Not if you’re tracking the strings, you can even see it in your forarm. Also it’s a bit unfair to just use one string. Using multiple strings if the fundamental issue right.
Though in that
he is using forarm rotation without a doubt. Instead up just up n down his index has a curve to it.
I think the forarm is utterly integral to the overall mechanic, without it you won’t be shredding to say the least with this style. You’re not going to be using your shoulder rotation to track the stings, the leaver is so accentuated it’s uncontrollable. I’m sure it’s used, no doubt, but same for the forarm, and even more so as it’s a second degree less if you understand, it’s one joint out of the picture. When I look at Zakk, I see major forarm rotation, even tho it’s bending into other movements. Perhaps I need to practice it more, tho the rotor cuff n pec are not easy to control, I really don’t see how you can do that combo and be as accurate as zakk is without forarm rotation facilitating the entire thing. You can’t be tense when soloing, you need to be loose, the rotor cuff pec elbow move is… at least not in my move set right now, I’m going to practice it because I can feel it… but The forarm rotation literally gives you a high definition control without doing that…
I don’t think either joints have enough fine motor movement to be useful for anything else than tracking, so as you already said there is an extra movement, think its the forarm.
You can see his veins on his forarm going back n fourth
Understanding the academic stuff is all well and good but the point is to use that knowledge to generate some type of practical action plan.
The Zakk Wylde thing I didn’t learn, I just noticed I do it. Practically speaking if the goal is to try and learn it or something similar, I can tell you the Zakk thing doesn’t feel anything like forearm motion. There does not feel like an arm rotation happening on each note, even if it can be shown that there is. Trying to zero in on a “wiggle” sensation the way you would for a forearm technique I don’t think that will work. Instead there’s a “whole arm” feeling that I don’t get with forearm.
I should also point out that I’m not good at the really fast DSX elbow that most people seem to be able to do. In my case, I can’t even tell where the elbow-only axis is. Because when I move what feels like “the elbow”, the arm goes down toward the guitar body (i.e. trapped downstroke) which is obviously not pure elbow. There is no point I can locate by feel where I think, aha, that’s just the elbow and it’s doing the DSX thing that everyone else does.
That all makes sense to me. As far as I know, I cannot do the Zakk thing. I can do a forearm rotation (which likely is a wrist blend) and of course my default DSX elbow. Trying to blend those 2 things together seems impossible to me lol! Which is just one more reason I don’t think there’s any rotation in the Zakk elbow motion.
I get the action plan point - it would be great (I think) if we could say “Hey all you DSX elbow people, just do this slight tweak on what you already know and boom! You’ve got a USX capable elbow motion”. Think how many people that would make happy. That’s why I even care enough to have this (for me, hopefully for him too, likely not for anyone else reading) fun little “argument” with @WhammyStarScream. I’m afraid his claims of Zakk having rotation are going to give other elbow players the wrong idea and have them bark up a tree that leads to nowhere. To me doing any amount of forearm wiggle while my elbow hinges back and forth is harder to fathom than brushing your teeth while combing your hair. But hey maybe someone out there is doing it.
(that’s the cue for Whammy to say “There is…it’s Zakk!!!” lol!!!)
Different strokes different blokes 