noticed that I hit a plateau and playing faster stuff was sometimes a problem for me, in terms of picking precision, clarity, and getting stuck between strings. This single tweak improved me by a lot! Thank you again!
OMG! This worked! It’s amazing. What’s funny is I watched another video right after yours that contradicted everything you said. Then I tried your technique and it’s like an epiphany. Eureka! Thanks!!!
Le seul vidéo qui te montre vraiment l'essentiel en matière de picking sur la main droite. Franchement, j'ai visualisé toutes les vidéos sur UA-cam concernant le pickinh et j'ai zappé celui-ci à cause de la qualité du vidéo un peu boff, alors qu'on trouve l'essentiel et tous ce que je voulais savoir sur ce video
![How to Hold a Guitar Pick the RIGHT Way [Guitar Playing Masterclass PART 1]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/v9RIjw8psHo/mqdefault.jpg)
![The Best Pentatonic Shape? [Works all over the Neck]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/9IDs9ol5lAE/mqdefault.jpg)
It's always the old UA-cam videos from like 14 15 years ago that give the best advice
Got used to holding my pick this way in less than two hours. My speed has increased, my forearm gets fatigued far less quickly, and I'm overall more consistent at playing. All because of one simple adjustment. Unfrigginbelievable
Why did I read the last word of your comment with Stevie T voice 😂
I was afraid I wouldn't get used to it ill try it out for a while thanks dude
I find this humorous, maybe someone should tell Zakk Wilde he's holding his pick wrong, he will get even faster at those shredding solos if he holds his pick correctly
On me that shit is wild
scary crazy people stories
There are a few udder things that set us apart from cows.
Sal Cangelosi I was going to make a pun as well but this topic seems to have been milked of all puns...
ugh....lol.
oh god.... you should go and hide
How amoosing
You guys need a Pat on the back....
tony hawk is giving me tips on guitar awesome !
KevinJustDoesnt now that you said it, it's all I hear lol.
Lmao nailed It
I cant unhear it now
Appreciate your intelligent delivery. No BS, no filler. Great lesson.
thank you - glad it helped.
11 years later and still the most informative video here on UA-cam! He’ll of guitarists you are🙂
Makes total sense...just kind of hard to adapt when you've been picking in a different way for years and years.
this literally made my speed and precision almost double
so glad it help. cheers!
same here! practiced this for a week now, incredible results :p
How did you play before? Anchor pinky?
@The Great Pretender hope you adapted
I was looking up something else and this was in the related. I've been playing for over 6 years and this makes my hand feel a lot more free than what ive been doing. Never thought about altering my picking style before now.
being a selftaught guitar player, this is exactly how I pick, and every video keeps telling me it's wrong. I feel the same way about every point you made in the video, and this inspired me to keep learning my own way. Thank you!
Bloodybarbie, it's about the sound anyway.
Bloodybarbie dude there is no wrong if it sounds good but practice every day
Definitely one of the most helpful guitar videos i have watched to date
thank you so much - all the best!
MAN MAN!!! ITS SO COOL!!! SO COOL . THANK YOU I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU
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guitar teacher for 15years now. Real good point here and I've often done what you're saying - however there is one thing to consider. I see you play mostly with distortion. If you play clean, this doesn't generally sound great say with a jazz tone. More pick string hitting can give you a larger jazz style tone with a full tone - we're talking 12gauge stings and a wooden pick or something. Sometimes hitting the string with more pick can be great in terms of expression and dynamics. what you're doing is more of a flat sound (not dissing at all - i really like your playing) because distortion acts like a compressor - more compressor... less dynamics. So if you want to shred and play super fast - do this. If you like BB king or Grant Green stay away from this because they vary the angle of the pick like crazy for expressive purposes. The best players can adapt their technique to the style of music.
More like a pre amp then compressor
I know this is an old comment, but it's very well put together. Since I started learning this technique recently, I've noticed an automatic switch to a more open pick for that expression, and back to using very little of the pick for fast and shreddy parts.
There's still a ton of work to do here, but if you make this switching between an open 'jazzy' and closed 'shreddy' grip second nature, you'll have some wonderful tools at your disposal!
