I have known I am a primary elbow picker for a long time. For context I am 43, have been playing since age 14. I have blended some other mechanics over the years, there is some mixed escapes thrown in for example. But whenever the tempo ramps up, elbow picking with DSX and notable upward pick slant is what is most natural for me. I can do a forearm thing reasonably fast, but no question elbow is my fastest and most ingrained choice.
I am going through Cracking the Code materials as I am looking to figure out some next steps. There has long been dissatisfaction with my alternate picking. There are certainly things I can do reasonably well, but many things I can’t. Picking up the mandolin a bit more recently makes the dissatisfaction more prominent. I can compensate well enough on an electric. On an acoustic instrument I still sound decent, but the limits are much more clear. If want to have more freedom on the mandolin, it is clear something has to change.
At any rate, while watching Chapter 2, evaluating primary motion results, there is something that is nonetheless incongruent for me. It is mentioned that a common indicator for the DSX style is the preference to start with upstrokes for phrases (or that ultimately it should be easier to start with upstrokes). The trick for me is that it is definitely not. I have tried several times in the past, it never seems to go anywhere. It is like my brain refuses to let me start on an upstroke. If I sit and try to do pentatonics with upstrokes for example, it is just not happening.
My question: is this something that is likely to be corrected? If I keep at it, would starting on the upstroke likely click? I am thinking it is largely a matter of habit. For example as an alternative to starting with upstrokes I have become very fluent with economy upstrokes to get across strings as needed. Whereas I can’t do economy downstrokes. Sweep across all the strings with downstrokes, yes. But say the Yngwie or Eric Johnson type of economy picking with downstrokes, it just does not fit at all for me. I can do very similar things that they do but with economy upstrokes, leading me to have a lot of descending economy runs rather than ascending.
I don’t know if this is a common issue. Perhaps I just need to really sit with the starting on the upstroke thing and it and it will click. But it just seems jarring, as there is this principle that this should be easier. It is confusing why it isn’t when all the evidence suggests it should be easier. I suppose this is all part of a decision whether I need to completely retool my alternate picking technique, or whether there are flaws I need to fix in my existing technique and then make the most mileage out of it that I can.
. Also, I started on a downstroke instead of up (oops!)
