UPDATE TO THIS VIDEO: See 0:46 and on in this live HERE: ua-cam.com/video/J5MkZh3Ajys/v-deo.html I am now using a flatter pick angle and using a "straight thumb". Check the live for why. Vey important stuff. :-)
Im a beginner learning to play guitar on a Strandberg Boden 6 String with angel Frets. What angel motion should your picking hand travel when picking up and down 90° or 45° ?
Who knew the Science of Pick? This was great and I've been doing it right all along ! I'm a visual painting Artist and comfort with arms and wrist and fingers is oh so important. Fatigue, ergo, gravity... greatly saps muscle energy and limberness, loose playing. Try holding something over your head, something light, and hold it in one position for 5 minutes. I'll wait.... Yeah, something light weight doesn't matter, the weight of your arms is the issue. Fortunately, playing guitar, we are moving. Being loose and comfortable is a must. Left arm, hardly moving. Holding up dead weight and not the neck, either. I did as a kid, holding up the neck to stand and sit. Too poor to have a strap. haha... We didn't have tutorials 55yrs ago and this is a fantastic eye-opener. Thank you !
I've been playing for 15 years and despite that, I often watch videos like this because it can help me understand and also teach what I know better. To my surprise, this video taught me that I had developed a remarkably bad habit over the years! Putting the pick closer to the tip of my index finger in my grip improved my picking consistency drastically! I remember that I used to do this but for some reason or another stopped and my picking became worse because of it. It'd never too late break bad habits, you earned yourself a sub!
You have exactly the right mindset!! I too watch videos so I can find the 1% of things I missed, the little things other videos don't talk about. Less so with guitar... I get it from my teachers. But still.
After 38 years of playing, I find that your body is going to find its most comfortable positions depending on what you're playing. Holding your hands certain ways is going to give you certain sounds of the way you're playing and can help with certain techniques. Holding your pick one way or another can make you pick a certain way or not, maybe giving you the sound and helping with the technique you want at the time. To quote the best, it either sounds good or it doesn't. There truly is no right or wrong way if it sounds good and the way you wanted it to.
Videos of "how to hold your pick"? Unbelievable!!-Your statement is the only correct one. "There truly is no right or wrong way if it sounds good and the way you wanted it to"
I Thought the same thing. However. What IF Your Both Correct? Matt went out of his way to Create the Video, Content. He Sounds Real to Me. I would Say. Yes! There Is No Right Or Wrong Way. To Do Anything in The Universe. Yet. His Video for Me is Very Helpful And Educational. Cut him some Slack. Make a New Plan Stan. 🙂 He's doing a Great Service. Thank You Matt ! 🎸
@@danabiondo9243 Please don't think I am trashing this guy. I would not do that to anyone. I have learned things from newer guitars players but I also know a bit myself. If you want to think about what I said. If everyone held the pick the same way, everyone would sound the same. Guitar players throughout time have had some of the weirdest picking styles and all each way of holding the pick I have learned gives you different sounds, ways to tackle different techniques. Just like the way you change to sweep pick, its easier to close your hand, while palm muting the hand is open. But I am not here to trash anyone. We all spread out talents and learn from each other. I hope you understand this.
Several years ago, I noticed my picking progress had really plateaued, and I went out in search of info on all these specific postural and ergonomic details. To my surprise, pretty much nobody explained all of these things you did. Troy Grady was the only one talking about how the pick should meet the strings, but even he didn’t give much info on all the other details which make or break the picking hand placement and ergonomics. This stuff should be picking 101 for new players, yet it’s very hard to find. Great video!
Dude, thank you so much! That's my goal with these videos! Empower people by teaching them the fundamental mechanisms behind picking. Often what comes naturally in regards to instrumental technique is not best for the long term.
ALL are great tips, and I briefly heard this touched on "briefly"...but the KEY to picking is to "RELAX"...makes a huge difference. And Ive been playing guitar for 43 years so.
Held my pick like 0:21 for years. I switched to your recommendation about a week ago and I can already feel a huge difference. My picking hand is super relaxed now and stuff like alternate picking and sweep picking feels much more natural and effortless.
I'm a beginner guitarist so I've been scouring the internet on picking techniques and how to do it correctly and most of them left me with more questions than answers. This video, hands down, is the best video I found. It answered all of my questions for me! The hand on the table showing abduction/adduction was probably the best cue I found on proper wrist technique. Thank you so much!
I have taught hundreds of guitar players, including very advanced working professionals. The picking technique that works for one, will NOT work for all. By far the most important consideration for a guitarist's pick grip, is that the player feels RELAXED, and in control of the SOUND. George Benson, Pat Metheny, Steve Morse, and Ed VanHalen, all hold the pick the "wrong" way. They brilliantly make my point. Dig ?
you are right this guy is way over thinking,,,relaxation is every thing,guitar is dificult enough,although ithink that relaxation and metronome is the most important.
Years ago my guitar teacher told me I hold my guitar pick like Eddie Van Halen. I assumed it was because I hold it with thumb and middle finger but I feel I have more control.
Been playing with the "hitchhikers grip" with guitar balanced on right leg for well over a decade but am finally finally looking to change my habits after always experiencing discomfort when playing for long practice sessions. Gonna take a very long time to get used to but I can already feel the difference in comfort, thank you so much!
Thankyou...! Your video has changed my everything. Amazing information. I try to tell people about your plans and how much it has improved my guitar playing. They all think they already have the best habits. To bad for them...Yay for me.
I used to grip the pick with a 2 finger pinch grip and the tension over the years at a harsh angle has crept up on me. Between strap height, guitar angle, which leg the guitar is sitting on and my technique, it all adds up. I am on a mission to play safely and pain-free and look forward to implementing these changes.
Ive been playing guitar since I was 14 I'm 40 now I considered myself a fairly good guitar player but I am lacking on certain runs like the lead on megadeths hook in mouth man you changed every thing I thought I knew about guitar your explanation is dead on thank you already seeing better results.
25:41 Was a point that I never considered in the past (wrist placement). Like you said, this is a point not addressed by others. This gave me a lot to think about. Thank you!
I feel like this is what every "beginner" lesson misses out on I've been struggling with back pain my whole life and having my back ache playing guitar made me almost hang it up for good. With this I'm able to accurately see where I fucked up on my playing. You're a life saver.
25 years playing but this year i wanted to play faster things. tried economy picking etc. This video immediately changed a lot. Now i can use my thumb movement freely and changing strings seems easier. Thanks. I subscribed.
Amazing!!! 🙂 You're on the right track. I'd highly recommend checking out this video next as it deals with string changing: ua-cam.com/video/pqA8N4tbMqY/v-deo.html
Having a double jointed thumb, I always held my pick facing up. I wish I knew how bad that would affect my speed decades later. I now know why I plateaued so long ago. I thought I was simply not capable of speed. I changed my picking 3 years ago, and what a change! Good video!
Good on you for making the change! It's not easy, but it's worth it! And when you learn to understand mechanics like this, it will motivate even more change. 🤙
I have an Ibanez with that same bridge, and I love it. It doesn't poke my hand however because I tend to pick a bit further back, giving my palm a bit more space to rest on. I occationally play Strats, so I learned this so as to not get caught on the middle pickup. I find this gets a tighter sound with more midrange as well. Having played with open palm for 15 years, I recently started playing with a closed fist, and I found I could alternate pick way faster and more controlled. It took some getting used to since I used to do the finger anchoring thing as well, but it was well worth it... for me at least. Now, when it comes to picks, I used to play stubbys, but a friend of mine complained about my pick attack and gave me a Jazz III. I loved how these sound, but I felt they were too small, espesially when I'm strumming chords or sweep picking as I like to reveal more pick surface between my fingers when I do. I actually started using Fender/Gibson Heavy picks for a while just to get the size until I found Dunlop actually makes XL versions of the Jazz III, so now, and for the last 7 years I've been using the Ultex Jazz III XL. I like the Prime Tone version a bit more for the grip texture, but they're way more expensive, and I find they sound pretty samey.
Nice "way of making a guitar video" dude ! I just found your channel and i like how you calmly explain and illustrate everything. Thanks for the infos, there's always something new to learn that hides somewhere.
I really appreciate your guitar-nerdiness! Your minute technical tips are fantastic and I can see that playing guitar is your utmost passion in life. Thank you for tips on a lot of little things about my style to work on and correct. This video was awesome. Thank you for considering the smallest details to expand on that everyone else overlooks! This was a great help and leaves me with plenty of things to consider and build into my own habits.
Wow I didn’t realize how much depth there is into this! 20 years of self taught, I realize I have NOT self taught myself shit lol. Never realized how sloppy my pick hand is until looking into it. Never too old to learn more my beautiful humans!!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge hippy dude
Hey, thanks! I will say that John Petrucci and Andy James both fold their index finger in towards the base of their thumb, and they do overlap their thumb over the pick quite a bit. I do this, too, and I find I get the best results this way. Shorter thumb (shorter fingers) people may need to copy their grip. I just ordered both of their Dunlop 2mm flow picks. I can't wait to try them out, so thanks for the recommendation and the tips!
1. Thanks for watching everything (it sounds like)! 2. Prepare for a harsh transition with those picks haha. About 2 weeks and you'll be feeling back to normal! Be patient with it.
I have been playing for over 20 years and still end up finding out how I do things wrong and hacked it in my younger years. Thanks for the quality content man!
Excellent video and coincidentally I just got a pack of the black JP Jazz IIIs yesterday. I guess it was meant to be. This video really helped me tighten up my picking technique and now I see where it was holding me back. Thanks Matt. Subscribed. \m/
GREAT VIDEO! This is the ONLY video I’ve ever seen that demonstrated a pick-holding position that made sense and felt NATURAL. The simple back and forth wrist motion is what I’ve always fallen into when I was REALLY in the pocket and relaxed. I think that says a lot about why it’s probably the best motion for most people. Finally, the guitar POSITION really reduced fatigue. It wasn’t exactly natural for me as I always wanted the guitar flatter against me. But hey, it’s just harder to play that way, or it’s harder to play for a long time that way. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I used to hate sharp picks, but have adapted because for thrash rhythm kinda stuff, they're unbeatable. They are the most accurate pick for striking two strings at once without hitting other strings. Also, they are super immediate. Since speed is the goal here, for absolute speed on single strings, the FLOW is superior because it slides off the string a bit more easily... I guess one has to decide which one is more important, given the context of what they are doing. A good middle-ground I've found for me is the Gravity Classic Pointed picks. They have somewhat of a jazz tip but slightly pointier, and have a regular body shape, which allows me to modify my grip position and holding pressure on the fly for different picking situations. If the pick is too small, like a Jazz III, I can pick fast on single strings, but for pretty much everything else, it hurts my hand. The flow also helps solve this problem. The Petrucci Jazz III is too slippery, unless your hands are relatively dry. If you sweat or have moist skin, the can slip like crazy. If they made a Max Grip version, it could help in that situation. I can't even hold a Jazz III for more than 5 minutes without it being the carbon fiber max grip. I guess you fixed the problem by using a dremek though! 😅 For super thick picks, like the V-Picks Dimension picks, the benefit is being able not to make the grip larger perse, but to be able to hold the pick more loosely and tense up less.