Yeah, but cows can hoof tap like nobody's business.
I've been playing metal guitar for 3 years now and I've just learned that both of my hand positions are pretty sloppy. I've spent most of today trying to fix my hand positions and I'm starting to see a huge difference in speed, reach, and clarity. I can play XIV/Behold at normal speed now and I'm more relaxed when playing! I usually practice 6 hours each day, but fixing my hand positions really helped me A LOT. Thanks bro
+1n4r0m5d1.m31 i'm so glad it helped - hey when you get a chance can you like me on facebook ( facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010089972201 )
+Old7StringGuy Absolutely! Also, am I supposed to keep my left thumb pointing up(vertical) or pointing towards the tuning pegs(horizontal)? I'm still trying to perfect my fret hand position.
+1n4r0m5d1.m31 when you bring the thumb up - you lose a bit of flexibility (your hand starts to clench) and you wind up 'gripping' the strings as opposed to 'pinching' the strings. so pointing toward the pegs is best for me. every hand is different though - you need to find the optimal position and just use my answers as a guide and not a rule.
all the best.
Old7StringGuy Thanks!
+1n4r0m5d1.m31 You've been playing for 3 years and you can play Behold? I don't know if I believe that. if it's true, that's godly.
If you watch the best shredders on earth, like Michael Angelo Batio or Malmsteen, the pick movement is so tight, so precise, so minimal that you realize that is the key to their speed and accuracy. And the angle of the pick is also crucial. Pickslanting is a real technique that these guys have perfected. Then look at a guy like George Lynch. He holds it so loose, so far away, each movement is greatly exaggerated, yet he has developed it to fit his style. Like a golfer with an unorthodox swing. Whatever works for you, ride it to the bank!
THis......yes. :P!
No. Learn it the most efficient and healthy way from the beginning.
Been playing for over 30 years and could never get past a certain speed due to my right hand technique. Wow! this works! I notice I am picking with more precision, too. I guess this is what you'd call an a-ha moment. Thanks for the insight!
ah crap, fifteen years in and a lifetime still away from the level I'd always hoped to achieve in terms of speed, and this dude just casually and accurately points out every flaw of my picking technique and now I get to start over, well thanks. really you made my day. but seriously though could you not have made more effort to search me out and save me fifteen years of destructive technique? ain't that what you omniscient oracle like guitar gods supposed to do? perhaps having floated above my bed in a dream or something? ok well I guess better late than never. Many Thanks
lol, only if 15 years ago someone could have found me too :) all the best
Genuinely watching this lesson has helped my playing more than I could have hoped. For the first time ever I have started to find a synchronicity that has improved the feeling of playing that I have never managed to achieve before, to the point where the guitar is truly starting to become a pleasure to practice. If you have a paypal account I'd appreciate the chance to send the cash for this lesson. Cheers!
And the fact that they have four stomachs rich?
We also have 4 stomachs, moron... -.-
wait what
Hell's Agitator - 7.5 billion
acmullane Ke?
3 immediate thoughts/questions from a fellow long-time teacher (12 years) and player (23 years): how does this allow for palm muting on the treble strings if needed or desired for a certain effect? Also, what if, for a certain passage in a solo, you didn't want that thick "pick by the neck" tone on the B or E strings? Finally, this would really limit the options for variety with pinch harmonics as it automatically boxes your picking into a certain area of each string. All that said, I appreciate seeing someone else's viewpoint on this topic.
Yep.I'm more of the circle picking variety,not that great though.But I can quickly get pinch harmonics,tuck my pick away in my palm and do two handed hammer on's/tapping,muting..Everybody adopt's their own technique I guess;I could never use Paul Gilbert's,though I love his playing and he's one of my favorites.
I amazed when someone can relay at a level that is both rudimentary and advanced through the observation of what the problem is to begin with. How simple things are, eludes most of us and I thank you for being so aware of the tiniest detail. The title of this video stands as truth and that means so much in this virtual place....
Best tutorial ive seen so far. Will try when get home today. I been playing lead for 30 yrs and cant get my right arm to relax enough no matter what i try.
