Hi everyone! new to the site and forum posting. Played a bit a long time ago. Picked up the instrument recently to start over. Haven’t really played in over 40 plus years! So, I’m basically a beginner. Trying to establish reverse dart DSX wrist motion as my primary motion (then add other technique motions for additional versatility if possible) My initial tabletop test results for the Dimeola type wrist motion found in the “testing your motions” section of the Primer seemed to be reasonable at about 210 BPM.
However, the best I could do a single string tremolo was sixteenth notes at about 132 BPM. After watching the Primer chapter again and doing the tabletop test again I discovered that after about 150 BPM other motions started to creep in. Above 150 BPM I start to get a supinated pecking motion and/or a forearm/elbow “push” assist that apparently allowed me to reach the faster tempo. My maximum tabletop test result when keeping the wrist motion more purely deviation is more like 150 BPM.
Has anyone else started with such low tabletop test and single string tremolo results AND THEN been able to eventually achieve the faster sixteenth note speeds desired and necessary to play the Dimeola/ Mclaughlin style licks? Are these results telling me that I’m wasting my time trying to make this my primary motion?
You’re a member, hence you can do a Technique Critique.
Thanks for your reply. Yes, I intend to do a technique critique soon. I’m trying to practice a few examples of standard 2 note per string pentatonic fingerings (which I never really used) so I can maximize the 1 min. limit. As I do this I was wondering if anyone else who eventually had success had the same experience. Seems like there are a lot of very accomplished players on the site that might have insight.
Hey! Avid DSX person here! It took me a while to understand the naming system that Troy’s put together, but now that I do it’s been pretty smooth sailing as far as progress in what I am working on for technique.
I have a few forms I can use lately, but I guess that the main thing is understanding the vocabulary of what is most easily doable with the form you land on. I missed this point entirely for a long time, and was like “wtf, why can’t I just pick anything I want?” hahaha My .002 is as follows, keep in mind though that I am nobody, so any advice might best be taken with a grain of salt!
I’d say the main takeaways from the site here are these; 1) if it works use it. So if you have a form that’s fast and fiery right out of the gate, maybe go with that one even if it’s a blend. I think Troy and co. will likely reccomend that. 2) If it doesn’t work, don’t do it. This was/is a big one for me, as I am stubborn as a mule and want to make sure I wasn’t just being lazy, so I will practice something that doesn’t work to death for 5 years! So yeah, don’t be me!
I had a lot of success with isolating the pick hand, and just practicing my motion the same way a drummer might do rudiments. 2’s 4’s and 6’s, ie pick 2 notes on a string, move to the next string; Something like this, just muted oven strings to get you started. Tracking will likely be the toughest part of this so switching between 2nps, 4nps and 6nps I find is beneficial. Most important, I think that one has to play a lot also, get exposed to and create lots of different ideas. Play fast and sloppy, then try and refine it all that stuff. Troy and the guys would likely recommend the same.
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Hey! @Scottulus thanks for your suggestions. I tend to be somewhat stubborn too. I can’t stop thinking that I should be able to practice a scale/pattern etc. into shape without having to rework a fingering or picking sequence to make it playable. Partly because it seems very limiting to have to retain a specific fingering and position not to mention a specific picking sequence to play each phrase/lick/pattern.
I hope I’m not stubbornly trying to make RDT DSX a primary motion if it’s not a natural motion for me. Strangely, the tabletop motion test results are much better for all the other motions than the Dimeola DSX result, but brief experimentation with EVH tremolo and other motions on the guitar seem unusable. String switching from the DSX tremolo at even my slow 140BPM will be a challenge! I’ll try to build up to it using your suggestion. I will do a tech critique in a few days to make sure I’m actually doing the basic RDT DSX!
I suffered from this as well, but you know - “even number of notes per string” is the way for single escape strategy. hahaha It took a bit of self- suffering, convincing, coaxing and coercion to make myself finally lean into note re-arrangement as a part of my playing style. It seems limiting, but it’s not. It’s amazing what can be achieved actually. Just remember that the notes you play don’t care where they are being played, not really. And if it drastically reduces the effort required to learn/play a thing? I say do it. I rip apart pretty much everything and set it up in guitar pro 8 to suit my DSX playing style.
If you haven’t already done so, please dig into the “Metronomic Rock” section on the site here by Tommo - it’s extra excellent and designed for DSX players. I was an elbow player before I learned a wrist thing, and indeed elbow comes most naturally to me as a player to this day so having a system/strategy available that feels like it was custom built for me? Awesome. I have a couple of motions/setups that can utilize the same vocabulary now. Killer.
It takes a bit of time, but be patient with yourself - you will get it. I have noticed that a slight “pickslant” allows for a kind of dovetailing with string escapes, so definitely explore that as well as different pickgrips. I know I have been through a few in my journey. Good luck, man - you got this!