If you’re having trouble with a pick slipping, check out the tip in my shorts that has a dremel in the thumbnail. You can SAND the grip area of a pick and that can help a lot :-)
Seriously bro, this is quite a gem. It's amazing how subtle yet powerful picking is. There's an anecdote Ted Nugent gave about how he tried using EVH's gear but still sounded the same. Whereas Eddie would always sound like Eddie.Guthrie Govan equates picking to Bruce Lee's infamous one-inch punch
There's a time and place for multiple different pick holding techniques. Hitchhiker vs the other opposite sounds very different. I tend to alternate the pick angle depending on what sort of stuff I play. An angled pick just won't cut it when you need maximum thump and hitchhiker for me is way more agile on specific situations, also makes pinch harmonics super easy. There's a benefit to all techniques.
This video has been incredibly helpful. Just simply switching to playing on my left leg has already made things easier. Such a simple helpful tweak. Thanks dude keep making these
I developed a pronation/supination (rotation) picking technique (was somehow able to do 16's at 250 bpm), and was only really doing rhythm playing, and anchoring along the bridge itself, or strings when muting or playing palm muted notes. I played for a year and a half, and then stopped for two and a half. I didn't stop due to a RSI though, turns out I have hypermobility, and the type just so happens to causes a massive degree of pain (body-wide, so, both arms) around the time you turn 18 (when I stopped) which lasts for pretty much the rest of your life, but the pain has gradually gotten better mostly due to a medication. I've very recently tried playing again and tried playing as lightly, economically and ergonomically as possible. I plan on setting the guitar up with the equivalent of 8's tension, and getting and using .60mm picks, before I pick it up again soon. I will try to transition to an abduc/adduc picking style and see what it's like; have you ever seen someone do arm rotation picking successfully for a large period of time? Do you have any tips for minimising pain, anything from fretting technique, to how to pick quite/very lightly but have it work, to guitar setup, or specific things like the Performaxe, or picks you'd recommend? Sorry for the convoluted and long comment. I'm trying to find as many small things no matter what they are to make playing less painful and more comfortable, so I appreciate any, any tips.
This comment is great. No worries about length. First off, hypermobility is sometimes a symptom of autoimmunity. Look up Kiran Krishna/Rebel Health Tribe/molecular mimicry. You can get a lab test called an ELISA ACT LRA which will tell you all foods your body is sensitive or allergic to based on both raw and cooked forms of protein. I’ve seen case studies of people go from wheel chairs to walking. 2nd, I’d recommend a “non flex” pick. Something around 1.0mm+. You’ll just a better response out of the guitar for metal type playing. If you’re doing blues/funk stuff, then stay with a flex pick. Third, left hand. Get your string action as low as possible. Make it BUZZ, and then bring it back up but by bit until it doesn’t buzz. Performance is a great tool and I’m looking to get one… They’re currently out of stock. Good luck, man!
Amazing lesson!!!! This video really helped improve my mechnaics and make my goal of playing 16NPS in 4 weeks (240bpm with sixteenth notes) a lot more realistic
I’m glad! For pick speed, I’d recommend modeling Alex Campbell and Nick K on IG. If you’re wiggling your whole arm up and down, you’re going to be sacrificing control big time. ;-) Rooting for you,
Again, incredible and precises explanations, thank you! For the pick, i'm actually trying the Ibanez Grip Wizard (sand grip one) because my pick always finish sideways because of sweat hands... For now, i'm pretty happy with it, let's see in the long term
Thanks man :-) Nice! I've thought about gluing sandpaper to other picks. What thickness? You'll also find that your fingers kind of "react" grip-wise to different pick materials. For some people, the Delrin of the JP Flow 2.0 is very slippery. Not for me. Also, My hands just don't sweat a ton.
@@mattwright466 0.8mm (medium for Ibanez picks) to start, i wanted to try the heavy ones but the medium are much easier too use for me since my attack is not great, for now of course. I'm jealous of you, having sweaty hands is a nightmare for a guitarist 😂
@@mattwright466 Oh ok, i began with a Dunlop 0.6mm so i'm really used to those thin picks, and i was so scared to loose the feeling with the pick that i have forbidden myself all the picks above 1mm, but maybe the pick is not the problem here 😅 I'm gonna try that asap! Thank you for the advice 😉
@@Nephis It was BRUTAL when I sized up from 1.5mm to 2.0mm. Like I said in the video, it took me a SOLID 2 weeks to make that adjustment, but once I did... GREATNESS. And, now that my default is 2.0, I actually find it easier to use thinner picks as needed. Watch my A Change of Seasons Carpe Diem video for a direct comparison between the thick and thin picks on sound. That's in an acoustic context, but still. You got this!!
The pont about the control of the picking existing in the last sections of the thumb and index finger was game changing for me. I was letting my thumb stick out of the pick and never really had any control of the sound and overall felt a bit lose. Now all the picked notes sound more active, with intent, and I have much more control of the pick strokes. I wish I'd known this 15 years ago when I was getting started :')
Best explanation/directions on the interweb. I subscribed immediately. I'm 69 and I likely won't be shredding - anything. However, I want to play faster and with more accuracy. And why not try shredding or new techniques? This video is the bomb. Just tons of good information for any picker.
Thank you, man!! 🙂 You're gonna love the video coming up on left hand coming up. 😉 To prepare, check out the Bending Tricks video. I bet you'll like that one too!
I would recommend the big stubby pic 3.0 as a training aid say for running through scales for 10 or 15 minutes, trying to manipulate the pick in different ways and get a feel for the strings..Then switch it to a lighter flow pick like 1.0 or lighter.Mix it up with the pucks even try .88…you will learn so much about the sound you can get with your hands and develop super power picking techniques…I am saying that with 35 years of running through the major and minor scales …..Good luck guys !
Thx for the video because it really helped and I struggle with using a pick because when I started learning I only used my finger to strum and it’s a bad habit
I appreciate your time Matt, because you are teaching others certain techniques that you find to be the best or correct way to play for free, and feel are "correct" positions, angles, etc. I have been playing since 1979-80, and my approach to practice and playing have changed over the years. I will not get into my pick grip, sitting position or strap height. If you sling your guitar as low as Jimmy Page does, you are gonna have some problems, just cuz you think it looks cool. There are many ways we guitarists do things. As far as "rules" go, I find that they can go the way of the Do-Do bird. All I will say is that my picking hand is very different from yours, but 40+ years without a hint of pain or discomfort must mean I am doin okay. The less movement, the faster you can play. And I mean both hands. Keep your action low (Yngwie claims his action is high because he wants the string to oscillate fully) Yngwie is full of shit. I have seen his guitars up close, on stands, at L`Amour`s, in Brooklyn behind stage. Economy is important for sure. We do not need or want wasted movement because it saps energy and slows us down, and then you will feel pain for damn sure. Find your comfort zone, your pick grip and most important, learn how to bend with authority and total control. Have fun!!! Make others feel good by hearing you play. Isn`t that why we love music? Cheers to all of my fellow guitarists, always! Grab your guitar for the day, plug in, turn up and shred!!!
My biggest breakthrough in quick picking was learning how to pick in the Yngwie style, i.e. rotating the wrist when playing one string and using an additional movement of the thumb when playing scales.
Cool. I've been playing for many years. You showed me several great ideas. For one, I'm left handed but play right handed. My picking has suffered a long time. I find I twist or spin my wrist and arm instead of the up and down. My neck angle is almost flat. I don't set my wrist on the bridge. My grip is is okay though. I have to practice your lessons. So many great tips! You have a new subscriber. Just from experience a tip to keep the pick from dropping is wet your thumb and fingertip from time to time. Another is I use a Tortex or Jim Dunlop and if you melt just the middle of the back side edge of the pick and mush it in a bit with the lighter and wait for it to cool you make a little ridge that keeps the pick in your grip. Anyway thanks for the time and effort and the lesson. Cheers mate.
First off, thanks for the sub. Second, thanks for watching (I assume) the whole vid. Get on the guitar now! :-) I write with my left hand but play "normal"/right hand guitars as well. I haven't ever found this to be an issue. 1. The book Whole Brain Power by Lavery shows how even ELITE athletes can train in ambidexterity and even beat their competition because of it. Don't write yourself off as having some kind of disability. 2. If right hand if your struggle, this video is a good start, but you should have some daily picking exercise to "calibrate" your hands to the guitar. I've been doing these (link) for a long time and I'll be coming out with a video with some additional very helpful variations here on Monday. But for now, get started with these. ua-cam.com/video/pqA8N4tbMqY/v-deo.html Cheers!
You are intelligent and interesting enough to hold on to every word! Your voice is also understandable, and I love your selection of words! Oh, and you ROCK by the way! Keep in rocking on!
Congratulations on this video. It is the most concise deep dive into what for me personally, in 60 years of playing guitar, is my least developed skill. I have never been a 'shredder'. More a 'Cowboy chord' fingerpicker. Given that I have recently started playing in a trio with bass and drums, it is something I need to develop, along with single note lead concepts. Your teaching skill is phenomenal. Thank you for taking the time to produce this. Subscribed and looking forward to more. I would be most interested in pick manipulation in the hand, when not using it. It confounds me and the only solution I can see is a line of picks in one of those clip on boom mic stand holders.
Thank you so much! Glad you got a lot out of it. 🙂 There's lots of ways to do it... I'm not much of a hybrid picker. I'd look at a player like Steve Vai for this one. I forget how he does it exactly... Different players either hold it with their accessory RH fingers or hold it in the palm of their hand. I don't have a super detailed answer for this (yet).