Out of all of the guitar videos that I have watched, this one has been the most helpful in some time. Sometimes things that are taken for granted aren't learned by others and they are stuck in the wrong place for some time. Thanks for the video!
Been playing for years and noticed my picking was my road block... struggling to adapt to your teachings but slowly playing off, thanks heaps for uploading
it takes a bit of team - be patient - i had to totally reteach myself. so, i know where you are coming from. best of luck to you!
This method has a profound effect on tone !! And it makes sense. Comparing to a piano, by putting the fingers behind the index finger you are strengthening the "hammer" that strikes the strings. Improvement of the foundation with no change in attack !! Thank you !!
Good pointers, Great job. "Genius is breaking the complicated down to simple lighter blocks. That is to say, doing what he has made info more understandable more quickly.
I've played and taught for 37+ years and, This guy is someone to listen to.
Thanks man! That is so amazing! I saw lots of videos for picking properly but that tiny trick changed my whole picking feeling in the right hand! Metal on!!
It's funny you should mention this but I am a cow and trying to shred here in the meadow.....I only have about a half hour a day to practice (after milking). In the afternoons I have to lie down to warn all the humans that it's going to rain.....any suggestions?
You can get hoove capable guitars
Sprout Breeze Holy milk that made my day,maybe we can meet sometimes for some jamming and banging ? I'll bring milk.And that guy is right,if only i had opposable thumbs...
I've been trying to learn some proper lead/solo techniques for a year now with no particularly success until.. I somehow found this tutorial.. And after 20 minutes of practicing the Old7's stuff I eventually managed to play a simple scale progression that sounds AWESOME AT LAST!!! I FEEL JUST SO FCKIN GOOD!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
you are very welcome
Thanks for this video. My instructor once told me there was no right way to pick, but rather methods that have a better chance of making you successful. I'm starting, after playing for 5 years to begin what he was saying. Thanks again!
You just inserted some great learning and technique into my playing. I will forever be in debt. Thanks!
so glad you found it usefull - i wish you well!
This vid gave me the 'eureka' moment. I never thought I can actually pick in near future with the way I used to do it. But now it seem so simple. So 'just' synch hands and I belive I'm already half-way through
Cheers, mate
Thanks for this video good to see someone go over the finer points of guitar playing for a change.
I took a couple of months holding the pick as you teach. And yes, it really works. Thanks!
Right away I noticed that my picking was a a lot more precise, and sounded cleaner. Thanks!
Hi! I see this video's been around for a good long while! I think I first encountered it way back in late 2020, and I FINALLY watched it.
Thanks! This is a truly useful video. I appreciate your brief, clear explanation of the mechanics of how the fingers, hand, wrist, and arm work together to keep the picking process as simple and streamlined as possible. "Less is More!" ;-)
I'll note for the record: I am a quite accomplished piano player with decades of experience, as well as a proficient violinist (and used to play the French horn, too). I've been frustrated for years at my inability to get beyond a sort of late-beginner stage on the guitar. For one thing, I got thrown by the major third interval between the G and B strings that breaks the long parade of fourths between all the other strings. [To a pianist or even a violinist, that seems strangely illogical! Though it's also part of the special magic of the guitar, I know!] And I also had an exceptionally hard time with picking. Maybe from a piano background, I've been instinctively better at finger-picking than at controlling a pick.
Anyway, recently, I've been going "back to basics," and am trying to learn the guitar from the ground up, and to unlearn some of the things I taught myself wrong over the years. And finally, it's kind of working, I think! [For instance, I FINALLY know my way around the fretboard!] And I have no doubt that your video will help in this long-delayed process.
[By the way you speak, you sound just like one of the law students I worked with at my job over the past year. As with him, I might guess that you're Canadian - but as with him, also, I might be wrong, because he turned out to be from I think upstate Michigan instead.]
Anyway, thanks again for helping us all out - including "slow learners" like myself. ;-)
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your knowledge. I really appreciate that! Greetings from Brazil.
you are very welcome - you have a wonderful country!
