Need help for my right hand speed plateau

Technique Critique
#1

Hello guys,

I am writing here because I have been stuck with my right hand alternate picking speed (on one string) my problem is not really about string skipping.
On a metronome I can play 16th notes at 132 to 140 if warmed up (I mean clear notes in beat for some time), it does not change whether I am doing open string or playing a one string lick. I can tremolo a bit faster for short bursts using my elbow (like Steve Morse is doing on the intro of master in mechanics)

I really struggle to improve my speed, i have one clip upload where I am playing Technical difficulties maybe we can spot errors there. If not I can prepare a clip where I play very specific one string things
Here is the video :slight_smile: - Technical difficulties cover:

Do you spot any problem there ? However I am not really struggling there, I really struggle on licks like the I’ll see the light tonight solo where I am stuck around 132 bpm with 16ths notes.

Thanks in advance and see you soon !

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#2

It looks like to me that you’re string hopping on every pickstroke. https://troygrady.com/channels/tutorials/what-is-stringhopping/

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#3

Thanks ! Your are probably right ! I am going to make a one string lick real quick I keep you in touch

#4

Here is a new clip where I am precisely playing the things I struggle with - Clip alternate:

i’d like to see what’s wrong mechanically because I practice a lot, everything goes up except that kind of licks

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#5

On the Technical Difficulties cover, it looks like your frequently escaping on downstrokes but not upstrokes, which matches your self-diagnosis of UWPS.

However, your motion on the phrases in the newer video look to me pretty similar to Andy Wood-style crosspicking (wrist-based and slightly supinated). It’s a powerful technique, but perhaps more difficult to ramp the speed of compared to some other approaches. My own experience is that the wrist flexion-extension component is the key “fast mover” of that kind of motion, but the first and most important thing is getting a movement that feels smooth. I suggest taking another look at the recent Andy Wood interviews and @Troy’s related recent posts re: how best to attempt to recreate Andy’s movement. In particular, even though they may not be a big part of the music you want to learn, the three string rolls in the Andy Wood stuff might help you refine this technique for application everywhere.

Also note that for the fastest stuff, Andy also shifts (instantly and smoothly) to UWPS. The angles in your Technical Difficulties video make it hard for me to be sure, but I suspect you’re doing that as well. In that case, working out your UWPS movement with a single note on a single string to find what’s fast and comfortable might help you before re-introducing the complicating factor of synchronization with the left hand.

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#6

Hello @Frylock, many thanks for your answer ! Everything makes sense, I will check the stuff you recommend and see if that fits me ! I keep you in touch !

Thanks again !

#7

Hi Julien! Thanks for posting. In general, you’re not making a pickslanting movement, and that is why you are a speed-limited. You have habituated a movement with a curved trajectory, and it may be difficult for you to feel that you are doing this and to change it. We can debate whether this is “crosspicking” or something else, but the fact that you can’t do it fast tells me all that really matters, which is that it’s not working.

Have you worked through the “getting started” material yet?

https://troygrady.com/start

Take a look at this when you get a chance and see if you can follow along with the “goals” on each page. In particular, try and reproduce the picking motions in the “Introduction to Picking Motion” talk. Don’t use a metronome for this. It’s just going to trigger your current motion which is already completely learned. Instead, try to “go fast” while trying to do the new motion you are testing.

When you do these tests, film yourself in 120fps and verify that the pick really is moving in a straight line from trapped to escaped and back. If you can’t go fast, and the slow motion video shows curved movement like in the clips you posted here, then the test failed. Change something about your form or motion path and try again. The idea is to do it correctly by using speed to force your body to find the most natural way, and to try and memorize what this feels like so you can do it again consciously.

One thing that players report about learning pickslanting movements is that rest strokes can help tell your brain what “straight line” movement feels like. For dwps movements, the downstroke is the rest stroke. For uwps movements, it’s the upstroke. Hitting the string can make the movement feel different then your current learned movement, and that can help you break the habit.

Fyi, when posting youTube links, don’t use the link function. Just paste the URL on a separate line with a blank space before and after - the forum will expand into an embedded video right in the thread.

Again, thanks for posting.

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#8

Hello Troy,

Many thanks for your answer it is very helpful ! I will do the tests and see what’s going on ! Thanks again !

I keep you in touch with all the progress ! I am very lucky to have the work you have done !

Best regards,

Julien

#9

Hey Julian I’m a little late to the thread but I noticed when you’re just picking the single open string at the end of the second video you’re not “chunking”. When you’re doing straight 16ths try putting extra emphasis on the first of every four notes by playing that note a little harder and louder and line up that note with the click of the metronome. The idea is to focus on only that note and its timing and let the other notes pass by without you trying to consciously keep track of them. If you’re doing 16th note triplets be sure to put th emphasis every 6 notes instead. Once you get the feel for it I think your picking speed should increase quite a bit and rather quickly. Even though 16 notes are passing by every measure, in your mind you only feel and lock into “1, 2, 3, 4”

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