I've been playing improvisational metal and jazz my whole life and ive learned comfort is a personal, subjective thing. People use the hunt for tone as an excuse for not connecting with art which reduces their practice, weighs down their pocket book and i pity thst. I have a friend with a half million dollar guitar collections and learns only covers. I play how i feel when writing and work on technique during warmup. I wear my guitar up very high so i can reach every fret from another with little to no effort. It took me longer than most to get confident because of mental illness but ive let go of all the showing off and just play. Rhythm is most important, lead isnt a part of a song for me. I tend to not camp in any place and can hear a chord before i play it. I haven't played cowboy chords since I trained my ear and ive become better at sonic translation from brain to string. Great lesson. I can see why people want to shred. I used to be one of them.
This helps… just started playing about 1 year ago and took 4/months off (had bad tendinitis and decided on 6/month break from guitar but I think 4/months is fine now) so I’ve only been playing realistically about 6/months… my biggest problem is I drop the pick a lot. I use the orange Dunlop pick. I do play tense a lot and I’m working on relaxing. I’ve only been “in the pocket”twice. I learned the sublime “Santeria” solo and played that for like a month straight. I’m pretty good at doing solo’s (about 90%) but I neglected chords all together and just learned to play power chords and muting the root note string. So I’m pretty happy about that, however I jam with a live drummer and bass player I met at work. I drop the pick way too much. I also have it rotating in my hands and my strumming is just terrible. I can barely play “Smells like Teen Spirit” for any length of time Edit: I play a Fender Player Plus and a Epiphone Les Paul Custom
Different people have different levels of oiliness to their hands. Check out the Flow line of picks by Dunlop. If you’re doing a lot of strumming, I like the Flow 0.73mm. They’ve got a GREAT texture on them. You can also sand the pick, or run a little climbing chalk or cornstarch on your hands to help dry them out. You can also check out the DAVA picks which have a variable flexibility. :-)
I’m against anchors on the top of the guitar. I believe the hand should be curled as if was hanging on your side while you walk. This is the natural position of the the hand and wrist. Then the hand floats above the string with the arm moving slightly along with the wrist movement. You have the weight of the hand to get a better sound. Of course I play jazz on a arch top so this may make a difference. I taught my son to use this method when he was a child and he plays metal and shreds. Good video.
The gain used in metal sounds takes care of that for you. No more force than necessary. I also see many jazz players with a totally extended RH first finger. IMO, this position limits “extension” moves.. It also not eliminates, but makes more difficult squeezing the pick harder in order to get a harder sound. I demonstrate this somewhere in one of my vids with acoustic stuff… The other thing is, if the hand is floating, it’s going to limit possibilities for palm muting.
Since I learned how to play in grade school, I've always held picks ("plectrums" in the U.K.) between the thumb and first TWO fingers. It's probably cost me some picking skills, but it gives me more a sense of security.
It’s a false sense of security. You don’t need to grip that much. It’s not necessary. And it also ties up this middle finger from being used for tapping. And it limits the picks you can use because they have to be big enough to allow for two fingers. When you let go to tap, you actually have a higher risk of dropping the pick. :-)
I have arthritis in my hands and have had trouble with the pick slipping out. I use a monster grip (stick-on) on the thumb side of the pick and lightly sand the index finger side. This has mad a huge difference in being able to hold on to the pick. I tried monster grips on both sides but it did not feel natural to me.
Nice! Glad you're finding something that works for you given your unique circumstances. 🙂 If you're open, this video may provide some additional insights: ua-cam.com/video/Z6i5qTtNNog/v-deo.html
Good advice except it only works for people without arthritis or injury in their thumb. My finding is that the most comfortable way is the best way. I can't bend my thumb at the knuckle due to a motorcycle accident and this applies to people with arthritis also.
im a finger person trying to learn pick and ive been struggling a lot but i jut realised i have hitchhikers thumb after wathcing your video so that was pretty cool XD
I’ve got a double jointed thumb, I fixed the wrist angle problem, by going to a jazz 3 pick, and copying fast players wrist position and adjusting the strap, then I found a harder pick material…then with a hole, but I think the thumb issue is why my right hand is just too jumpy, and hard to control, that fact changed my actual musculature I believe, but I never was trained by a teacher. As for sitting, I’m 6’6” that likely affected my musculature too, the angles are all just wrong, and first position is still a difficult place to get a good wrist angle even with a stap & standing, which is essentially the only way I play.
Nicely done! Methodical approach suited to the broad spectrum of guitar players of every level. Sound fundamentals lead to proficiency - bad habits die hard. Thanks!
I played the Jazz 3s for years. The Flows literally changed my game for the better. Somehow they really helped dial in my mechanics. I use the Purple 1.14 for electric and the Blue .73 for acoustic. I have played for a long time and building speed to the level I want has always been elusive for me. I struggle with the consistency, sometimes I am like yay others Im like I suck..
I've got a way to train speed that blows all of the guru stuff on UA-cam out of the water. You can see my progress here: instagram.com/p/C5l90muS7zj/ I'm only teaching this method in lessons for now. If you're interested, you can learn more here. 🙂 go.mattwrightmusic.com/lessons PS. It takes months to train it. There's no quick fixes.
Tosin Abasi has same curving thumb as I. And he plays 8-string guitars. It is natural for him. I heard Paul Gilbert first play that way too. Good video about basics👍.
Good video. I am an acoustic player so I dont know how much differece you would see on electric, but BlueChip picks make a huge difference in tone on flat tops and wear forever. Might want to check those out. They arent cheap, but are good. Trust me I've bought to many different variations
Great video. I have a background in flamenco and classical (but I primarily do jazz now) so I set my strap from the bottom strap button to behind the nut of the neck so I can maintain the old skool position while not having the tension of the strap pull on my back. I do this for my Camp Flamenco, my custom Signature Archtop by Yuhnzi, Fender Jazzmaster, and my fretless bass. I've been searching around for things about holding the pick because though I can sweep arpeggions upward (from high string to low) everytime I do a downward sweep, my thumb some how gets in the way. Anyway, I just subscribed from my non brand account - hope to see more videos from you
Welcome! Glad you found it helpful. :-) Please also see the UPDATE to this video linked in the description. It's EXTREMELY important. Lastly, I also have videos on sweeping. From your comment on sweeping down is hard, I would bet you are rotating your wrist/hand too much. Cheers!
Your neck appears to be in line with your left tshirt sleeve hem, which is just about right for me in my classical position... I'm a classical player foremost but I'm a great believer in at least exploring all genres and techniques. Thanks for your input Matt your focus on anatomical consideration is much appreciated... every now and then it's good to check with other players, styles and techniques to see what can be incorporated into my own style and technique and I agree those classical players that have an almost verticle postion look odd, like giants playing a double bass 😂
thank you so much for this video, i just started out 2 weeks ago and this is by far the most detailed video i've seen regarding this topic. you just got a sub :)
Bravo Matt !! Great video on the details of guitar pick holding technique, types of guitar picks , guitar strap adjustments and more in the Q and A section of this video .... Sidebar-- at 17:07 minute mark I heard a cat meow... The cat asked "how do you hold a pick when you have no Opposable thumbs ?" :)
Hey there! Thanks! As far as no movement/no thumbs, I can’t speak to that. I haven’t worked with any students who have that. Email me / contact me on IG about your situation and we can take a look at my latest theory “motion design” and work something out. Basically, I’ll help you work out a unique set of picking movements for you. @mattwmusic_ on IG. Email is on the about section of my YT channel page
Because this is the Internet, I’m not sure if you’re being silly, or you, or someone with a disability who is asking a question and using the cat is a metaphor for communication. 😆 I tend to take communication literally ha ha
Hey Matt, been trying to improve overall and just looking into areas that I may be able to accomplish some improvement no matter how minor it may be. I watched Brandon Deon's short on how to hold picks and wanted your thoughts on it. I tend to use the second method that he showcased and wanted your thoughts on it. ua-cam.com/users/shortsuqt-IAi4X3U
Nope. Do not do the second method. Multiple flaws. 1) It removes the final joint of the index finger from the equation destroying the ability for fine adjustments in sweeping and fast cross picking. 2) "Choking up" the hand position that closed NECESSITATES that the accessory fingers (middle, ring, pinky) now be pulled backwards ("flexion"). This causes a lot of tension on the top of the hand/wrist. It becomes especially apparent on high strings. It's not necessary. What Brandon misses in the first clip is stacking the rest of the fingers against the middle finger as I share in 15:37 in this video.
Tosin A. has a crazy ability to bend his thumb, as many know he can use it effectively to pop and slap, I find guitarist with bigger strong hands and fingers play with relative ease I started using 24.75 scale and thin wizard necks or SGs opposed to Strats it helps for those of us with smaller (normal, lol) hands and finger length I do play some longer scale guitars but have to move my left hand to play certain runs lower on the neck Regarding guitar height, yeah TSO, Slash all those cats sling low and it does look and feel cool but EVH made it cool to raise that sucker up high, in an old guitar player mag interview he talks about it and I have been playing with less effort and easier access to all frets ever since, still comfy at 62 years old
For me the "right way" took the edge of my playing. Once up in time I was happily unaware playing all day long until the internet enlightened me to be an jerk! -How do you hold your pick? ?😳😥 -String height? Ehhh..comfortable! -😂 -Neck relief? Feels good! -Oh my oh my...you never gonna play you know!
1. Check the pinned comment and the update. If you're talking about "edge" in relation to pick angle, then this update to the video will restore it. 2. A lot of people aren't conscientious about defining this stuff. What they don't define, their brain will find a way to execute. Sometimes, the brain finds a beneficial and sustainable way to execute motions. Many times, it creates a maladaptive motion based on the interplay of other mechanics (such as guitar height and pick grip)... This is why I have to be SO meticulous in these videos. You can't look at one aspect of technique in a box. 🙂
I had my guitar strap too long for years. Finally shortened it to 38" and now it is much easier to play. I am pretty short too. I keep my thumb fairly straight because I got a short thumb, and it is good for getting squeals too LOL. I now use a Jazz III XL pick. The flow picks wear down to quickly. I did play with a 3mm stubby for 2 years, but the indent caused me a problem. I use a leather strap, but I got the length perfect now.