This is the best video I've seen yet on the topic. This is how I want to learn to do it. I have a habit of using my pinky finger as a rest, and moving my hand around too much. I was just watching a video on how to play a solo from a very popular UA-cam guitar teacher and noticed that they held the pick as you recommend and I noticed that they moved forward slightly as they worked down the strings. Just as you described. Thanks for explaining!
autocrow how about Michael Angelo Batio he uses his pinky to anchor and he rips not like this guy I watched all three unimpressive videos just watch a Paul Gilbert video take the time to use a metronome and practice daily there are no secrets no tricks these videos and all the videos that are similar are a waste of time everybody finds their own way with practice also check out Rick Graham he's an amazing picker who uses those fingers for hybrid style
Check out Troy Grady when you get a chance. On his UA-cam channel, he goes a lot more in depth. This video is still spot on though.
Raw beginner here..but, I tried it..IT WORKS! HUGE improvement in my pick accuracy...Thanks!!!!! It's MUCH easier to hit a string if you're anchored at the wrist and not just the elbow...
This works flawlessly, I didn't take any notice of this video because of how arrogant I was about my pick holding technique. I soon found I lacked the stability in the pick, now I have picked this holding technique up and it has made me come along leaps and bounds! Great way to hold the pick!
Wow thanks so much man! My natural technique was screwed, you've helped a lot of people out with this!
It's cool because Hetfield holds his pick with 3 fingers I believe, and he's the god of rhythm/picking imho. Disposable Heroes is, to me, the benchmark of amazing Thrash but also a test of stamina.
"It's the one thing that separates us from cows"
Well I mean... among at least 20 other things, but sure.
Not enough instructors focus on proper picking. Excited to adopt this method for myself. Thanks for the vid. Have a feeling it's going to be really helpful.
So simple but so effective !!.....the finger support and wrist reference point/angular path across the strings instantly improved my picking noticebly....thanks !!
Subbed. This was a great tip and an original way to look at picking. I have watched many videos and have been shown so many different ways to pick, but I think this one has suited me the best.
Have been playing with a pick for 6 years now and I used to have the other three fingers on my picking hand sort of spread out slightly a little bit like Paul Gilbert or Joe Bonamassa, and got reasonably accurate and quick that way.some times it would feel comfortable and other times there was something that just didn't feel right I know it takes a long time to sync the left and right hand so I put it down to metronome work and just good old practice!!😀. Well one day I was just practicing some excercises and decided to just curl the fingers on the right hand up to make a fist. Well within minutes that changed the way I pick. Litraly like a wand had been waved over my right hand. The accuracy and precision improved instantly. Almost to the point where I thought it was just a lucky run that I had played. But no again and again more accuracy and synchronisation was there without a doubt. My personal opinion on why it changed my picking is that when I had my other fingers hanging down I think that subconsciously your brain is sort of thinking of two separate units, your thumb and index finger being one and the rest of the fingers the other. Yet when I made a fist the whole thing kind of becomes one thing for the brain to deal with. I know that might sound crazy but that is how it felt!! On top of that the resistance of the pick through the string feels sooo much less than when I was playing that other way, as Old7StringGuy says the other fingers a backing the thumb and index ffinger up, making a very strong connection between the pick and the hand. This may not work for everyone but my god how that's changed my playing is unreal. 😀😀
Seriously, Thanks for the tips. I just bought "Rocksmith" and I am having fun. But I do see the need for some technical tips and skills. This is and will be helpful. Thanks again.
Hey, I have been looking for someone that has Rocksmith. I would just like to know after a little playing with it if you would think it is worth getting for a beginner and how long have you played the guitar?
eddy haskle Hey i just bought Rocksmith 2014 one week ago and i have to say i see progress in playing guitar. Rocksmith wont teach you everything but it helps a lot!
eddy haskle I can definitely recommend Rocksmith for both beginners and advanced players. The games help you internalize things that you might be overthinking or putting more effort into than you need to be. It helps to make things second nature without all the stress that can come with sitting in your room beating yourself up mentally about it;
i just bought it yesterday, and this really works, this technique helped me improve alot faster.
eddy haskle I highly recommend it. I gave up trying to learn guitar 2 decades ago. I concluded that if everyone could play... it wouldn't be so special. Besides... if there are guitar players, there needs to be listeners. I relegated myself as a listener. In the 3 weeks I've had Rocksmith, I can get through 6 songs and can feel improvement with each session. PS... look for more videos like this one to teach somethings you won't learn from RS...like picking up AND down.... and forcing yourself to use all 4 fingers on the fret board. Thanks Mike.
