Weekly Advice :)

[Jak Angelescu]

Hey guys and dolls! It’s been a minute since I did this so I thought I should do it again. If you saw my latest riff on the riff’s section, it talks about how I decided to really delve into different picking techniques. And it led me to a big time realization!
I firmly believe that speed is 30% fretting hand, 70% rhythm (picking hand). I have this one spot on an original solo that has been a pain in the ass for a while now. Then I realized I was alternate picking everything. And although I could still do that, I remembered Syn using economy picking for HTTK and how big of a jump that helped me. I also recalled REALLY studying Papa’s right hand during some of the lessons and realized I was moving my whole arm WAY too much, thus tiring my picking hand too soon.
So with this, I started to realize that a part of my pattern was significantly easier by combining alternate picking with economy AND inside picking. I do believe there are certain passes, phrases and patterns in guitar that are substantially easier (and sound better) when approached with a different picking style.
So all in all, if you’re struggling with speed, really make sure you hone in on your PICKING hand and that you’re approaching things in a proper way. I feel a lot of players resort to legato work for speed because it’s easier than having to really worry about the proper technique of the right hand.
Hope everyone had a great Christmas, Jul and Happy New Year!

 

[Maisie Watson]

Hi Jak!!
This is a great forum post, bravo!
I’m learning Nightmare at the moment and there’s one particular part that I just cannot get the hang of. It’s the fill in the verses (you know, the ones between the bends that are quite fast and match the blast beat of the drums). When I play this to speed with just my picking hand I can do it, but when I put my fretting hand and picking hand together, I find that my fretting hand is trying to keep up or chase my picking hand. I don’t know what to do!! Any thoughts??
Maisie

 

[Jak Angelescu]

Maisie!! This is something i’m addressing in my upcoming Nightmare tutorial that will be up next week for the students only! It’s a tricky synchronization thing that helps by letting Mike’s snare be your guide.

 

[Maisie Watson]

Oh thank god for that!! I’m glad to see you’re addressing it, it must mean I’m not the only one struggling on it!!
Looking forward to watching it Jak!!

 

[Forgetabull]

Possibly a dumb suggestion.. I found my picking speed improved when I went acoustic for a while as well as (or alternatively) used a dunlop nylon pick. The acoustic made me have to move my hand more cleanly (and clean up my fretting hand), the nylon pick actively slowed my picking down due to the friction(?) of it. So when I went back to electric I found myself a lot quicker either way.. ..granted I’ve only been playing 3yrs so I don’t know how good players do it !