Hey Matt, I really like your style. Your'e very precise and technical and I admire that. You got me brother, I sub'd.Looking forward to all your vids! Peace
Interesting observation on the wrist bands, Hefield and Dave Mustaine have used them as long as I can remember. I assumed it was to keep sweat off their picks and I’m sure that’s part of it but they also play mostly tune o matic bridges and I can tell you going from a Strat to something with a TOM can be tricky just the distance the strings are from the body make me feel like I need a different technique. I like to attack the strings closer to the bridge for thrash rhythm playing. I also have hitch hikers thumb and have to drop my palm anchor point down to play on the high strings with any accuracy my pick angle is too extreme by the time I reach the b and e strings from my normal anchor point. I’ve tried other thumb positions but always revert back to the hitch hiker
DO what works for the kind of music you want to play! These lessons are really focused on putting you in the best possible position for lead type playing. And if that's what you're leaning towards, it may put a bit of a cap on your speed. But not everyone needs to or desires to play at Petrucci hyperspeed and that's OKAY! I'd maybe checkout Nuno Bettencourt's hand if that's your style. :)
I've bought the Dunlop Variety Pack for shredders, and found the picks I like. My faves are Dunlop Flow 2.0, Jazz III XL for a snappier sound, and Ultex Jazz III, both XL and regular (they seem to accentuate the low and mid frequencies while toning down the highs, and they never slip on me). The only thing I dislike about the Flow pick is that it seems weightless, without any density to it. That somehow feels uncomfortable for me.
The pick being on the side of the index finger gives you leverage when picking down, but no leverage picking up. The best of both worlds is between the thumb and on the pad of the index finger. So the picking is consistent in sound and attack. You can't get a good up snap without that leverage. It's all subjective to the person, but both picking directions should sound consistent if possible.
I've had literally zero problems with upstrokes doing it this way. You actually introduce problems when doing it your way because you move the wrist/hand into extension / away from neutral. The further away from neutral you are, the more you limit your adduction/abduction. Further, because of the increased extension on the index finger, there is more engagement required to keep the additional fingers out of the way. You'll feel it on the underside of the wrist.
Super jealous you got to learn from Stephen Toronto, his Helix Nebula work is amazing. This pick position makes much more sense than other videos i've seen. Bernth recommends holding the pick over the second segment of your index finger, his fingers must be freakishly long because when I tried that, I'd have to bend my wrist like I was going to punch myself in the gut to attack the strings. He also recommends keeping your other fingers closed citing that how he noticed super fast jazz guitar players tend to do that. What do you think of the closed hand approach?
LOVE this video, You kinda remind me of Anton Oparin and his work with guitar playing Physiology too even though the method is different... Hope more people realize that they way for majority of us to become good is to relied on Science and not feeling when it comes to technique ahahah!
Thanks so much man! Have you studied in Anton's courses? Anton's work is awesome. He has many more years of playing guitar than me and I aspire to his fluidity. One last note on this vid, there's linked live video in the pinned comment where I promoted a straight thumb. You might check that out. :-)
When I started playing, I had a friend of mine basically pick everything out for me since I had no idea what I was doing. I ended up getting a 0.73 mm pick that, honestly, was just garbage. And every time I tried to play, about 10% of my notes never sounded. The pick was bending too much, and not actually plucking the string. That caused me to grip the pick tighter and tighter, in an effort to make the pick do its job. When I switched to a thicker pick (something over 1mm, don't remember because I use Jazz picks now), I noticed I didn't have that problem and I ended up loosening my "death grip" on the pick. So that could be what they mean about thicker picks relieving tension.
Some of the fastest guitar players in the world are blue grass pickers' the fastest one I've ever seen was holding a pickled hogs knuckle in his mouth while picking' so what works for you doesn't work for everyone else. You also have to take in consideration the physical structure of a persons hand/wrist. You should try the pickled hogs knuckle approach yourself and do a video comparison vs your technique.
I've got plans to do a video showcasing my speed when it's ready. Too many players are too eager to play fast in 7 days or whatever. What they don't understand is that speed is a neuroscience equation, not a just a physiological one. If you strapped a TENS unit to the right muscles, you could pick the fastest speed possible as governed by your muscles. The limit is created by 1) how fast your brain can tell the correct muscles to fire (an efficient movement) and 2) how well coordinated that movement is. I was blown away by Sierra Hull playing "Long Way" with Cory Wong live. Mind blown. Seriously. That song is FAST! So, if you link me a video clip, I'm happy to talk about the technique I see going on. :-)
The brain is literally like and AI. You tell it “I want to play accurately” (one parameter)… Then it sure can accomplish that. That’s why there’s so many different, unoptimized techniques… Because people only gave the movement 1 or 2 parameters and the brain filled in the blanks. In the flip side, some people naturally come across a very optimized movement. An unoptimized movement can achieve the same OUTPUT, but not with the same EFFICIENCY. My goal here is to help define the most efficient input parameters with which we construct our picking motion. Do this and your playing will be unlimited! :-)
I have been playing a long time and have always set the guitar on my right leg. Then, I noticed some players sit it on their left leg. I have played Strats and Super Strats until a couple of years ago when I bought first a Haze Jazzmaster copy then last year a Fender JM and when I tried playing it on my left leg, the guitar seemed like I was playing a bass due to the offset design. I am going to try my Strat on my left leg to see how it feels. Great video...subscribed! PS with the guitar on my right leg, I do feel cramped when I play up the neck (toward the bridge) and have to adjust when going up there. Maybe I need to learn to play the guitar sitting on my left leg. I have not been in a band in a long time, so rarely play standing up.
If I'm playing low, I'm on my right leg. If I'm playing higher or a lot of "classical" stuff, then I tend to have a higher angle and play on the left leg. 🙂 Don't limit yourself. Biggest thing is don't have the guitar to vertically LOW.
Thanks a bunch! I intend to get a Les Paul! The tone on those things is awesome. However, since I don't have one yet, I can't advise well... Try and adapt these concepts as best you can. My suspicion is that the result of the bridge setup being so high off of the body, the motion will be FORCED to come a little bit more from wrist pronation/supination and we'll just have to live with it, even though it's not "technically" ideal. Technique for acoustic guitar is basically entirely different as it's much more strum based for many things versus single note picking as this video is primarily written to address. Are you trying to play strumm-y stuff or single note stuff on acoustic?
@@mattwright466Indeed the tone aspect is amazing. I've never heard such unique distortion on a guitar! Well i do my best to get comfortable and have the best possible technique for my wrist. What about palm muting the lower strings while playing the high strings? I try to "slide" my hand downwards to play the higher string but then my muting sucks and to get it right i newd my hand to get closer to the neck, is that good technique? Just wanna make sure. About the acoustic, i only have 2 guitars: the Les Paul and an old acoustic guitar which i put on 12 string gauge on lol. I sometimes play the "single note lines" on acoustic just to get more finger strenght, which i suppose works for me. And just wanted to make sure, cause the "moving right hand closer to the neck" is common for me in playing both guitars. Thanks for feedback!
@@krakerz I can't troubleshoot technique through comments but I think I've accomplished my goal as a teacher - Not to teach you by rote, rather to transfer the PRINCIPLES and make you think consciously about how you CHOOSE to form your technique. And you're doing just that. 👏
Holy crap, I tried straigting my “hitchhiker thumb”shot up in picking speed. It’s annoying to focus on, hopefully I’ll forget and do it naturally. I have full hyper mobility in all fingers, it’s tough to have every finger tip bend backwards, but I’ve been so used to it it’s not an issue. Didn’t realize the dumb thumb (mine kicks extreme to nearly 90 degrees back) was the reason I’ve played for ever and just thought “I am just slow” when dealing with my speed picking
There's another guy here in the comments section who also said he had hypermobility... I linked him some various braces made for people with hypermobile fingers. You could see my comments there or just google "finger braces". They appear to be quite minimal in terms of their bulk! Good luck 🙂
Ive played for 20 years and use two fingers on the back. I don’t feel any limitations with my picking hand holding it this way. Sweeping I sometimes hold it with just my index. With two fingers using .73 picks you can bend them slightly to get a firmer edge for triplets and heavy bits but for shredding i find it way smoother than thicker picks. Maybe it’s because I have super straight thumbs? Lol
I cant use the flow or the jazz 3 or any wide nose pick. I need that classic Dunlop shape, not really pointed but a more rounded point. I use the Nylons, as they can add a nice tonal quality to a thinner single coil, and they dont smash the strings, doing that heavy atonal thing, during humbucker driven heavy distortion. Picks are a huge secret actually, using different ones produces different tone and even can be the difference between subtle, and aggressive on their own.
![Lead Guitar Muting Techniques [Picking MasterClass Part 2]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YeryWP42kA4/mqdefault.jpg)
![Lead Guitar Muting Techniques [Picking MasterClass Part 2]](/img/tr.png)
UPDATE TO THIS VIDEO:
See 0:46 and on in this live HERE: ua-cam.com/video/J5MkZh3Ajys/v-deo.html
I am now using a flatter pick angle and using a "straight thumb". Check the live for why. Vey important stuff. :-)
Im a beginner learning to play guitar on a Strandberg Boden 6 String with angel Frets. What angel motion should your picking hand travel when picking up and down 90° or 45° ?
Who knew the Science of Pick?
This was great and I've been doing it right all along ! I'm a visual painting Artist and comfort with arms and wrist and fingers is oh so important. Fatigue, ergo, gravity... greatly saps muscle energy and limberness, loose playing.
Try holding something over your head, something light, and hold it in one position for 5 minutes.
I'll wait....
Yeah, something light weight doesn't matter, the weight of your arms is the issue. Fortunately, playing guitar, we are moving. Being loose and comfortable is a must.
Left arm, hardly moving. Holding up dead weight and not the neck, either. I did as a kid, holding up the neck to stand and sit. Too poor to have a strap. haha...
We didn't have tutorials 55yrs ago and this is a fantastic eye-opener. Thank you !
I don't quite understand your question... Can you try rephrasing? :)@@DaneRates
I've been playing for 15 years and despite that, I often watch videos like this because it can help me understand and also teach what I know better. To my surprise, this video taught me that I had developed a remarkably bad habit over the years! Putting the pick closer to the tip of my index finger in my grip improved my picking consistency drastically! I remember that I used to do this but for some reason or another stopped and my picking became worse because of it. It'd never too late break bad habits, you earned yourself a sub!
You have exactly the right mindset!! I too watch videos so I can find the 1% of things I missed, the little things other videos don't talk about. Less so with guitar... I get it from my teachers. But still.
After 38 years of playing, I find that your body is going to find its most comfortable positions depending on what you're playing. Holding your hands certain ways is going to give you certain sounds of the way you're playing and can help with certain techniques. Holding your pick one way or another can make you pick a certain way or not, maybe giving you the sound and helping with the technique you want at the time. To quote the best, it either sounds good or it doesn't. There truly is no right or wrong way if it sounds good and the way you wanted it to.
Videos of "how to hold your pick"? Unbelievable!!-Your statement is the only correct one. "There truly is no right or wrong way if it sounds good and the way you wanted it to"
I Thought the same thing.
