I’ve rarely seen two successive down strokes on the same string buried in the same fast lick!
I was even thinking, this is a typical case of “he thinks he’s doing two down strokes but he’s actually alternate picking the thing”, until I saw the slow motion footage of the fast lick. 
Can we take something out from this to help us with fast down picking technique?
Can’t wait to watch the whole thing!
Thanks Tommo, 
lol, it’s just connecting chunks that start on a down. It looks like Joe is hitting the last down like a inside string change… That way the pick is ready for the next down on that same string.
Kinda like how you gotta do a inside string change to turn economy picking around up there… Looks like Joe is doing that movement to be able to do the second down right quick.
This is the crux of it right here. You have plenty of ability. From the cheap seats, it just seems like you have a hard time deciding what you want to work on. You really don’t need anyone on your team for this. I generally let the technique and riffs decide that for me. Meaning, I learn a technique, then I tool around and see if I can come up with cool riffs using that technique, and if I can, then I will tend to keep going with that. If I have a steady stream of ideas, I tend not to worry much about whatever other techniques are available.
Obviously, we’re in the business of learning and teaching techniques so I have to keep going through this process with different mechanical things, whether or not I want to. But if we weren’t, I would probably just be writing riffs using some mix of the first couple of techniques we looked at years ago.
TLDR choose something you’re already good at and write some stuff that fits it, and see where it takes you.
Thanks for the replies Troy! And once again, great job here on this interview. This rules.
A post was merged into an existing topic: Transcription and analysis: Troy Grady can play the guitar very fast
This sounds awesome! Can’t wait for the harmonic discussion, that should be really interesting. Are you planning on releasing his older interview as you are with Gambale?
I haven’t watched the old one in a while but from what I recall the new one is similar, just better, with greater clarity of questions on very specific things that we know much more about now, and of course better video. e.g. Might not be worth it.
When you film these interviews in your studio is it easier to edit into a presentable format?
In the clip he states “I do the thumb thing”. Have you ever covered that mechanic anywhere and if not maybe shed some light on it ?
For sure filming is easier because everything is already set up, sound is dead quiet, lighting is known - far fewer variables and chances to get something wrong.
All of which means less likely we will need to fix things during editing. It happens just less frequently.
Nope and there isn’t even one “thumb thing”. When you watch this you will note several types of movements that Joe uses. One of them looks almost exactly like what Martin Miller uses and we have another talk coming up with him.
Between the two we will have some very good shots of this particular movement if anyone wants to try and figure it out. I personally haven’t put in any time on that yet so I can’t offer anything beyond the footage and the comments of these two very fine individuals.
Definitely would love if you guys could film some hybrid picking action from Martin. His Hand Position (fixed vs floating, what angle does he approach the strings), and if he still crosspicks when incorporating his other fingers.
This jumped out at me. That, and the fact that Joe seems so forthcoming and likeable.
We have:
https://troygrady.com/interviews/martin-miller/clips/metheny-sixths/
There might be others but this is one I remember off the top of my head. Martin’s great with that stuff - so is Andy.
The upcoming talk with Martin is more specifically mechanical, about how he does the movement. A number of the ‘demonstration’ sections of this, where he’s more deliberately doing it, look just like what Joe does.
@Troy I’m wondering about something - Joe uses 8s and tunes down a half step so his strings would have very little tension. Did he mention anything about this and how it affects his picking? Does he pick super light or is he slightly muting the strings to add a bit of “tension” to them?
I didn’t know that - we didn’t talk about strings at all. I can ask him. He might use the Yngwie type sets which are light top heavy bottom. So they’re not really 8s, just 8s on the high strings.
I do know from editing a little of this that Joe appears to hit the strings with some accented notes here and there, so he doesn’t appear to be using very delicate movements. Looks can be deceiving though.
In the 90’s all of his equipment was the exact same as Yngwie. Same strings 8-46, same picks, same overdrive, same amps, etc.
But it seems he started branching away from that. Went to ESP. From the CTC video, it looks like he is using a different pick now. Maybe he went to 9-42? @aliendough my picking is sloppier the lighter the strings, like you are saying… But Marshall Harrison is messing with 8’s right now and it hasn’t slowed his ass down any. I don’t get it man. Pisses me off. Some people are just fast no matter what.
Yeah man, I always would have thought that those light strings tuned down a half step would have been like playing with rubber bands! I know it doesn’t slow Yngwie or Marshall Harrison down, but I’d be interested to know how these guys do it as I don’t know if many players using such light gauge strings and who are shredding as fast.
The notion of Joe using a really light touch with his right hand has gone out the window as Troy says he doesn’t appear to be using a light touch with his right hand.