What tempo is considered hyperspeed? Or how many notes per second? Also, how fast is it possible to play while still being able to change strings, for those of you that do this? Thanks.
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When we use the term “hyperpicking”, it’s not tempo we’re talking about. We’re talking about a specific type of elbow motion that players describe as feeling like a vibration. This type of muscle movement is very fast for those than can do it. But there is variability in the tempo. And also, players that can do it well don’t seem to exhibit a “dead zone” of tempos between this motion and slower speed elbow motion. So we don’t even know if this is in fact really a different motion, or just a faster version of the elbow motion that other players do.
Like all elbow motions, this is downstroke-escape motion. Meaning you can use it for switching strings, but only on phrases where the final note on every string is a downstroke.
Edit: We borrowed the phrase from an out-of-print Anthony Martello instructional video from the '90s where we think it was first used. You can check that out right here:
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Ah ok I misunderstood what hyperspeed actually meant it seems. As someone who uses forearm rotation and downward pickslanting, does that put a speed cap on me? I understand that hyperspeed refers to a certain elbow motion now, but I remember reading on another’s post that you said John Taylor uses his normal wrist picking motion up to about 240 bpm. At least I think that’s what I read. So theoretically I should be able to reach that far with my picking motion right? Assuming I am physically able. Beyond that speed is there anyone that uses a “normal” picking motion? Sorry for all these questions. I think I have gone a bit too far into the speed obsession. Something like 160-180 with sixteenths is pretty doable, but of course you can play something like the Yngwie six note pattern and try to play six notes per beat. Which puts you at 240-270 bpm. So it becomes a never ending tempo increase. I need to stop haha.
With pure alternate picking, I can’t reliably play faster than 210bpm and I don’t feel “capped”. If I were in a prog or metal band where I really needed more speed, that could very well matter, I don’t know. But generally, when you take a few steps back, you realize that even among players who can play faster than that, it’s usually only pattern based stuff, or one-way pickslanting licks.
As soon as you introduce phrases where you have mixtures of 1, 2, 3, and 4 note per string fingerings, you will find far fewer players who can alternate pick that stuff even at something like 150bpm sixteenth notes. And that’s where skill with the movements we study comes in real handy. There’s a lot, lot of music that gets made in the low to mid 100s sixteenth notes.
So that’s my short answer. I think of something like 240bpm as a thing you worry about only if you’re willing to completely overlook general lack of ability on more complex phrases that kicks in at way, way lower speeds than that.
That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the continued help.