Fretting hand and the descending fours lick

Playing Technique
#1

I’m trying to play the descending fours lick across two strings and running into issues with my fretting hand. I’m following Troy’s approach here chapter-22-descending-fours , using DWPS and starting on an upstroke. I can pick the strings as described, but I’m struggling to fret the B string without muting the high E string. Because of this, my downstroke sweep back to the high E doesn’t ring out.

Example Pattern:

e | --8-6-5—6-5-----5---------
b | --------8-----8-6—8-6-5—

I’ve tried adjusting my fretting hand to make my fingers more perpendicular to the fretboard, which does seem to help some, but I feel like I’m still missing something. Has anyone else dealt with this issue?

#2

I should record a vid of you fretting hand.

#3

Whammy’s hiding in your house RIGHT NOW. Ruuuuuunnnnnnnn!

5 Likes
#4

When sargenant walks into his bathroom

images

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#5

lol!

Yep, we need that for giving the correct advice. That said, I can recreate what you’re talking about if I leave the pinky down. This pattern uses an Efficient Digital Cycle and Tom’s advice on these is that each finger empties it’s tension after playing. If you do that, your pinky won’t be able to mute the E string, because it will lift (again, empty tension) prior to you playing the note on the E.

Perpendicular fingering is generally to be avoided (I see you’re trying it because you’re trying to solve an issue) because it can help with noise control.

Anyway, make a vid and see if my theories hold water.

1 Like
#6

Haha, I’ll get a video up later tonight.

@joebegly I haven’t heard of the Efficient Digital Cycle but will check that out! Thanks!

#7

Lots of good ideas here already, but I’ll also throw this out there: mute the strings somehow to prevent them from ringing out open (tie a sock around the 1st or 2nd fret) and loop the same pattern using all hammers - leave the picking out. That should help you hone the timing needed to get the pinky off the B string so the E can sound.

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#8
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#9

lmao This is amazing and needs to be worked into a performance somehow. Yoga Shred.

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#10

It really is, yet it’s only my SECOND favorite video he’s graced us with lol! I know you know the one I’m thinking of…

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#11

Which is it? I’ve lost track.

Hey, at least he abides two party laws.

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#12

I know you know this one too lol!

It was just amazing.

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#13

Here’s a short video, the playing is pretty sloppy but let me know what you think.

#14

Oh yeah! The Lion post.

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#15

I don’t think your picking motion is USX - on the very first go through when you reach 7th fret on high E, you swipe the B with the upstroke, which audibly causes 7th fret on B to sound. You might be able to play this pattern quicker if you turn it into DSX, like so:

DSX4pattern#1
DSX4pattern#12480×3507 121 KB

#16

So here is a video of the picking motion. Admittedly I’m still pretty new to this and am working through finding the motion and feel like I can get caught between the two. In my TC with Tommo he said it looks like USX is pretty efficient, when I get it it right.

Picking Motion

#17

Ah, gotcha - I watched all your vids on your profile. You definitely do have a shallow USX going on some of the time, so it probably just needs to solidify since it’s new. Very cool motion since most people who use as flat a setup as you do are DSX.

Only other tip I’d give is in the Magnet shot of the 4s pattern your downstroke sweep was too rushed, which puts things out of sync. I would try slowing down a touch and add a real purposeful rest stroke for that part, so you can develop the correct timing.

1 Like
#19

You need to get more control over your picking.

1 Like