However. What IF Your Both Correct?
Matt went out of his way to Create the
Video, Content. He Sounds Real to Me.
I would Say. Yes! There Is No Right Or
Wrong Way. To Do Anything in The Universe.
Yet. His Video for Me is Very Helpful
And Educational. Cut him some Slack.
Make a New Plan Stan. 🙂
He's doing a Great Service. Thank You Matt ! 🎸
@@danabiondo9243 Please don't think I am trashing this guy. I would not do that to anyone. I have learned things from newer guitars players but I also know a bit myself. If you want to think about what I said. If everyone held the pick the same way, everyone would sound the same. Guitar players throughout time have had some of the weirdest picking styles and all each way of holding the pick I have learned gives you different sounds, ways to tackle different techniques. Just like the way you change to sweep pick, its easier to close your hand, while palm muting the hand is open. But I am not here to trash anyone. We all spread out talents and learn from each other. I hope you understand this.
Several years ago, I noticed my picking progress had really plateaued, and I went out in search of info on all these specific postural and ergonomic details. To my surprise, pretty much nobody explained all of these things you did. Troy Grady was the only one talking about how the pick should meet the strings, but even he didn’t give much info on all the other details which make or break the picking hand placement and ergonomics. This stuff should be picking 101 for new players, yet it’s very hard to find. Great video!
Dude, thank you so much! That's my goal with these videos! Empower people by teaching them the fundamental mechanisms behind picking. Often what comes naturally in regards to instrumental technique is not best for the long term.
Yes Troy is vague because he wants you to buy his course
ALL are great tips, and I briefly heard this touched on "briefly"...but the KEY to picking is to "RELAX"...makes a huge difference. And Ive been playing guitar for 43 years so.
ua-cam.com/video/Z6i5qTtNNog/v-deo.html
I've got a great vid on pain. Check this one out 🙂
He said a lot about avoiding unnecessary muscle activation…
Exactly. Look at Uli Jon Roth "strumming" those single note runs in Sails of Charon.
Wrist of rubber.
@@MikeWiest sometimes you can say more with less.
@@joeking9760 True. Cheers
Held my pick like 0:21 for years. I switched to your recommendation about a week ago and I can already feel a huge difference. My picking hand is super relaxed now and stuff like alternate picking and sweep picking feels much more natural and effortless.
Love to hear this!
I'm a beginner guitarist so I've been scouring the internet on picking techniques and how to do it correctly and most of them left me with more questions than answers. This video, hands down, is the best video I found. It answered all of my questions for me! The hand on the table showing abduction/adduction was probably the best cue I found on proper wrist technique. Thank you so much!
This is my goal! You’re welcome. :-)
I have taught hundreds of guitar players, including very advanced working professionals. The picking technique that works for one, will NOT work for all. By far the most important consideration for a guitarist's pick grip, is that the player feels RELAXED, and in control of the SOUND. George Benson, Pat Metheny, Steve Morse, and Ed VanHalen, all hold the pick the "wrong" way. They brilliantly make my point. Dig ?
you are right this guy is way over thinking,,,relaxation is every thing,guitar is dificult enough,although ithink that relaxation and metronome is the most important.
Years ago my guitar teacher told me I hold my guitar pick like Eddie Van Halen. I assumed it was because I hold it with thumb and middle finger but I feel I have more control.
And yet, one can learn something from this video.
Been playing with the "hitchhikers grip" with guitar balanced on right leg for well over a decade but am finally finally looking to change my habits after always experiencing discomfort when playing for long practice sessions. Gonna take a very long time to get used to but I can already feel the difference in comfort, thank you so much!
Fantastic! Be sure to check the update video linked in the pinned comment :-)
Thankyou...! Your video has changed my everything. Amazing information. I try to tell people about your plans and how much it has improved my guitar playing. They all think they already have the best habits. To bad for them...Yay for me.
Thank you so much!
And cheers to great guitar playing! :D
I used to grip the pick with a 2 finger pinch grip and the tension over the years at a harsh angle has crept up on me. Between strap height, guitar angle, which leg the guitar is sitting on and my technique, it all adds up. I am on a mission to play safely and pain-free and look forward to implementing these changes.
Ive been playing guitar since I was 14 I'm 40 now I considered myself a fairly good guitar player but I am lacking on certain runs like the lead on megadeths hook in mouth man you changed every thing I thought I knew about guitar your explanation is dead on thank you already seeing better results.
25:41 Was a point that I never considered in the past (wrist placement). Like you said, this is a point not addressed by others. This gave me a lot to think about. Thank you!
I feel like this is what every "beginner" lesson misses out on
I've been struggling with back pain my whole life and having my back ache playing guitar made me almost hang it up for good.
With this I'm able to accurately see where I fucked up on my playing. You're a life saver.
You're so welcome. 🙏
25 years playing but this year i wanted to play faster things. tried economy picking etc. This video immediately changed a lot. Now i can use my thumb movement freely and changing strings seems easier. Thanks. I subscribed.
Amazing!!! 🙂
You're on the right track.
I'd highly recommend checking out this video next as it deals with string changing:
ua-cam.com/video/pqA8N4tbMqY/v-deo.html
Having a double jointed thumb, I always held my pick facing up. I wish I knew how bad that would affect my speed decades later. I now know why I plateaued so long ago. I thought I was simply not capable of speed. I changed my picking 3 years ago, and what a change! Good video!
Good on you for making the change! It's not easy, but it's worth it!
And when you learn to understand mechanics like this, it will motivate even more change. 🤙
I have an Ibanez with that same bridge, and I love it. It doesn't poke my hand however because
I tend to pick a bit further back, giving my palm a bit more space to rest on.
I occationally play Strats, so I learned this so as to not get caught on the middle pickup. I find this gets a tighter sound with more midrange as well.
Having played with open palm for 15 years, I recently started playing with a closed fist, and I found I could alternate pick way faster and more controlled.
It took some getting used to since I used to do the finger anchoring thing as well, but it was well worth it... for me at least.
Now, when it comes to picks, I used to play stubbys, but a friend of mine complained about my
pick attack and gave me a Jazz III. I loved how these sound, but I felt they were too small,
espesially when I'm strumming chords or sweep picking as I like to reveal more pick surface between my fingers when I do.
I actually started using Fender/Gibson Heavy picks for a while just to get the size until I found
Dunlop actually makes XL versions of the Jazz III, so now, and for the last 7 years I've been using
the Ultex Jazz III XL. I like the Prime Tone version a bit more for the grip texture, but they're way more expensive, and I find they sound pretty samey.
Nice "way of making a guitar video" dude ! I just found your channel and i like how you calmly explain and illustrate everything. Thanks for the infos, there's always something new to learn that hides somewhere.
I really appreciate your guitar-nerdiness! Your minute technical tips are fantastic and I can see that playing guitar is your utmost passion in life. Thank you for tips on a lot of little things about my style to work on and correct. This video was awesome. Thank you for considering the smallest details to expand on that everyone else overlooks! This was a great help and leaves me with plenty of things to consider and build into my own habits.
You're very welcome!!
Wow I didn’t realize how much depth there is into this! 20 years of self taught, I realize I have NOT self taught myself shit lol. Never realized how sloppy my pick hand is until looking into it. Never too old to learn more my beautiful humans!!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge hippy dude
Hey, thanks! I will say that John Petrucci and Andy James both fold their index finger in towards the base of their thumb, and they do overlap their thumb over the pick quite a bit. I do this, too, and I find I get the best results this way. Shorter thumb (shorter fingers) people may need to copy their grip. I just ordered both of their Dunlop 2mm flow picks. I can't wait to try them out, so thanks for the recommendation and the tips!
1. Thanks for watching everything (it sounds like)!
2. Prepare for a harsh transition with those picks haha. About 2 weeks and you'll be feeling back to normal! Be patient with it.
@@mattwright466I am definitely seeing progress by using my metronome, staying relaxed, and practicing every day. Thank you
I have been playing for over 20 years and still end up finding out how I do things wrong and hacked it in my younger years. Thanks for the quality content man!
Thanks to you for being open to continuing to change and improve! 💪
Glad you enjoyed
Excellent video and coincidentally I just got a pack of the black JP Jazz IIIs yesterday. I guess it was meant to be. This video really helped me tighten up my picking technique and now I see where it was holding me back. Thanks Matt. Subscribed. \m/
GREAT VIDEO! This is the ONLY video I’ve ever seen that demonstrated a pick-holding position that made sense and felt NATURAL.
The simple back and forth wrist motion is what I’ve always fallen into when I was REALLY in the pocket and relaxed. I think that says a lot about why it’s probably the best motion for most people.
Finally, the guitar POSITION really reduced fatigue.
It wasn’t exactly natural for me as I always wanted the guitar flatter against me. But hey, it’s just harder to play that way, or it’s harder to play for a long time that way.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Yay for breakthroughs!
I used to hate sharp picks, but have adapted because for thrash rhythm kinda stuff, they're unbeatable. They are the most accurate pick for striking two strings at once without hitting other strings. Also, they are super immediate.
Since speed is the goal here, for absolute speed on single strings, the FLOW is superior because it slides off the string a bit more easily...
I guess one has to decide which one is more important, given the context of what they are doing.
A good middle-ground I've found for me is the Gravity Classic Pointed picks. They have somewhat of a jazz tip but slightly pointier, and have a regular body shape, which allows me to modify my grip position and holding pressure on the fly for different picking situations.
If the pick is too small, like a Jazz III, I can pick fast on single strings, but for pretty much everything else, it hurts my hand. The flow also helps solve this problem.
The Petrucci Jazz III is too slippery, unless your hands are relatively dry. If you sweat or have moist skin, the can slip like crazy. If they made a Max Grip version, it could help in that situation. I can't even hold a Jazz III for more than 5 minutes without it being the carbon fiber max grip. I guess you fixed the problem by using a dremek though! 😅
For super thick picks, like the V-Picks Dimension picks, the benefit is being able not to make the grip larger perse, but to be able to hold the pick more loosely and tense up less.
If you’re having trouble with a pick slipping, check out the tip in my shorts that has a dremel in the thumbnail. You can SAND the grip area of a pick and that can help a lot :-)
Seriously bro, this is quite a gem. It's amazing how subtle yet powerful picking is. There's an anecdote Ted Nugent gave about how he tried using EVH's gear but still sounded the same. Whereas Eddie would always sound like Eddie.Guthrie Govan equates picking to Bruce Lee's infamous one-inch punch
There's a time and place for multiple different pick holding techniques. Hitchhiker vs the other opposite sounds very different. I tend to alternate the pick angle depending on what sort of stuff I play. An angled pick just won't cut it when you need maximum thump and hitchhiker for me is way more agile on specific situations, also makes pinch harmonics super easy. There's a benefit to all techniques.
