Please help me figure out what I’m doing wrong with my alternate picking

Technique Critique
#1

Hi new poster here

Please can somebody help me diagnose what is going on with my alternate picking. I’d class myself a forever beginner. I really think my picking hand is what holds me back from progressing. I’m left handed playing right handed. My issue is when I alternate pick I’ve noticed my pick seems to move side to side as if I’m scribbling tiny circular motions with a pencil causing the pick to move sideways as I pick up and down. I get a scratchy or squeaky sound. When I tremelo pick on a single string this motion does seem to go away. I’ve been trying to build alternate picking speed but soon as I get around 120-130bpm on metronome it falls apart.

Any advice is welcome. Just want to know what I’m doing wrong so I can work on correcting it.

Thanks

#2

Probably string hopping. The solution for this is to find a motion that works fast i.e. 160+ BPM through experimenting doing tremolo with different motions. There are a lot of useful videos in the Pickslanting Primer if you didn’t already know.

#3

I’ve found a motion that works for single string tremelo picking. It’s at the slower speeds where I can’t stop myself from making that scribbling see saw type motion with my pick if that makes sense?

#4

You might consider filming looking down the neck per usual CtC practice.

And should one compare this to DBX, USX, DSX, or what? In other words, I presume that you have some TAB, and you’re trying to use a specific technique, and then you’re wondering, “am I doing the technique that I wish to do?”

#5

So I’ve recorded another angle facing down from the neck as requested.

#6

@GuitarJ10 you’re using a good amount of finger motion in your thumb / index finger, which IMO complicates things unless you’re at a certain level.

I would try to “lock” that down first, probably by adding just enough tension in the fingers.

#7

Thank you. How do I go about consciously reducing the thumb and finger motion? By adding just enough tension do you mean as in gripping the pick slightly tighter or in another way?

#8

I would start there, yes.

#9

From a quick glance: you seem to have a primarily DSX motion but you’re trying to play a USX lick. (D U string change D U). This causes you to have to lift the pick over the string when changing strings. Do you see this?

What does your motion look like if you play a max speed tremolo on one string? (No slow-mo needed, it is often easier to spot certain things with a full speed video.)

#10

Thanks I’ll give that a try

#11

Thanks, I’ve just taken this video of how my tremelo picking looks hopefully this angle is ok?

I do see what you mean about having to lift over the strings now you’ve mentioned it.

#12

Kind of looks to me like you’re trying to make very small motions. Is that right?

#13

I have another request for you. Please play four notes per string on each string starting from the thickest string to the thinnest string, turn around, and go back to the thickest string. Then, if you have time, please do it for three notes per string.

#14

Yeah that’s correct. I saw a video saying that smaller motions were supposed to be better?

#15

No problem, I’ll get one recorded and uploaded later on today.

#16

TLDR: not really!

Just as a test, try not to worry about motion size. Try to think that you want to have smooth and fast motions, with good-sounding pick attack. Let the motion amplitude be whatever it needs to be to achieve that.

Note also that if the motions are too small the pick will start interfering with the string’s sustain, so the pick will basically choke the notes before they have a chance to fully ring out. It sounds like some of that may be happening in your clip.

2 Likes
#17

Thanks I’ll try using larger movements and focus on feel when I practice later and see how that feels.

#18

Here you go. Recorded 4 notes per string followed by 3 notes per string. Hopefully this angle is ok?

#19

I see that you are constantly trying to avoid the strings when, in reality, I’m pretty confident that all you need to control your slow playing is the opposite: a rest stroke.

#20

Lots of wrist deviation happening for string changes, which means you’re gonna have a different feel from string to string (most noticeable high e to low e).