This is right on man, I don't usually see teachers go into this much detail about the actual kinesthetics of the thing. Keep up the good work!
There is nothing better than breaking an Eddie Van Halen pick you got from a concert back in '84. I used it, broke it, and it felt great because I did not like the gauge of his pick. Rock on, thank you for your stuff, and I will check out all your vids!!
Damn I'm one of those anchor guys
Same
Batio, Govan and many more alike use the "anchor". I don't think it's a massive detriment providing it works for you, but having the ability to switch between different positions can't hurt.
Me too!! If I'm playing higher strings I rest my middle and ring finger on the pick guard. If I'm playing an E, A, or D I curl my right ring finger under the high E. Bad habits are hard to break.
@@umbra9705 me too 😢😢
I used to anchor. I didnt get how "more talented" guitarists could have such control without it. Then I watched a pebber brown video and practiced. In a couple days I anchoring felt inefficient. Anchoring isnt so bad in some circumstances, but if you need to anchor, your hand lacks freedom.
Not sure where you are anchoring your palm. Are you starting with your palm touching the bridge? Everything I play trying to anchor the palm or wrist mutes the strings.?? Anyway you play really well. Thanks for the video.
1.5 million views. Now you have the moeny for your 6 string
i wish - google gives me about $40 a month - oh well, strings are covered
money is money tho no what i mean because ur helping people and getting abit of cash if you enjoy it i call it a plus :)
You explained this so much clearer than anyone else. Thank you
Wow dude! It works..I have to change my whole picking style but it works..Clean and comfortable at the same time..My thanks to you..Keep on rockin!
this guitar has 7 strings?
Yea lol. Why so surprised
+LegitBanana But I still like Chicken.
+YellowCharizar d Heck his brain will explode if you mention that 12 strings exist!
24 string basses with 3 necks.
YellowCharizar d there's a guitarist by the name of Batio or something close to that and well... he's nothing short of amazing... although I prefer emotionally evocative playing as opposed to technical proficiency... i.e. shredding...
Although 3 necks sounds like the beginning of a dirty joke...
I cannot do your angled approach. I've tried it and it REALLY slows my picking speed down (not that I am fast to begin with... still learning). I find some people say to rest on the bridge, other's say that's a no-no. They say your hand must be free-floating. Others say rest your pinkie on the high strings when picking the low strings and rest your back palm on the low strings when picking the high strings. It is just so confusing for a beginner. I think I may just have to do the method that's most comfortable to me even if I'm sacrificing accuracy because all these "techniques" are too contradicting.
I'm going to second what you said... I was thinking the same thing! There is so much contradicting advice!
My advice to you is to learn every techniques ande later on BE dynamic with them, change positions and give your picking different aproaches according to what feels "right" in every circumstance
you'll have to be flexible with everything! have a nice day
the learning curve may reside in this moment, but getting past it takes you from beginner to intermediate almost immediately.
I would say start with this guys advice and just practice it. If your hand is on the bridge the weight of it can affect the sound the same way a tremolo bar would (by making the strings looser or tighter).
Shannon S free floating is king
I know that you uploaded this video a while ago, but nowadays I'm learning to play the guitar and in the pretender by foo fighters I must strum 2 strings at a speed of 360 bpm, but I get stuck. How would you do that???
consistency is the key, start at about half that speed and do it a 5-10 times, then gradually increase the speed. use a metronome to track your tempo. hope that helps.
360 bpm? You are calculating the bpm definitely wrong
Wow, that was the best pic instruction I've seen yet! Revolutionary! You answered about 5 questions at once, from how to assist your fingers in staying healthy to how to move down the strings without your forearm getting stuck!! Thank you!
hey ive been trying to follow this but i dont know if im doing it correctly, as i hit the lower strings i find that my pinky knuckle is resting a lot on the guitar itself and when i try to use my wrist as a reference point i end up touching the strings that im picking, im totally new to this so any advices please?
