String Resistance Slows Pick/Inability to Secure Pick

Technique Critique
#1

Hello all,

As stated in the title, those are my two main issues, picking speed and keeping my pick secured. Until I started reading through this forum and site, I didn’t understand exactly why I couldn’t get faster, but I think I’ve narrowed down the reason. After doing some of the speed tests with limb movements, I’ve come to the conclusion that I can move my arm and wrist fast enough for the type of music I want to play, but when I try to translate that to using a pick against strings, I slow down because I feel like I’m fighting against them to work up to speed.
If I use a pick with a narrower point, the problem seems to get worse even with pick slanting. If I use too much pick slanting though, the sound I get is terrible because it rubs against the strings causing a scratching sound.
My other issue is that regardless of how I try to hold the pick, and even if I secure it so that it doesn’t rotate, the collision of the pick with the string will push the guitar pick up and away from my grip till I end up holding only the very end of the pick.

I’ve attached a few videos to try and best display what I’m doing. The first demonstrates how fast I can move a pick on a cutting board and then I contrast that with moving a pick across the strings using the grip I generally default to (trigger hold/thumb to side). I will note that based on the speed tests, I don’t believe my standard wrist movement will give me the fastest speed. Wrist flexion and extension (door-knocking movement) would probably do that for me. Anything above 135-140 on guitar becomes difficult to maintain if not impossible. If anyone has observations or experience with these kinds of issues, any help would be appreciated.

I feel like picking should be the walking and the running aspect of playing where you don’t have to think about it too intently but when I play, it’s like I’m driving with a blown out tire and the axle is slipping out from under the car.

The first video is me moving a pick against a cutting board to illustrate the speed I can attain:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5MJOwZM_gtU

The second is me tremolo picking mostly on one string:

The final is a slowmo of me trying to move the pick as fast as I can haphazardly:

https://youtube.com/shorts/PGLZdIppfew

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#2

Your motion on the cutting board looks promising!

When you try to apply it to the strings it looks different, a little bit deviation, a little bit elbow (more elbow when you get faster) but not efficient.

I’d make a technique critique on the site and get personalised feedback from Troy and the team to see if they can help you get your motion on the cutting board onto the guitar :slight_smile:

In the mean time, this could be helpful if you haven’t seen it before:

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#3

Based on my experience:

Your situation reminds me of my own guitar journey. I’d like to share a few pointers which I hope you find useful:

The shape and edge of the pick can help you determine whether your grip and attack are working: a major indicator of an efficient motion is that the pick doesn’t move and you don’t have to fight it. It should feel like a brush over glass.

Your downstroke seems to aim for the floor. Instead, try aiming it towards the volume pot or even the bridge around the first saddle.

I’ve found that my hand tends to move way faster and more smoothly if my wrist is either flexed or extended (worth trying both), but never flat.

Don’t worry about using a lot of edge picking if necessary (at least until you develop a smooth motion). If your downstroke goes toward the knobs, it will not sound scratchy (very useful test to figure out the real direction of your motion.

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#4

Its not easy to tell from the footage, but it feels like there was a big difference in motion mechanics between the first bit if the video, and when you speed up. It looks like you are engaging your elbow to go faster, and your wrist locks tight. That would explain why it feels very stiff compared to slower motion.

Can you try to get some footage similar to that, but from the front, making sure to also show your elbow? That may help see the motion going on here.

Also, I can’t tell from the video, but you may just be holding your pick too tight. As an exercise, try holding the pick as loosely as you can without it slipping around. Really focus on that, and make sure to breathe slowly (big, purposeful inhales/exhales while relaxing all joints) while doing it.

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#5

I will take all these comments into consideration, thanks.

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#6

I try to use the rule of thumb with grip tightness that if you fingers lighten up, the grip is too tight. I’ll try lighter, but I think tightness in the wrist is probably the main area of tension. I’m going through the pick slanting primer, and I’ll repost better videos when I’m a little more refined in my technique.

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#7

That’s a really good plan.

May I offer something to try occasionally?

Get a really stiff pick (like a 2 or 3mm hard pick) that has absolutely no flexibility, and try playing with it for a bit. You’ll have no choice but to hold it looser (but still keep grip). Then, when you go back to the pick you like, it’ll feel like a dream.

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#8

I have a Dunlop prime tone which essentially has 0 give but the edge is extremely rounded. I might try for a pointier one.

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