This site says my video is not authorized. Right now my video is in .mp4 format. So how do I change it to an accepted format? And which format would you recommend?
The site doesnāt support video directly very well or at all. Your best bet is to put it on YouTube and post the video link in the thread. You can change the video privacy settings to something other than public if you want to keep it unlisted.
Itās private. You need to set it to unlisted for us to see it.
It works now. A little difficult to fully see because of the angle but from the angle you have a sort of sliding extension away from the strings on most of those down strokes, and a slightly curved flexion back in to them on the ups in some places.
I donāt know if thatās where this was inevitably going with the video post though.
It looks like garage spikes; darn pick snags on everything!
Any way you could turn that pick so that it no longer snags? Kind of looks like cutting through a steak with the flat part of the knife; perhaps āslicingā through those strings might be more conducive to faster picking speeds?
Trust me, I get it when it feels like the only thing youāre successful at is ummm, ānot so successfulā but that just means you have other things you can try, process of elimination.
Also, I feel like instead of maybe playing whatever it is your trying to play - maybe perhaps try simplifying; literally just play repeating notes on one string as fast as you possibly can. Maybe you end up having to use your elbow or something, and maybe itās super messy, maybe the setup changes or the motion changes, whatever. Thatās okay - just give 'er, and see what happens.
Post video again please of your results and maybe the hive mind can help you out. Good luck!
Great suggestions both, and I totally agree on the need to simplify!
Instead of starting with complicated phrases that move between strings, start by establishing a fast and smooth motion on a single string, even just a repeated note.
If the pick getting stuck on the string feels like a big obtacle at the moment, you can even start without using a guitar at all! For example, you can have a go at the speed test demonstrated here:
Am I holding the pick correctly? I have already practiced playing one note on a string. Tremolo picking. I need to work on moving from one string to the next. Like moving from playing three notes on the Low E string and getting a fourth note on the adjacent A string.
If I changed my grip to the trigger grip I could probably get the pick at a right angle to the string. I would be playing with the leading edge though. But while that grip feels secure like there is no way the pick is going to shift in my fingers, it does not feel entirely comfortable.
The pick grip looks completely fine. If itās comfortable and you arenāt dropping it every other pick stroke, no need to change. Itās more what youāre doing with it that may need some adjustment.
Far be it from me to be able to really offer any direction
Are you holding the pick correctly? Sure! I think so. I messed around with that grip on and off lots over the years and I can make it work for me. In my opinion and from what I can see, itās 100% how your pick is going through the strings thatās killing your ability to go quickly. Maybe try and turn that pick a smidge so that it will āglanceā the string and not get caught under it and then maybe it will also āglanceā said string on the way back.
Humor us, show us video of your fastest tremolo picking on one string; The dudes here can glean a lot from that ā what escape you are, if you are hopping, motion, setup, etc. Donāt discount the power of repeating notes! Itās an important first step that could hold the key to your advancement. I know that myself, I tend to sometimes dismiss things that I find ambiguous or not immediately useful but oh boy, do those basic things ever come back to haunt me if Ihavenāt dealt with āem. So your number one project is a video for us to check out containing tremolo picking as fast as possible on a single string.
3 notes on the low E and then a 4th on the A with alternate picking? Nope. Thatās not going to workā¦. Thatās a ādouble escapeā thing if you are using strict alternate picking - alternatively you will have to use a mixed approach ie sweep/economy, hammer-ons/pulloffs, or swiping with a mute, or sheer avoidance (Or stringhopping - which is unwelcome!) when dealing with āodd number of notes per stringā. What works is this; and thereās a heap of free material out there (CTC and more) is string changes that happen after even number of notes. 2, 4, 6, 8.
But perhaps start with the video footage of tremolo playing as fast as possible and then the guys can determine what escape you tend towardsā¦
Something else to consider; your fast tremolo playing and your single-note playing with string changes should āfeelā the same I think.
If you make changes, and it feels uncomfortable or different from how warm and fuzzy you feel with how you currently play - some of that is to be expected; might take a month or so to get acclimated to a grip and setup change. BUT you should notice an immediate improvement in note tempo and quality. Starting of course, on a single string probably with tremolo picking. I think that if it doesnāt get better with the change, then the change wasnāt a positive one.
Good luck! Okay, I hope this was helpful! Rock on!
Iāve been using economy picking when I have to change strings. So when I change from the low E to the A string, my pick is moving in the same direction.
I donāt know if you are correct when you say 3 note per string alternate picking wonāt work. Joe Stump demonstrated it and it works fine for him.
Awesome, sounds like you have it figured out! Apologies for overstepping - thought you were asking for help! All good, rock on!
Misinterpreting what I posted - It wonāt work without some sort of escape hatch (Economy, sweep, swipe, hybrid, legato, etc etc) UNLESS you can do double escape. maybe you can, again, sounds like you have it figured out!
Heās done that IIRC - maybe two years ago. Heās been at it for a bit.
I donāt think @Scottulus meant that literally or as a sweeping statement. I think he was using it as an example of viewing trouble areas more like a checklist, such as; If this is a problem area for you and what you are doing currently isnāt working, itās because it requires these specific things that you may not be doing, so you have to evaluate it further etc.
But thatās what I read into it so Iām sure he can elaborate more on it.
Ah - well then, this has already been solved then, I thought he was looking for help. Whups. My bad, apologies!
Iām not opposed to uploading a new tremolo picking video. I think I can do a better job at it now.
Could be worthwhile. One thing to keep in mind about this though is that one idea that is often advocated when doing this is to to use all means necessary to go as fast as you can on a single string.
I have a little bit of a suspicion though that you may be trying to achieve this in a more specific way using a specific form that may not end up being consistent with what your natural fastest playing form/mechanic may be. The reason I mentioned it is that the idea is to let it be what it is for now, and let go of any bias of what you think it should be or look like. Thereās no reason you canāt go back in later, but if itās a fast rough cut, let it be just that.