Struggling to Learn USX as a Natural DSX Player, Looking for Technical Feedback

Technique Critique
#1

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to post some videos because I’m really struggling with learning USX, and at this point I’m honestly getting very discouraged.

I’m naturally more of a DSX player (I’ve been playing for years) but I strongly prefer the sound and feel of USX. I love that more percussive attack, and I’m a huge fan of players like Yngwie Malmsteen and Eric Johnson, so this is a motion I really want to develop.

The problem is that even doing a sustained tremolo on a single string feels extremely difficult. When I play slowly, I feel like I can somewhat engage the wrist and forearm motion correctly. But as soon as I try to increase the speed, everything starts to tense up, and I seem to fall back into a mixed motion that feels much closer to my usual DSX mechanic.

I’ve watched pretty much everything I could find on USX: Troy’s videos, forum discussions, Chris Brooks’ videos, and other related material. I feel like I understand what the motion is supposed to look like, but I just can’t seem to make it happen physically in a relaxed and reliable way.

It’s honestly very frustrating to be able to see the movement, understand the concept, and still feel completely unable to execute it.

I’ve attached a few videos below. Could you please help me diagnose what’s going wrong and what I should focus on next?

Thanks a lot for any feedback.

https://youtube.com/watch/5kCyWUxMuso

https://youtube.com/watch/_3gQqDO3cZY

https://youtube.com/watch/h_pnKDcvnTI

https://youtube.com/watch/mvGDfB73sbI

https://youtube.com/watch/MYLGSqg02f8

https://youtube.com/watch/GwXB1EkdWV0

https://youtube.com/watch/oAEiHH8yPXE

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#2

It’s absolutely possible to get a really aggressive, percussive attack with DSX. Do not become addicted to water obsessed with having a particular version of picking technique. Any picking technique will do. There are even bluegrass players who do crosspicking without alternate picking every note.

1 Like
#3

Another take of Loomis rocking Yngwie with DSX.

1 Like
#4

Your videos are all set to private. I do have a question for you - do you know if you are hypermobile?

#5

Oops, I’ve changed the videos, should be ok now.

I’m not hyper mobile, why ? :scream:

#6

USX and DSX are symmetrical, the only real difference is the preferred sweeping direction (USX towards floor, DSX is towards ceiling). I’m all for you learning more techniques, but I bet you still have a lot of improvement left for your current technique — don’t get discouraged.

#7

Hey, nice work - I watched the videos and dang - looks like you are on the right track dude; I’d say keep on going and it will probably start feeling really natural. Pretty courageous to share footage of yourself while you’re still figuring it out, thanks for that - I bet that as you start assimilating EJ and Yng USX vocabulary it will really start to click! Good luck man, but I don’t think you need it as you look and sound well on your way!

#8

When you said you had issues with USX feeling uncomfortable I thought you might be. I have hyper mobility and I also find USX uncomfortable. Anyway, I had a look at your vids and seem to be doing ok. Keep at it!

#9

Thanks for having taken the time to watch and answer, maybe I just over think the process, and I should just continue and let m’y body adapt

I’ll post videos of my progress soon

#10

Hi all, here’s a New vidéo, wdyt ? I feel like I go DSX when I burst and I can’t control it… especially at the end of the video.
I try to put forearm rotation, at low speed I see it, but when I burst I don’t feel it

Thanks

#11

I don’t see the DSX there but you will only know for sure when you play bursts over two strings.

#12

Yeah the forearm rotation stops when you speed up, if you want to introduce forearm you need to work it out at speed, practicing slow in the motion discovery part of your learning produces motions that are unrealistic and too forced and won’t get you results.

Can you do your faster motion for 20 seconds? Personally I think bursts also aren’t helpful in this stage of learning as I could burst at high speeds when I didn’t have a working picking motion.

I think the first step should be getting a comfortable fast tremolo that you can do for an extended period of time. Watching your other videos I see a mix and match of different motions, sometimes wrist, sometimes there is forearm and sometimes fingers, this is probably making it more confusing. I would try and focus on one, on one string and slowly expand over a few weeks.

What happens if you try and isolate the motion to just your finger and thumb? I don’t see this often but it kinda looks like they want to be the main driver of your motion :slight_smile: