First attempt at DWPS using Volcano 4's type licks

Technique Critique
#1

Here’s my first attempt at DWPS BPM 100 sixteenth notes using Cm pent licks like the Volcano 4’s. Shooting for 160 soon!

Forward cam:

Hand Cam:

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#2

Cool, thanks for sharing! Just edited so the videos display embedded right here on the forum, FYI they just need to be on a separate line with space before and after to display correctly. Let us know if you have any specific things you’re looking for feedback on!

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#3

Sounds good, thanks!

#4

I would recommend slowing down with the metronome. Some parts sound a little choppy to me. It also sounds like you’re at about 80 bpm, I float between 40 and 64 all the time. When I am practicing picking and licks, I will go from playing quarter notes to 16th notes to 8th notes, etc… you have to learn to let the notes ring out each time. Even in palm muting, you have to learn to play clean.

I agree with MAB (and my teacher) in that to learn to play fast, you have to know how to play slow. Practicing slowly will help a lot with accuracy and you will be able to hear the difference without recording anything. Your technique should generally be the same regardless of what speed you are.

#5

Great camera angles. In terms of picking, I think you’re really blending 2wps with cross picking (or varying degrees of pick slant and neutrality to be more precise). The pick starts with a slant but the flight path you’re carving out isn’t dwps. If you try hitting your downstroke as an angled straight line, then your upstroke the exact opposite along exactly the same line of motion, you’ll have it.

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#6

I’m just getting started with DWPS. Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Monty

#7

Thanks Jakku!

I didn’t notice I was switching! I am new to DWPS. I am naturally a UWPS player. I am going through the course from the beginning and want to learn and be able to do different right hand techniques. I want to get rid of the cross picking. I’ll work on the pick position.

Thanks,

Monty

#8

Hi Monty! I think practicing rest strokes will really help your DWPS. I agree with Jakku that this looks sort of crosspicky to me which is not bad, but it is not DWPS. Using rest stroke will make sure that you are executing the motion and position correctly.

#9

I’m going to keep working on it!

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#10

Cool post Monty, My amateur observation is that you are doing DWPS. Your picking mechanic is mostly finger motion. That might be why Jakku says it looks like cross picking. I used to pick with fingers but I’ve been trying to transition to wrist deviation. Someone kept busting my chops for using the fingers :ok_hand:

#11

Hi! I am too an upward pickslanter trying to learn DWPS, so I understand you )) I’m still no good at it so I don’t know if my advice would be useful…
Anyway, I suggest you to use distortion while playing. It would be better to learn how to play clean than to relearn it after. Seems like you don’t use palm to mute strings you’re not playing at the moment (just like mr. Batio). Such approach requires a lot of accuracy. Playing on clean sound doesn’t let you to hear all that unwanted noices.

#12

Hi @MontyCraig,

Great footage! I noticed that you are firmly anchoring with the pinkie. While the anchoring was helpful for me when doing UPWS, it was limiting my movements a bit when doing DWPS. When I started using the floating fingers, DWPS and string tracking became easier for me.

It doesn’t hurt to experiment with it I guess. But if anchoring is a major part of your playing, then please don’t take my comment too seriously. Switching to floating fingers helped me but it might not help you.

Cheers! \m/

#13

Ok Interesting, I thought planting was important for DWPS. I feel like I can dig in when I plant a little. But I am having range of motion issues in keeping the DWPS on the lower strings.

Thanks!

Monty

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