+darksmithblade have a look at my other vids on positioning. it might make more sense after that.
Is the top string a D? I've never seen 7 string before sorry for dumb question.
it's a low B, actually - not a dumb question at all
Old7StringGuy wow u r literally replying to a 8 year old video
+Missberry 4
I just saw it today so... still relevant.
Not everything has to be the newest latest greatest. This is why some are always chasing and never accomplishing.
+Old7StringGuy did you ever end up getting that 6 string and do you still have the 7 string
Whenever I pick fast, I can't avoid bumping into the other strings, Is that bad in playing?
I find alternate picking works for me. It's been a while since I 1st started so I can't remember if I had this problem before. I know when I started I had an issue with timing. That is, timing my fretting fingers with my picking.
Oh so I should find my own picking style which I am comfortable with? I have no problems with timing right now but having a hard time reaching some frets sometimes :) thanks for the tip !
Yes you should find a style that suits you. For beginners it's sometimes hard to get their picking style correct. Try alternate picking slowly between strings. And I do mean slowly. I know the need to pick quickly is hard to resist, but if you start out slowly and just repeat the pattern daily, eventually you pick speed easily and you become more precise with your picking.
u should work on alternative picking on 1 string for 3-4 days then move on to 2 strings and so on...
keep doing it till it seems easily
PIck the A string at 11-12-14-12-11 over and over again, then change the exercise so its a move from A at 11-12-14 then D string at 11-12-11, then back to A at 14-12-11, and learn to alternate it so each stroke comes down on the next string. Also learn to mute the strings that are unpicked with the left hand as you play. Ex., use the tip of your index finger to mute lower strings and the arch of your fingers to mute the top strings
Thank you. I have had some problems with my index finger while playing, but I didn't think it could have anything to do with me playing. Now I see a good technique to play with the picking hand, and I can assure it will help me. Thanks.
As some of the others are saying: do what this man says. Practiced for a few hours, and this has revolutionised how I play. It's boosted my enthusiasm for the instrument through the roof.
yes the thumb its a good thing i have that or i would b just like a cow lol
NICE -- FOOD FOR THE BRAIN -- THANKS
This made my udder hurt
lol, don't be so 'cow'-ardly...ha
this has helped me so much. my playing is way more controlled and clean than when i was anchoring my pinky and gripping the pick with only one finger. awesome vid.
What an easy to understand, concise, useful explanation of your alternate picking technique, complete with demo as you explain it. You are a very good teacher.
Too much talkin'
+jwarpig pig it's an instructional video...
You must go to middle school
I just love it when a person gets technical, it really shows you what their talking about.
See I would of NEVER thought, in a 1000 years, that you should dissipate the energy towards all four fingers, or even how the thumb is such a big muscle compared to all 4 fingers (well, I mean, explicitly at conscious level), or, how you should hold the pic towards the tip, so props to this guy :)
+James. Chu. thanks James - all the best!
Very enlightening! I actually had some cramping and pain in my right index finger and was super confused how that could come and probably it's exactly what you are talking about in the first part!
Watching this video several months back helped me out immensely! Thank you so much.
Instantaneous Improvement...
man i've been playing for 11 years.. and you just unleashed me.
This is brilliant! The same technique for each string and moving the entire "mechanism" with your arm. Thank you!
I really like this advice - I have been playing for 16 years and this is something I never learned to do properly (too much of a rush)...fine-tuning my playing recently very well by myself and by experiment, this was the only bit lacking. I think you may have solved it for me. Thank you!
Been struggling with stuff like Thunderstruck, fighting ringing strings, fatigue....after 40 years of playing guitar.. In 5 minutes everything just got easier...Thanks!
Im a newbie so I have not developed any bad habits yet and I do not plan on doing so. Im glad I found this because its an important fundemental function and I think this has saved me some frustration
Guys like you make the learning process of guys like me go much more smoothly. I hope to one day be good enough to teach a new batch of new guys a trick or two. Thanks for the video!