This video has been incredibly helpful. Just simply switching to playing on my left leg has already made things easier. Such a simple helpful tweak. Thanks dude keep making these
You're welcome! Check out the Left Hand Masterclass video that just came out for even more clarity! :)
I developed a pronation/supination (rotation) picking technique (was somehow able to do 16's at 250 bpm), and was only really doing rhythm playing, and anchoring along the bridge itself, or strings when muting or playing palm muted notes. I played for a year and a half, and then stopped for two and a half. I didn't stop due to a RSI though, turns out I have hypermobility, and the type just so happens to causes a massive degree of pain (body-wide, so, both arms) around the time you turn 18 (when I stopped) which lasts for pretty much the rest of your life, but the pain has gradually gotten better mostly due to a medication. I've very recently tried playing again and tried playing as lightly, economically and ergonomically as possible. I plan on setting the guitar up with the equivalent of 8's tension, and getting and using .60mm picks, before I pick it up again soon.
I will try to transition to an abduc/adduc picking style and see what it's like; have you ever seen someone do arm rotation picking successfully for a large period of time? Do you have any tips for minimising pain, anything from fretting technique, to how to pick quite/very lightly but have it work, to guitar setup, or specific things like the Performaxe, or picks you'd recommend? Sorry for the convoluted and long comment. I'm trying to find as many small things no matter what they are to make playing less painful and more comfortable, so I appreciate any, any tips.
This comment is great. No worries about length. First off, hypermobility is sometimes a symptom of autoimmunity. Look up Kiran Krishna/Rebel Health Tribe/molecular mimicry. You can get a lab test called an ELISA ACT LRA which will tell you all foods your body is sensitive or allergic to based on both raw and cooked forms of protein. I’ve seen case studies of people go from wheel chairs to walking.
2nd, I’d recommend a “non flex” pick. Something around 1.0mm+. You’ll just a better response out of the guitar for metal type playing. If you’re doing blues/funk stuff, then stay with a flex pick.
Third, left hand. Get your string action as low as possible. Make it BUZZ, and then bring it back up but by bit until it doesn’t buzz.
Performance is a great tool and I’m looking to get one… They’re currently out of stock.
Good luck, man!
Amazing lesson!!!! This video really helped improve my mechnaics and make my goal of playing 16NPS in 4 weeks (240bpm with sixteenth notes) a lot more realistic
I’m glad! For pick speed, I’d recommend modeling Alex Campbell and Nick K on IG.
If you’re wiggling your whole arm up and down, you’re going to be sacrificing control big time. ;-)
Rooting for you,
Again, incredible and precises explanations, thank you!
For the pick, i'm actually trying the Ibanez Grip Wizard (sand grip one) because my pick always finish sideways because of sweat hands... For now, i'm pretty happy with it, let's see in the long term
Thanks man :-)
Nice! I've thought about gluing sandpaper to other picks. What thickness?
You'll also find that your fingers kind of "react" grip-wise to different pick materials. For some people, the Delrin of the JP Flow 2.0 is very slippery. Not for me. Also, My hands just don't sweat a ton.
@@mattwright466 0.8mm (medium for Ibanez picks) to start, i wanted to try the heavy ones but the medium are much easier too use for me since my attack is not great, for now of course.
I'm jealous of you, having sweaty hands is a nightmare for a guitarist 😂
@@Nephis Try working your way up. I'd recommend trying the JP Flow 1.5mm and do the sanding trick!
A non-flex pick will improve your attack. ;-)
@@mattwright466 Oh ok, i began with a Dunlop 0.6mm so i'm really used to those thin picks, and i was so scared to loose the feeling with the pick that i have forbidden myself all the picks above 1mm, but maybe the pick is not the problem here 😅
I'm gonna try that asap! Thank you for the advice 😉
@@Nephis It was BRUTAL when I sized up from 1.5mm to 2.0mm. Like I said in the video, it took me a SOLID 2 weeks to make that adjustment, but once I did... GREATNESS.
And, now that my default is 2.0, I actually find it easier to use thinner picks as needed.
Watch my A Change of Seasons Carpe Diem video for a direct comparison between the thick and thin picks on sound. That's in an acoustic context, but still.
You got this!!
The pont about the control of the picking existing in the last sections of the thumb and index finger was game changing for me. I was letting my thumb stick out of the pick and never really had any control of the sound and overall felt a bit lose. Now all the picked notes sound more active, with intent, and I have much more control of the pick strokes. I wish I'd known this 15 years ago when I was getting started :')
Love to hear it! 👏
Keep at it
Best explanation/directions on the interweb. I subscribed immediately.
I'm 69 and I likely won't be shredding - anything. However, I want to play faster and with more accuracy. And why not try shredding or new techniques? This video is the bomb. Just tons of good information for any picker.
Thank you, man!! 🙂
You're gonna love the video coming up on left hand coming up. 😉
To prepare, check out the Bending Tricks video. I bet you'll like that one too!
I would recommend the big stubby pic 3.0 as a training aid say for running through scales for 10 or 15 minutes, trying to manipulate the pick in different ways and get a feel for the strings..Then switch it to a lighter flow pick like 1.0 or lighter.Mix it up with the pucks even try .88…you will learn so much about the sound you can get with your hands and develop super power picking techniques…I am saying that with 35 years of running through the major and minor scales …..Good luck guys !
Gene Simmons once said "Scales are for Fish" . Lotta fish flayed in 35 years ....😅
Ah yes the Donut demon…
@ 14:50 min I am a beginner and I never knew the correlation between the grip strength and the sound. Very informative, thanks!
Thx for the video because it really helped and I struggle with using a pick because when I started learning I only used my finger to strum and it’s a bad habit
Playing the wrong way for years. Thanks a lot for these tips, playing feels immediately relaxed!
Thanks for being open to change :-)
The John petrucci jazz 3 are one of the best picks I've ever used, If you like those, you should try the Jeff Loomis ultex sharp.
I appreciate your time Matt, because you are teaching others certain techniques that you find to be the best or correct way to play for free, and feel are "correct" positions, angles, etc. I have been playing since 1979-80, and my approach to practice and playing have changed over the years. I will not get into my pick grip, sitting position or strap height. If you sling your guitar as low as Jimmy Page does, you are gonna have some problems, just cuz you think it looks cool. There are many ways we guitarists do things. As far as "rules" go, I find that they can go the way of the Do-Do bird. All I will say is that my picking hand is very different from yours, but 40+ years without a hint of pain or discomfort must mean I am doin okay. The less movement, the faster you can play. And I mean both hands. Keep your action low (Yngwie claims his action is high because he wants the string to oscillate fully) Yngwie is full of shit. I have seen his guitars up close, on stands, at L`Amour`s, in Brooklyn behind stage. Economy is important for sure. We do not need or want wasted movement because it saps energy and slows us down, and then you will feel pain for damn sure. Find your comfort zone, your pick grip and most important, learn how to bend with authority and total control. Have fun!!! Make others feel good by hearing you play. Isn`t that why we love music? Cheers to all of my fellow guitarists, always! Grab your guitar for the day, plug in, turn up and shred!!!
My biggest breakthrough in quick picking was learning how to pick in the Yngwie style, i.e. rotating the wrist when playing one string and using an additional movement of the thumb when playing scales.
I've changed the humbucker of my Eastman T486 with Gibson T490 R & T Humbucker. Now it's a fantastic guitar. I'm not a Jazz-Player, but Blues)
Cool. I've been playing for many years. You showed me several great ideas. For one, I'm left handed but play right handed. My picking has suffered a long time. I find I twist or spin my wrist and arm instead of the up and down. My neck angle is almost flat. I don't set my wrist on the bridge. My grip is is okay though. I have to practice your lessons. So many great tips! You have a new subscriber. Just from experience a tip to keep the pick from dropping is wet your thumb and fingertip from time to time. Another is I use a Tortex or Jim Dunlop and if you melt just the middle of the back side edge of the pick and mush it in a bit with the lighter and wait for it to cool you make a little ridge that keeps the pick in your grip. Anyway thanks for the time and effort and the lesson. Cheers mate.
First off, thanks for the sub. Second, thanks for watching (I assume) the whole vid. Get on the guitar now! :-)
I write with my left hand but play "normal"/right hand guitars as well. I haven't ever found this to be an issue.
1. The book Whole Brain Power by Lavery shows how even ELITE athletes can train in ambidexterity and even beat their competition because of it. Don't write yourself off as having some kind of disability.
2. If right hand if your struggle, this video is a good start, but you should have some daily picking exercise to "calibrate" your hands to the guitar. I've been doing these (link) for a long time and I'll be coming out with a video with some additional very helpful variations here on Monday. But for now, get started with these.
ua-cam.com/video/pqA8N4tbMqY/v-deo.html
Cheers!
@@mattwright466 That's too funny because that's the video I'm watching right now!
Awesome Video !!! the best explanation to date about proper guitar picking .... thanks for sharing !!!:)
Awesome. Thank you, Matt. The most complete explanations I have ever seen. Love the details and information. Very helpful.
You are intelligent and interesting enough to hold on to every word! Your voice is also understandable, and I love your selection of words! Oh, and you ROCK by the way! Keep in rocking on!
Congratulations on this video. It is the most concise deep dive into what for me personally, in 60 years of playing guitar, is my least developed skill. I have never been a 'shredder'. More a 'Cowboy chord' fingerpicker. Given that I have recently started playing in a trio with bass and drums, it is something I need to develop, along with single note lead concepts. Your teaching skill is phenomenal. Thank you for taking the time to produce this. Subscribed and looking forward to more.
I would be most interested in pick manipulation in the hand, when not using it. It confounds me and the only solution I can see is a line of picks in one of those clip on boom mic stand holders.
Thank you so much! Glad you got a lot out of it. 🙂
There's lots of ways to do it... I'm not much of a hybrid picker. I'd look at a player like Steve Vai for this one. I forget how he does it exactly...
Different players either hold it with their accessory RH fingers or hold it in the palm of their hand. I don't have a super detailed answer for this (yet).
You really know a lot about this stuff. Thanks for taking the time
thanks Matt. Excellent teaching style. Your explanations are easy to follow. I am not a shredder, but this information has helped a lot. Thank you!
