Strumming Upstroke Woes

Playing Technique
#1

I posted about a week ago in the intros forum and mentioned that I had problems keeping up with 8th notes on a metronome after 140bpm. It seemed like a similar speed barrier both for strumming chords and for picking individual notes. After a week of analyzing myself and reviewing more videos, I think that I have determined that upstrokes are a big problem for me.

One potential issue is that I tended to change the orientation/angle of my hand when coming back up for the upstroke. This has perhaps been acting to slow me down. Iā€™m now trying to keep consistent mechanics between the downstroke and the upstroke. I believe that is helping some.

With that said, I am also have a problem with the pick sometimes sticking and slowing me down on the upstroke. I have a hard time getting the pick to smoothly glide across the strings on the way up. This is more of a strumming issue than an individual note issue, but does anyone have any recommendations for improving in this arena?

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#2

Hey Slim, without knowing additional specifics, the most general issue with getting stuck on the upstroke, whether strumming or individual strings, is a natural tendency to start to pull the picking hand inward toward the guitar during the upstroke. To overcome this, analyze your motion of the upstroke and determine if you are doing just that. Over-exaggerate to almost have an outward motion on the upstroke - without losing connection with the strings however. You will eventually find the balance needed for the attack you are looking for without getting the pick bound up in the strings.

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