I’m curious, with strict up down picking and two notes per string, what kind of tempo are you all generating switching back and forth betweenthe two strings?
Chaser question, with regard to metronome settings, how slow do you start (% of max speed) and what increments do you step up with?
This happens to be a strength for me…if it’s DWPS then I’m probably maxing out around 16ths at 200, assuming I’m understanding that you’re talking about something like
For the second question, that depends a lot on what I’m trying to do in that moment. Both the starting speed and % increment of increase can independently vary a lot depending on context. And often the way I work on stuff is to try it more or less at max tempo and try to play the first two notes…then pause…then the first three notes…then pause…then four…etc…and see where I get stuck, rather than work with incremental increases.
I actually have been practicing two note-per-string up and down more than any other pattern. I’m obsessed with it. Mostly starting with an upstroke (outside picking). The reason is, I’ts been a big weakness of mine.
The fastest I can cleanly pick 2 note-per string rotating patterns starting with a downstroke (inside picking) is about 200. But starting with an upstroke, I am now at about 160 now. (but that’s a large improvemet… I used to barely hit 90)
For me, the key to a clean 2-note-per-string smootheness is… larger strokes. I used to use tiny strokes… but its super tough to do 1 or 2 notes per-string patterns with smaller pick strokes.
It’s great to see you here again! One thing I’m missing: with 2nps patterns like the one above, don’t you always have one inside and one outside change, both in the uwps and dwps versions?
If its non-rotating, then yes. If it’s a rotating pattern and every note is picked… I’d just use entirely inside picking… or entirely outside picking. That requires 2WPS, switching at the moment of rotation. However… many players don’t do that (mostly because they arent 2wps) They will often put in a single hammer-on at the point of rotation to maintain their slant direction.
As far as my technique, I used to do this with 2wps. Downward on the ascending, upward on the descending. Now I use exclusively use cross-picking.
Yes you understood correctly. 200, holy crap.
I’m with you but nowhere near 200. Whether I start upward or downward, ascending or descending, I’m at about 120 max. Down up down up or up down. But, if I stay inside the the strings, descending for example, down up on the high E then up down on the B I’m way faster… which makes NO SENSE really.
Well, maybe it does make sense… on the up stroke from the E I’m on the way to the B . Then the second stroke of the B it takes me back toward the E.
@InducingPanic i’m curious about a few things:
How quickly can you play on a single pitch as 16th notes and still clearly hear and play the rhythm?
How quickly can you do the ‘5678’ exercise on a single string (just frets 5678, 5678 with fingers 1234) while maintaining clarity of rhythm, tone, dynamic, note separation, etc?
Those questions help diagnose where the issue is.
I’m around 150-160 bpm for both. I can push to 180 but it’s inconsistent.
I’d love to see some video. If you feel like you can get lots of speed ‘inside the strings’, I would spend lots of time practicing outside.
I can’t overstate how much I neglected outside picking. And it’s really haunted me. I am only recovering from this bias now. And I still have an issue with outside picking alternating between two strings… specifically with the ascending stroke. It’s my Achilles heel. I am going to have to make a video and hope that others can diagnose my issues there.
Interesting. Then I have a hunch that your slants may not be ‘true’ - and I too would be interested in seeing a video. I have a hunch, could be totally wrong, that you may think you are slanting in the correct direction throughout the entire process, but somewhere in there it’s reverting a bit. This is at least what I’ve seen with students.
Or it could be a string tracking issue.
I think there is inconsistency in my picking for certain. The biggest tell is my speed when practicing a specific exercise vs. when I’m improvising. Much faster in exercise mode when I’m focused. I suspect I’m a twps guy, but without a magnet mount, I don’t have a good way to show you all.
The issue with picking from the inside of the E B for example, descending, D U on E then U D on B (think economy picking) etc, is if I decide to go E B then to G.
You all are the best. Thanks for the comments