This has been a problem with my playing for years. I have been trying to figure out what the heck is going on with the pain in my index finger after I play. You solved the mystery for me. I did it exactly like you said and no pain after three hours. Thanks for sharing this information.
that is great news - so glad it helped.
Eddie Van Whalen uses his thumb and middle finger, go with what feels natural and use a metronome, it's the single best suggestion for improving your pick speed period. If your not progressing and feel like your not improving or are in a rut. Your probably practicing what you can already do easily too much, practice what your not good at, sure your going to sound terrible but using a metronome you can play a complex pattern very slowly and watch how you find yourself speeding up the ticker daily. I couldn't sweep pick but I could rip solos and scales for years, I finally pulled out the ticker and began sweeping at a slow 82bpm a 5 string arppegio I felt was simple enough, in 1 week I was sweeping clean clear notes muted just right at 135bpm now about 2 years later I sweep pick as fast as I want to depending on the situation.
I am only around 2 years older than this video yet this still helped. I doubt you will see this but thank you.
WORD! Dude is on time! HE NEEDS TO PROMOTE HIS UA-cam CHANNEL WITH PDFS!👈🏿👍🏾
I applied that concept within the first minute of your video, and I can already feel/hear the difference. It's totally logical. Thumb and index finger alone is rather "flimsy". Rather than ALL fingers, I'm supporting the index [at the first joint] with just the middle finger. I've gotten back into shredding the past few weeks, and this now helps tremendously. The extra stability and mass gives increased picking momentum, thus less "drag" and I'm picking faster now. Thank you for sharing!!!!
Hey man I just broke new ground playing and I just stumbled on your lesson. I will apply these from now on. Thanks !!
This video made me a MUCH better guitar player in 4 hours of practicing this technique. I'm blown away. Thanks!
I love the tip about putting other fingers below the first one. I can't believe I haven't done it. It feels better as far as control
Thanks.
I subscribed for your simplicity in imparting knowledge.
I loved the thought of going diagonal, while going towards the high End.
I guess that's the most important thing I need to work on, to get a better approach working.
My picking is so good that I pick with my toes. Thanks for the video!!
Super good lesson and good logic throughout. I've tried various styles and this approach makes the most sense for me. I've been playing 20+ year and always focused on the L hand - but realize my R hand has been the limiting factor in my progressing. I'm getting better because of lessons like these. Thanks!
Holy crap I never heard something that made so much sense like this lesson! Thanks a lot!
Having practised this way for the past month I have noticed a marked improvement in my playing, and the way I sound. It is not just the result of more playing - I practise two hours a day, and have been playing 45 years - it is the result of doing it in a more efficient way. Thank you for the video. :-)
It all really comes down to passion and dedication. Learn from a teacher, teach yourself, it's all the same.
Thank you. Thank you... I play many hours per day because I love it, but I noticed that I hit a plateau and playing faster stuff was sometimes a problem for me, in terms of picking precision, clarity, and getting stuck between strings.
This single tweak improved me by a lot!
Thank you again!
As a mandolin player of a few years this seems like a great technique. Thanks
You make it sound like you are a biologist when you were talking about the muscles and joints. And thanks! it really helped
Great explanation, very well put. Most videos that try to explain the technique aren't very successful at it.
Thank you Bob. Cheers.
Good Video, I played for almost 20 years holdin my pick wrong. after adopting this mmethod, I've changed my style completely.
OMG! This worked! It’s amazing. What’s funny is I watched another video right after yours that contradicted everything you said. Then I tried your technique and it’s like an epiphany. Eureka! Thanks!!!
Le seul vidéo qui te montre vraiment l'essentiel en matière de picking sur la main droite.
Franchement, j'ai visualisé toutes les vidéos sur UA-cam concernant le pickinh et j'ai zappé celui-ci à cause de la qualité du vidéo un peu boff, alors qu'on trouve l'essentiel et tous ce que je voulais savoir sur ce video
Thank you sir I found this to be informative as I am self taught and realize how sloppy my technique was , I am working on it.