Using Picks

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Permalink Reply by Nicholas Tee on February 8, 2010 at 5:07am

Practice each downward movement slowly and smoothly ensuring that the movement is coming from the wrist as much as the arm. Ensure that you touch each of the strings that you are intenting to touch. Practice very slowly in the beginning - if possible using a metronome to ensure to keep a smooth constant rythm. You are better off making sure that one downward stroke brings out a sound that you are happy with. When you have got this down, then slowly increase your speed. Take your time and don't rush it. Above all make sure that in each strum you are only hitting those strings you intend to because later on you may encounter a soung where you only want to hit 2 strings and not all 6. Playing slowly bring out the best sound you can is often much more enjoyable than thrashing.

Finally make sure you are not starting with a very heavy and stiff pick. It can be very unforgiving.

Good Luck.

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Permalink Reply by Nicholas Tee on February 8, 2010 at 2:10pm

By the way Stuart, I thought I would add a couple of comments to encorage you a bit.

It is more than 30 years since I bought my first guitar. Two to three years ago I made a personal decision that I could not look at myself as a serious player unless I went back and got soaked in an area that I had always avoided - fretboard theory. So I found myself a player/teacher that could help take me down that path. I quickly discovered so many of the bad habits I had picked up that were holding me back. So he made me sit down, go right back to basics and then correct those bad habits. It was a really frustrating battle and it took longer than it should have because those things had become so engrained in my playing.

One of those areas was my strumming and my timing. I had never really sat down and learnt the correct use of timing and playing. It was well worth it. I encourage you to look at doing something similar.

Oh and before you resort to the Pete Townsend approach, remember there are people like me out here that would gladly give your guitar a new home before seeing you wrapping it round a tree.

Hope this helps.

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Permalink Reply by stuart paton on February 9, 2010 at 3:31am

Thanks Nicholas.

Basically you're saying slow it down and concentrate on precision, ideally with tutorial help, then build back up from there.

I've had a look at a few video lessons and was reminded of a couple of things. Firstly, to strum more from the elbow than the wrist - which may be the reason for my tendency to slightly 'snatch' at the strings in a almost U-scoop (from the wrist) which can give an unclean sound and also be quite inconsistent. Also, it pointed out that the angle the pick meets the strings (say straight on, to around 45 degrees) is just a question of preference as it gives slightly different sounds. I would assume that logically you would have to hold the pick more firmly if you strum at an angle as the string will tend to twist the pick as you strike it.

But... I'd been getting my most satisfactory results when holding the pick lightly and quite high up (i.e showing a lot) and trying to glide across the strings (rather than get too deep a contact) but when playing faster songs the pick slips about a lot....

Maybe i just have mild brain damage ?

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Permalink Reply by Nicholas Tee on February 9, 2010 at 4:11pm

This is a bit like riding a bike. You will suddenly reach a place when you know you have got it, and then there is no looking back.

Yes, slow it right down, even to the point of just playing downstrokes till you have reached the arm/wrist combination that best suits you and gives you the right sound. And you have got to have movement in the wrist so that the pick can stright the strings at an angle that is comfortable for you and works. Personally I found that initially that a much lighter pick best because of the increased flexibility. As things progressed I went to harder picks to get different sound, volume and control.

The only thing about holding the pick too lightly is that you could find it flying off at time. so you want to make sure that you have sufficient grip to prevent that.

A lot of this is about you finding the comfort point and the sweet spot that suits you. So persist, and stick with it. At least 30 - 60 mins a day if you want to see change.

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Permalink Reply by stuart paton on February 12, 2010 at 2:17am

Hello Nicholas,

I did write a lengthy reply to this but it hasn't been posted....?

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