How Do You Guys Practice the CtC Techniques?

Playing Technique
#1

Hi everyone!
I’m new around here and a bit confused, to be honest. I’ve watched almost all of Pinkslater’s videos, but I’d really like to apply the techniques in a way that allows me to consistently verify whether I’m actually improving (or not : )

Is there any kind of structured technique program here? For example, I just jumped into the first “Vulcano” video, and there’s already an interesting one-string riff that seems great for working on hand synchronization. Is that the idea?

Also, I enjoy practicing with a metronome, but I think I heard somewhere in the course that it’s not the best approach — is that correct? How do you all handle this?

Sorry if this topic has come up before — I know there are probably many similar messages here.

Thanks a lot!

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#2

The issue is that there are many picking techniques, not everyone will be able to learn just any of them, and a path forward needs to be tailored to the individual. For example, let’s say John McLaughlin came here after a few years of playing guitar - he’d already established a DSX technique - but in this alternate universe CtC only teaches Troy’s original wrist-forearm USX technique: if you aren’t using that, you are wrong. John bangs away at it in frustration, fighting what his body already wants to do, and at absolute best, loses time (at worst… gives up!).

Luckily, this is not reality!

What you (or anyone) needs to do is problem solve: if you are trying to do X thing, and you aren’t getting the results you want, why is that? If you can figure that out on your own, great, now what is the solution? If you can’t figure it out on your own, you’ll need another pair of eyes: making a Technique Critique is always worth a go.

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#3

I think what OP is asking is what do you do once you’ve found a working motion (fast tremolo). Do you practice sync with a single-string lick? And if so, how?

#4

The general progression around here is something like:

  • Establish some form of tremolo motion that can go “fast” on a single string. The definition of “fast” is vague, but let’s say somewhere in the realm of 16ths at 180 as a minimum. If this isn’t happening, then a simpler step is looking at the joint motion tests.

  • If you have the tremolo down, note if there is an escape, and also work on single string patterns for hand sync. If you get stuck on this step, it is again important to figure out why - there are a lot of things that can go wrong. I personally think developing accents with the picking hand is super important, both in groups of four and six (sixteenth notes, sextuplets) as an initial step, then sort of auto-piloting that part while you add in the left hand.

  • If you get good results with the single string stuff and have a clear escape, then it’s time to work with multi-string ideas: usually Gilbert Sixes for DSX, and perhaps the Yngwie pattern across strings for USX.

If you’re getting stuck somewhere, you need to figure out why, and then find a solution. That’s always the answer. If you’re working with single string hand sync, record yourself - are you in a sync? If not, where is the issue? Left hand lagging, picking getting messed up due to unfamiliarity with this new required coordination, something else?

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