2WPS for playing everything - help?

Playing Technique
#1

Howdy all, so I’m losing my mind over here trying to change my guitar technique. Been playing for 10+ years but I didn’t take a lot of notice in my right hand technique and it turns out it’s pretty garbage. Which makes sense as I’ve had trouble this entire time. I can play stuff like Amon Amarth, Death, etc. but not very cleanly. A big issue is the correct # of notes when tremolo picking, or switching strings, etc.

Okay, so my solution I want to work on is I want to develop a 2WPS technique to use for basically everything. I assume most of the time I’ll be using USX (as I slant my pick down, that’s what came natural to me).

My issue is if I’m going to purposely relearn my technique to become 2WPS I want to have a correct angled wrist/forearm to specifically practice. Unfortunately just trying things out on my own has not worked out; I’m the kind of player that needs direction and structure.

What I’m struggling with is does it seem fine to practice my USX and DSX both with my palm thenar (under thumb) touching the lower strings?

My ‘natural’ technique from what I’ve come to find out is an extended grip with a supinated forearm and my thenar never touching the strings. And my ‘angle’ motion was a very weird mixture of string hopping/cross picking/pickslanting - I was watching myself play with my head down looking and it was very unsightly. I figure if I’m going to focus on pickslanting, then I might as well practice for both USX and DSX, which is where 2WPS comes to mind.

So I’m assuming the 2WPS style I want is where my thenar is touching the strings on both USX and DSX - correct? It makes the motion to change escape paths less jolting as well. I can’t really imagine playing with my ‘natural’ extended grip supinated forearm for USX and then constantly turning my entire forearm back and forth to perform DSX to be the most efficient…

Am I fine in my line of thinking? That I can simply practice my thenar being that low, less supinated foearm (more pronated constantly), to practice and develop 2WPS?

Thank you!

#2

Honestly, we’d need a video before we could make any suggestions - it’s the only way we’d be able to know what motion you use, for example.

#3

For what it is worth, I am very much considering doing the same - discarding my existing technique and starting from the ground up, deliberately aiming for a specific new technique.

I know Troy and company generally recommend working on improving your existing technique instead.

This is great advice, however I’m at the point where I genuinely would rather not play at all, than stick with whatever I’m currently doing.

My suggestion would be (if you can afford it) to go for the full subscription and post a Technique Critique, so Troy/the staff can take a direct look at your exact situation and offer tailored advice. I know there’s scholarship options as well, if you can’t afford it at the moment - Announcing the Cracking the Code Scholarship Program – Cracking the Code

You can post a video and get community feedback on the forum, as well, but that will probably always be a bit more scattered.