I've been playing improvisational metal and jazz my whole life and ive learned comfort is a personal, subjective thing. People use the hunt for tone as an excuse for not connecting with art which reduces their practice, weighs down their pocket book and i pity thst. I have a friend with a half million dollar guitar collections and learns only covers. I play how i feel when writing and work on technique during warmup.
I wear my guitar up very high so i can reach every fret from another with little to no effort. It took me longer than most to get confident because of mental illness but ive let go of all the showing off and just play. Rhythm is most important, lead isnt a part of a song for me. I tend to not camp in any place and can hear a chord before i play it. I haven't played cowboy chords since I trained my ear and ive become better at sonic translation from brain to string.
Great lesson. I can see why people want to shred. I used to be one of them.
This helps… just started playing about 1 year ago and took 4/months off (had bad tendinitis and decided on 6/month break from guitar but I think 4/months is fine now) so I’ve only been playing realistically about 6/months… my biggest problem is I drop the pick a lot. I use the orange Dunlop pick. I do play tense a lot and I’m working on relaxing. I’ve only been “in the pocket”twice. I learned the sublime “Santeria” solo and played that for like a month straight. I’m pretty good at doing solo’s (about 90%) but I neglected chords all together and just learned to play power chords and muting the root note string. So I’m pretty happy about that, however I jam with a live drummer and bass player I met at work. I drop the pick way too much. I also have it rotating in my hands and my strumming is just terrible. I can barely play “Smells like Teen Spirit” for any length of time
Edit: I play a Fender Player Plus and a Epiphone Les Paul Custom
Different people have different levels of oiliness to their hands. Check out the Flow line of picks by Dunlop. If you’re doing a lot of strumming, I like the Flow 0.73mm. They’ve got a GREAT texture on them.
You can also sand the pick, or run a little climbing chalk or cornstarch on your hands to help dry them out.
You can also check out the DAVA picks which have a variable flexibility. :-)
You should also watch the wrist pain video here on this channel. Restrengthening is VITAL after time off!
As a "self" (from videos) taught "guitarist" I really appreciate talking about positioning i 3 dimensions.
Love this level of detail and explanation. Thanks man!
I’m against anchors on the top of the guitar.
I believe the hand should be curled as if was hanging on your side while you walk. This is the natural position of the the hand and wrist.
Then the hand floats above the string with the arm moving slightly along with the wrist movement.
You have the weight of the hand to get a better sound. Of course I play jazz on a arch top so this may make a difference.
I taught my son to use this method when he was a child and he plays metal and shreds.
Good video.
The gain used in metal sounds takes care of that for you. No more force than necessary. I also see many jazz players with a totally extended RH first finger. IMO, this position limits “extension” moves.. It also not eliminates, but makes more difficult squeezing the pick harder in order to get a harder sound. I demonstrate this somewhere in one of my vids with acoustic stuff… The other thing is, if the hand is floating, it’s going to limit possibilities for palm muting.
@@mattwright466 I don’t palm mute in Jazz. Joe Pass Is a good example of what I’m talking about or any Gypsy player.
@@tomhynes2908 Totally. My channel is all about metal playing.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much common sense advice packed into one video; thankyou so much!
Since I learned how to play in grade school, I've always held picks ("plectrums" in the U.K.) between the thumb and first TWO fingers. It's probably cost me some picking skills, but it gives me more a sense of security.
It’s a false sense of security. You don’t need to grip that much. It’s not necessary. And it also ties up this middle finger from being used for tapping. And it limits the picks you can use because they have to be big enough to allow for two fingers. When you let go to tap, you actually have a higher risk of dropping the pick. :-)
Absolutely Love your videos, very informative and educational, Thank You !
Just started electric guitar and your videos are so useful.
I have arthritis in my hands and have had trouble with the pick slipping out. I use a monster grip (stick-on) on the thumb side of the pick and lightly sand the index finger side. This has mad a huge difference in being able to hold on to the pick. I tried monster grips on both sides but it did not feel natural to me.
Nice! Glad you're finding something that works for you given your unique circumstances. 🙂
If you're open, this video may provide some additional insights:
ua-cam.com/video/Z6i5qTtNNog/v-deo.html
Good advice except it only works for people without arthritis or injury in their thumb. My finding is that the most comfortable way is the best way. I can't bend my thumb at the knuckle due to a motorcycle accident and this applies to people with arthritis also.
i got the hitch hiker thumb proly couse im 68 done my shair of hitchhiking back in the day lol cool video
im a finger person trying to learn pick and ive been struggling a lot but i jut realised i have hitchhikers thumb after wathcing your video so that was pretty cool XD
Keep it straight! It's hard, but you can do it with focused practice. It will lead to SIGNIFICANTLY better pick articulation.
I’ve got a double jointed thumb, I fixed the wrist angle problem, by going to a jazz 3 pick, and copying fast players wrist position and adjusting the strap, then I found a harder pick material…then with a hole, but I think the thumb issue is why my right hand is just too jumpy, and hard to control, that fact changed my actual musculature I believe, but I never was trained by a teacher. As for sitting, I’m 6’6” that likely affected my musculature too, the angles are all just wrong, and first position is still a difficult place to get a good wrist angle even with a stap & standing, which is essentially the only way I play.
Nicely done! Methodical approach suited to the broad spectrum of guitar players of every level. Sound fundamentals lead to proficiency - bad habits die hard. Thanks!
I played the Jazz 3s for years. The Flows literally changed my game for the better. Somehow they really helped dial in my mechanics. I use the Purple 1.14 for electric and the Blue .73 for acoustic. I have played for a long time and building speed to the level I want has always been elusive for me. I struggle with the consistency, sometimes I am like yay others Im like I suck..
I've got a way to train speed that blows all of the guru stuff on UA-cam out of the water.
You can see my progress here:
instagram.com/p/C5l90muS7zj/
I'm only teaching this method in lessons for now. If you're interested, you can learn more here. 🙂
go.mattwrightmusic.com/lessons
PS. It takes months to train it. There's no quick fixes.
Tosin Abasi has same curving thumb as I.
And he plays 8-string guitars. It is natural for him. I heard Paul Gilbert first play that way too.
Good video about basics👍.
Thanks!
Good video. I am an acoustic player so I dont know how much differece you would see on electric, but BlueChip picks make a huge difference in tone on flat tops and wear forever. Might want to check those out. They arent cheap, but are good. Trust me I've bought to many different variations
Great video. I have a background in flamenco and classical (but I primarily do jazz now) so I set my strap from the bottom strap button to behind the nut of the neck so I can maintain the old skool position while not having the tension of the strap pull on my back. I do this for my Camp Flamenco, my custom Signature Archtop by Yuhnzi, Fender Jazzmaster, and my fretless bass. I've been searching around for things about holding the pick because though I can sweep arpeggions upward (from high string to low) everytime I do a downward sweep, my thumb some how gets in the way. Anyway, I just subscribed from my non brand account - hope to see more videos from you
Welcome! Glad you found it helpful. :-)
Please also see the UPDATE to this video linked in the description. It's EXTREMELY important.
Lastly, I also have videos on sweeping.
From your comment on sweeping down is hard, I would bet you are rotating your wrist/hand too much.
Cheers!
Your neck appears to be in line with your left tshirt sleeve hem, which is just about right for me in my classical position... I'm a classical player foremost but I'm a great believer in at least exploring all genres and techniques. Thanks for your input Matt your focus on anatomical consideration is much appreciated... every now and then it's good to check with other players, styles and techniques to see what can be incorporated into my own style and technique and I agree those classical players that have an almost verticle postion look odd, like giants playing a double bass 😂
thank you so much for this video, i just started out 2 weeks ago and this is by far the most detailed video i've seen regarding this topic. you just got a sub :)
Thank you! :-)
Bro!! This is the video I have been looking for for ever! Phenomenal thank you, thank you, thank you… Subscribed
You're so welcome :-)
Hold your Guitar pick the way you find best, the right way is YOUR way and nobody else remember that.
Bravo Matt !! Great video on the details of guitar pick holding technique, types of guitar picks , guitar strap adjustments and more in the Q and A section of this video .... Sidebar-- at 17:07 minute mark I heard a cat meow... The cat asked "how do you hold a pick when you have no Opposable thumbs ?" :)
Hey there! Thanks!
As far as no movement/no thumbs, I can’t speak to that. I haven’t worked with any students who have that.
Email me / contact me on IG about your situation and we can take a look at my latest theory “motion design” and work something out. Basically, I’ll help you work out a unique set of picking movements for you.
@mattwmusic_ on IG.
Email is on the about section of my YT channel page
Because this is the Internet, I’m not sure if you’re being silly, or you, or someone with a disability who is asking a question and using the cat is a metaphor for communication. 😆
I tend to take communication literally ha ha
Thank you. Exactly what I needed to know.
Hey Matt, been trying to improve overall and just looking into areas that I may be able to accomplish some improvement no matter how minor it may be. I watched Brandon Deon's short on how to hold picks and wanted your thoughts on it. I tend to use the second method that he showcased and wanted your thoughts on it. ua-cam.com/users/shortsuqt-IAi4X3U
Nope. Do not do the second method. Multiple flaws.
1) It removes the final joint of the index finger from the equation destroying the ability for fine adjustments in sweeping and fast cross picking.
2) "Choking up" the hand position that closed NECESSITATES that the accessory fingers (middle, ring, pinky) now be pulled backwards ("flexion"). This causes a lot of tension on the top of the hand/wrist. It becomes especially apparent on high strings.
It's not necessary.
What Brandon misses in the first clip is stacking the rest of the fingers against the middle finger as I share in 15:37 in this video.
Thank you thank you thank you one of the best explanations of wrist and pick placement.
What a great and thorough lesson, very good stuff!
Tosin A. has a crazy ability to bend his thumb, as many know he can use it effectively to pop and slap, I find guitarist with bigger strong hands and fingers play with relative ease I started using 24.75 scale and thin wizard necks or SGs opposed to Strats it helps for those of us with smaller (normal, lol) hands and finger length
I do play some longer scale guitars but have to move my left hand to play certain runs lower on the neck
Regarding guitar height, yeah TSO, Slash all those cats sling low and it does look and feel cool but EVH made it cool to raise that sucker up high, in an old guitar player mag interview he talks about it and I have been playing with less effort and easier access to all frets ever since, still comfy at 62 years old
For me the "right way" took the edge of my playing. Once up in time I was happily unaware playing all day long until the internet enlightened me to be an jerk! -How do you hold your pick? ?😳😥
-String height? Ehhh..comfortable! -😂
-Neck relief? Feels good! -Oh my oh my...you never gonna play you know!
