DWPS: Is this correct...?

Playing Technique
#1

A follow on from another post i created…

Ive been trying out all the suggestions and think i might be onto something.

Ive included a video clip and couple of pictures showing position. Its not perfect as i was attempting to play with one hand and hold the camera with the other lol. But any feedback is appreciated. Am thinking if its correct technique, ill lock it in with a bunch more practice… including ironing out the kinks youll see in the vid.

So question is: does this look correct?

Thanks again.

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#2

Not sure what you mean by “correct”. Technically, any picking movement where the upstrokes escape and the downstrokes don’t, fits the definition of downward pickslanting, so you’re certainly good on that front. What really matters is if you can use the form to play what you want.

#3

Im attempting to mimic your technique. The reason being that the wrist movements ive tried in the past have been limiting in that i cant move them that fast. Plus the whole pick escape issue. Id love to develop a technique where by i could execute some if those awesome Yngwie lines. So ive being trying out the movements as you describe them. I have noticed it ‘feels’ different to how i imagined - from the point of view of looking down on the guitar, it also looks different. When i recorded that video… and reviewed it… kind of looks like it might be going in the direction i need (with a lot more work). So thought id check with the forum :slight_smile:

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#4

Well I would say this looks fine! It’s more about if it feels relaxed to you, and if you can use it to play lines. I don’t know where you are at in general, but if you can use this movement to move across the strings with upstroke-switching licks then you’re in good shape.

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#5

Thanks Troy. Currently im just trying to get used to the movement - still feels a little awkward. But i can move more feely doing it this way. Assuming once i can do it without thinking too hard ill be able to relax and use it in my actual playing. Im coming from years of wrist side-to-side movement where i thought this is what the pros were using at speed. But could never actually move it quickly and accurately myself. So im in the process of trying to reprogram my technique. Or i should say learn a new technique that i can use for those faster lines.

#6

Not to confuse you, but wrist side-to-side movement, what we call “wrist deviation”, is absolutely fine. It is probably the most common picking movement around, and everyone from Di Meola to McLaughlin to Eric Johnson to younger players like Andy Wood has used it. I use it.

When you take finger movement out of the equation, you’re left with the “big three” picking movements: elbow, wrist (including deviation), and forearm rotation. You can do pickslanting techniques with any of these.

What is important is not which movement you choose, but that you choose one which is fluid and natural. Definitely do not go reinventing your picking movement just because you used it for a long time and you figure change is good or necessary.

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#7

What im trying to solve is the speed aspect. Ive spent heaps of time practicing wrist deviation with the metronome etc. but could never get it to move that fast. Getting this method to work seems to be a motion i can move fast, which is why i thought id change (or develop it for the yngwie lines). Is this correct thinking on my part? Under what circumstances would you use those movements you mention? Or do you pick one to use most if the time?
(Thanks again)

Just to clarify: deviation - thats like the hand shake motion right? (Cause thats the one i could get fast) Current technique im working on is more like knocking motion with a twist of the wrist. Apologies for my terminology. Ill have to learn the correct terms.

I think… and please bare with me on this as im still trying to become aware of what it is i do… but naturally i believe i lean more toward UWPS, which i never fully developed as all the info i had at the time said to keep the pick perpendicular. In the past have relied on elbow technique for speed. But ive never like the lack of articulation ive got out if it. Plus ive always wanted to learn those yngwie lines … or more to the point the speed plus articulation aspect. Hope this makes sense.

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#8

Yes the analogies are a crutch that can become limiting. Take a quick re-watch of Guitar Anatomy when you get a moment:

https://troygrady.com/channels/tutorials/guitar-anatomy/

I’ve had to learn all these movements for teaching / studying purposes, and the better I get at them, the less preference I have between them. They are all capable. In general, if you’re just starting out, or don’t know which one to choose, choose the one which works the best for your needs right now. Simple as that. Can you make them all work eventually? I like to think so. Will it take time, and will there be any great benefit to doing so? Not if you’ve already got at least one that works for you.

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#9

Much appreciated! That helps me a lot. So glad i signed up - the help ive received from everyone in just the last couple of days has been phenominal. Thanks so much.

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