Can’t make wrist motion work at speed — defaulting to elbow tremolo? (Zenith Passage riff)

Technique Critique
#1

Hi everyone,
I’m stuck on my playing in general. I’ve been working on this riff for ~3 weeks (probably 10+ hours total on this riff alone) and I still can’t play it reliably.

Video: (first take, no warmup)

  1. Problem riff – front view (first take, no warmup):

  2. Problem riff – arm/side view (to show motion/anchor):

  3. Single-string tremolo attempt (no elbow) — this is the wrist motion I’ve been trying to develop for the last months (inspired by Rafael Trujillo’s style), but it feels completely unsuccessful and fatiguing as hell:

  • I can play it clean sometimes, but only after a warmup and with extreme focus / tension.
  • The main issue are all the fast trems and galopps

This is the frustrating part: I’ve been practicing very consistently 6–10 hours per day, and I don’t feel like I’m getting better at technique at all. It feels like I’m just reinforcing the same limitation (and building tension), not improving.

My current picking motion (my best guess)

  • At fast speeds (especially tremolo): I tend to use elbow-driven motion to reach the speed.
    • This gets fatiguing quickly and becomes inaccurate, burns at the side oft he forearm that faces the hand
  • At slower speeds: I use wrist.
  • Over the last months I tried switching to wrist-only, because I feel like a lot of stuff I want to play (outside picking / riffs like this) requires a wrist motion that stays efficient at higher tempos.

Context

I’m taking lessons with Rafael Trujillo and he’s a big inspiration for me, but I still don’t understand how to actually “arrive at” a fast wrist motion if your default is something else.
The motion in this video is basically what I’ve always done, and I feel it’s very limited.

Questions

  1. What does my current motion look like to you?
  2. Do you think switching to a wrist-based motion makes sense for me — or should I develop my current motion instead?
  3. What would be the best test / excercises to find an efficient wrist motion?
  4. Should I post an additional single-string tremolo test clip (max speed bursts) so you can see what happens at higher speed?

Thanks a lot for any feedback.

#2

Have you reviewed the wrist picking motion tutorials in Pickslanting Primer? After reviewing be sure to check last chapters in wrist section on endurance and relaxation. Finally, as a MiM member, you have access to technique critique-submit video if you are still struggling.

Honestly, I’d take a break from riff. The amount of practice you are doing is likely going to lead to injury if you aren’t being careful.

For your questions:
1-ok, I watched. Riff sounds good. Is it at tempo? Seems like you’ve got some good speed. Perhaps the endurance and relaxation chapter of wrist tutorial will help ensure you engage only the muscles needed. Maybe take a week off
2-CtC preaches “taking easy wins.” Use your elbow motion and develop chunking and handsync on one string then to multiple strings. Once you know what a fast motion feels like you can work on other motions-see Synchronicity’s core concepts
3-Primer has tap tests and how to apply to guitar to assist you in finding a fast, easy, and loud motion
4-yes-if here-youtube video, if a technique critique-follow instructions for uploading directly to your page

So I would go to tap tests to identify your fast motion(s), apply to guitar, go to Synchronicity for hand sync.

If you’re set on wrist motion-review tutorial. There is a lot there so you will need to review a few times as you begin practicing. If you are unsure or stuck, make a critique and CtC team will assist

#3

yeah thanks dude! That’s how it look at 150, 170, 190, 210

#4

Your motion looks mainly deviation based to me which is less efficient, you want to use RDT which is more flexion based :slight_smile:

This might be useful, click on the supinated deviation and supinated RDT presets and see the difference:

https://pickbotpick.netlify.app/

#5

hahah that’s a cool thing, thanks!

yeah I see myself totally in the supinated deviation.

but does the rdt version mean I have to switch to dsx to make it work?

#6

Nope, you just supinate the forearm a little more and add a bit of flexion to the wrist position :slightly_smiling_face:

Joscho Stephan would be a good example of this though he doesn’t anchor his wrist on the bridge in his gyspy approach which you can add for muting:

1 Like