1. Check the pinned comment and the update. If you're talking about "edge" in relation to pick angle, then this update to the video will restore it.
2. A lot of people aren't conscientious about defining this stuff. What they don't define, their brain will find a way to execute. Sometimes, the brain finds a beneficial and sustainable way to execute motions. Many times, it creates a maladaptive motion based on the interplay of other mechanics (such as guitar height and pick grip)... This is why I have to be SO meticulous in these videos. You can't look at one aspect of technique in a box. 🙂
I found the jazz3 years ago but they are so small... thanktully they produce also jazz3 XL and this picks are perfect for me.
I had my guitar strap too long for years. Finally shortened it to 38" and now it is much easier to play. I am pretty short too. I keep my thumb fairly straight because I got a short thumb, and it is good for getting squeals too LOL. I now use a Jazz III XL pick. The flow picks wear down to quickly. I did play with a 3mm stubby for 2 years, but the indent caused me a problem. I use a leather strap, but I got the length perfect now.
Nice work!
Hey Matt, I really like your style. Your'e very precise and technical and I admire that. You got me brother, I sub'd.Looking forward to all your vids! Peace
Thanks a bunch! Anything you'd like to see me cover?
Interesting observation on the wrist bands, Hefield and Dave Mustaine have used them as long as I can remember. I assumed it was to keep sweat off their picks and I’m sure that’s part of it but they also play mostly tune o matic bridges and I can tell you going from a Strat to something with a TOM can be tricky just the distance the strings are from the body make me feel like I need a different technique. I like to attack the strings closer to the bridge for thrash rhythm playing.
I also have hitch hikers thumb and have to drop my palm anchor point down to play on the high strings with any accuracy my pick angle is too extreme by the time I reach the b and e strings from my normal anchor point. I’ve tried other thumb positions but always revert back to the hitch hiker
DO what works for the kind of music you want to play! These lessons are really focused on putting you in the best possible position for lead type playing. And if that's what you're leaning towards, it may put a bit of a cap on your speed. But not everyone needs to or desires to play at Petrucci hyperspeed and that's OKAY! I'd maybe checkout Nuno Bettencourt's hand if that's your style. :)
And yeah for many people, the use of wrist/sweatbands is a sweat thing.
I have since publishes a video on how to move up and down 7 strings. Could help you :-)
ua-cam.com/video/bJEKdRXEC5Y/v-deo.html
I've bought the Dunlop Variety Pack for shredders, and found the picks I like. My faves are Dunlop Flow 2.0, Jazz III XL for a snappier sound, and Ultex Jazz III, both XL and regular (they seem to accentuate the low and mid frequencies while toning down the highs, and they never slip on me). The only thing I dislike about the Flow pick is that it seems weightless, without any density to it. That somehow feels uncomfortable for me.
The pick being on the side of the index finger gives you leverage when picking down, but no leverage picking up. The best of both worlds is between the thumb and on the pad of the index finger. So the picking is consistent in sound and attack. You can't get a good up snap without that leverage. It's all subjective to the person, but both picking directions should sound consistent if possible.
I've had literally zero problems with upstrokes doing it this way.
You actually introduce problems when doing it your way because you move the wrist/hand into extension / away from neutral.
The further away from neutral you are, the more you limit your adduction/abduction.
Further, because of the increased extension on the index finger, there is more engagement required to keep the additional fingers out of the way. You'll feel it on the underside of the wrist.
Super jealous you got to learn from Stephen Toronto, his Helix Nebula work is amazing. This pick position makes much more sense than other videos i've seen. Bernth recommends holding the pick over the second segment of your index finger, his fingers must be freakishly long because when I tried that, I'd have to bend my wrist like I was going to punch myself in the gut to attack the strings. He also recommends keeping your other fingers closed citing that how he noticed super fast jazz guitar players tend to do that. What do you think of the closed hand approach?
Awesome stuff Matt!!🤘🏻🤘🏻🎸🎸
Shawn Lane, George Benson, Vernon Reid...
LOVE this video, You kinda remind me of Anton Oparin and his work with guitar playing Physiology too even though the method is different... Hope more people realize that they way for majority of us to become good is to relied on Science and not feeling when it comes to technique ahahah!
Thanks so much man! Have you studied in Anton's courses?
Anton's work is awesome. He has many more years of playing guitar than me and I aspire to his fluidity.
One last note on this vid, there's linked live video in the pinned comment where I promoted a straight thumb. You might check that out. :-)
When I started playing, I had a friend of mine basically pick everything out for me since I had no idea what I was doing. I ended up getting a 0.73 mm pick that, honestly, was just garbage. And every time I tried to play, about 10% of my notes never sounded. The pick was bending too much, and not actually plucking the string. That caused me to grip the pick tighter and tighter, in an effort to make the pick do its job. When I switched to a thicker pick (something over 1mm, don't remember because I use Jazz picks now), I noticed I didn't have that problem and I ended up loosening my "death grip" on the pick.
So that could be what they mean about thicker picks relieving tension.
Some of the fastest guitar players in the world are blue grass pickers' the fastest one I've ever seen was holding a pickled hogs knuckle in his mouth while picking' so what works for you doesn't work for everyone else.
You also have to take in consideration the physical structure of a persons hand/wrist.
You should try the pickled hogs knuckle approach yourself and do a video comparison vs your technique.
I've got plans to do a video showcasing my speed when it's ready. Too many players are too eager to play fast in 7 days or whatever.
What they don't understand is that speed is a neuroscience equation, not a just a physiological one.
If you strapped a TENS unit to the right muscles, you could pick the fastest speed possible as governed by your muscles. The limit is created by 1) how fast your brain can tell the correct muscles to fire (an efficient movement) and 2) how well coordinated that movement is.
I was blown away by Sierra Hull playing "Long Way" with Cory Wong live. Mind blown. Seriously. That song is FAST! So, if you link me a video clip, I'm happy to talk about the technique I see going on. :-)
I’ve been playing 40 years. I think whatever works go with it.
The brain is literally like and AI. You tell it “I want to play accurately” (one parameter)… Then it sure can accomplish that. That’s why there’s so many different, unoptimized techniques… Because people only gave the movement 1 or 2 parameters and the brain filled in the blanks.
In the flip side, some people naturally come across a very optimized movement.
An unoptimized movement can achieve the same OUTPUT, but not with the same EFFICIENCY.
My goal here is to help define the most efficient input parameters with which we construct our picking motion.
Do this and your playing will be unlimited! :-)
I havea b.c. rich warlock avenge series tuned in drop D. The pick i use the dunlop max grip jazz III.
Great lesson. Thanks for posting it.
Matt Wright is right
😆
I have been playing a long time and have always set the guitar on my right leg. Then, I noticed some players sit it on their left leg. I have played Strats and Super Strats until a couple of years ago when I bought first a Haze Jazzmaster copy then last year a Fender JM and when I tried playing it on my left leg, the guitar seemed like I was playing a bass due to the offset design. I am going to try my Strat on my left leg to see how it feels. Great video...subscribed! PS with the guitar on my right leg, I do feel cramped when I play up the neck (toward the bridge) and have to adjust when going up there. Maybe I need to learn to play the guitar sitting on my left leg. I have not been in a band in a long time, so rarely play standing up.
If I'm playing low, I'm on my right leg. If I'm playing higher or a lot of "classical" stuff, then I tend to have a higher angle and play on the left leg. 🙂
Don't limit yourself. Biggest thing is don't have the guitar to vertically LOW.
how should i anchor my wrist in a gibson les paul? or an acoustic guitar? great video btw
Thanks a bunch! I intend to get a Les Paul! The tone on those things is awesome. However, since I don't have one yet, I can't advise well... Try and adapt these concepts as best you can. My suspicion is that the result of the bridge setup being so high off of the body, the motion will be FORCED to come a little bit more from wrist pronation/supination and we'll just have to live with it, even though it's not "technically" ideal.
Technique for acoustic guitar is basically entirely different as it's much more strum based for many things versus single note picking as this video is primarily written to address. Are you trying to play strumm-y stuff or single note stuff on acoustic?
@@mattwright466Indeed the tone aspect is amazing. I've never heard such unique distortion on a guitar! Well i do my best to get comfortable and have the best possible technique for my wrist. What about palm muting the lower strings while playing the high strings? I try to "slide" my hand downwards to play the higher string but then my muting sucks and to get it right i newd my hand to get closer to the neck, is that good technique? Just wanna make sure. About the acoustic, i only have 2 guitars: the Les Paul and an old acoustic guitar which i put on 12 string gauge on lol. I sometimes play the "single note lines" on acoustic just to get more finger strenght, which i suppose works for me. And just wanted to make sure, cause the "moving right hand closer to the neck" is common for me in playing both guitars. Thanks for feedback!
@@krakerz I can't troubleshoot technique through comments but I think I've accomplished my goal as a teacher - Not to teach you by rote, rather to transfer the PRINCIPLES and make you think consciously about how you CHOOSE to form your technique.
And you're doing just that. 👏
@@mattwright466 ohh that makes sense. Thanks man. You gained a new subscribe!
Hi Matt, Hal here. Great video.
Holy crap, I tried straigting my “hitchhiker thumb”shot up in picking speed. It’s annoying to focus on, hopefully I’ll forget and do it naturally. I have full hyper mobility in all fingers, it’s tough to have every finger tip bend backwards, but I’ve been so used to it it’s not an issue. Didn’t realize the dumb thumb (mine kicks extreme to nearly 90 degrees back) was the reason I’ve played for ever and just thought “I am just slow” when dealing with my speed picking
There's another guy here in the comments section who also said he had hypermobility... I linked him some various braces made for people with hypermobile fingers. You could see my comments there or just google "finger braces".
They appear to be quite minimal in terms of their bulk! Good luck 🙂
Ive played for 20 years and use two fingers on the back. I don’t feel any limitations with my picking hand holding it this way. Sweeping I sometimes hold it with just my index. With two fingers using .73 picks you can bend them slightly to get a firmer edge for triplets and heavy bits but for shredding i find it way smoother than thicker picks. Maybe it’s because I have super straight thumbs? Lol
I cant use the flow or the jazz 3 or any wide nose pick. I need that classic Dunlop shape, not really pointed but a more rounded point. I use the Nylons, as they can add a nice tonal quality to a thinner single coil, and they dont smash the strings, doing that heavy atonal thing, during humbucker driven heavy distortion. Picks are a huge secret actually, using different ones produces different tone and even can be the difference between subtle, and aggressive on their own.