Do you see reverse dart thrower or forearm–wrist motion?

Technique Critique
#1

Hello everyone !

I’d like to get your opinion about my picking technique. Please check the clip 1.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/irsIc3UT9l4

I know and I think I understood correctly that my “lead” picking technique uses a dart thrower motion. Is it what you see too ?
I’m very comfortable with it. However, when it comes to palm-muting, I can’t reproduce the dart thrower motion correctly and comfortably. So, I naturally play as shown in clip 1 above.

I’m confused because I’m not sure whether this looks like a reverse dart thrower motion or more of a forearm–wrist motion ? What gets me confused is that when I pick faster, my forearm wiggles a bit (see clip 2 below).

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kbZMXF1A8io

I’m having trouble to identify as I’m still very new to this concept.
Could you please tell me what you think about my picking technique when I’m palm-muting/rhythm playing ?

Also, as long as I play it correctly, is it efficient to have two differents “primary motions”, one for lead and another for rhythm playing ?

Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it !

#2

When “forearm motion” is referred to here, it means rotation, forearm-wrist being a blend of rotation and RDT, or whatever. Your motion doesn’t have rotation - the forearm movement you see is more a consequence of wrist flexion-extension, and possibly some rotator cuff.

It’s pretty close to deviation. Whether it’s DT or RDT is not really relevant, imo, though it’s probably RDT. Do you know if the motion has an escape at all, or is it trapped?

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#3

Interesting ! So even my “lead” picking is probably mainly RDT ?

When I play fast lead, I use DSX (and leading edge picking style). But again, when I palm-mute and play rhythm, I use USX as I can’t palm-mute properly the lowest string if I use DSX. In any case, I planned to practice DSX and USX and use one or another depending of the situation. What do you think ? Now that I know that I’m not forearm-wrist at all and I’m mainly wrist, I should focus less on my primary motion and just practice the escapes ?

Sorry if I’m a bit overthinking it but I’m fairly new and trying to find my way hahah ! Anyway, thanks for your answers, it helps me a lot !

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#4

That looks like textbook RDT to me.

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#5

These two statements taken together tell you it’s RDT. Getting DSX with DT would require a very pronated setup and probably a different pick grip.

Are you certain this is USX? You only use it to play repeated downstrokes in the videos - can you also use it for fast alternate picking that clearly has upstrokes escaping?

It’s totally cool to use different motions that are situation dependent, so sure!

This is the place to go deep down the rabbit hole of picking technique, so no worries! haha And, my pleasure!

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#6

Yeah you’re right, maybe downpicking isn’t the best example.

But when I use the karate-chop side of the palm for palm muting, and then fast alternate pick any of the 6 open strings, I feel forced to use upstrokes escaping (USX). If I try to DSX while palm muting, I weirdly can’t maintain a proper palm muting.

I think it also explains why I have a weaker palm-muted alternate picking technique. Having played mostly DSX, my USX isn’t trained well enough so it impacts my palm-muted alternate picking efficiency.

It will probably improve as I consciously focus on the USX motion, I guess.
Does that make sense ?

Before CTC, I wasn’t aware of that so this is huge ! :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

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