Hey there,
I discovered Troy Grady a little over two years ago. Since then, I’ve made great progress. I don’t play super-fast solos; I’m perfectly happy if I can play a few nice licks at 150 or 160 bpm.
The strange thing is: I have massive problems in the 100 to 110 bpm range, even when I’m just playing quarter notes on a single string (by the way, I don’t think I’m string-hopping here). It’s as if I have no control over my right hand at all.
I feel like a total idiot because I can’t play simple songs like “Sweet Emotion” by Aerosmith. It really gets me down.
So here’s my question: Does anyone out there have the same or a similar problem? Does anyone have any ideas on how to systematically solve this? I’d appreciate any tips!
Best regards,
Esteban
Post a video of what this looks like.
If you feel like the pick is getting stuck or not ringing the notes out with good sound, try to experiment with picking angle and the amount of pick you use, as in how much of the pick goes “under the strings” if that makes sense.
I’m having the same problem. I’m currently going through a diagnosis of the issue via a Technique Critique.
What really helped me on the road to overcoming the issue was experimenting with pick grips. For me, the most comfortable and natural feeling pick grip is a three finger trailing edge grip. I have also played with a three finger Steve Morse grip in the past, but I find the pick articulates against the string better with a trailing edge grip.
I’m not sure if you’re a Masters In Mechanics member, but there is a video called Minimal Effort Pick Grip in the Pickslanting Primer. Troy talks about letting your hand relax in a neutral position and then gripping a pick with the least minimal effort. He demonstrates everything in the video. This was just one part of the puzzle for me.
It’s really best if you post a video, because that will let people see how you pick.
Thanks for your replies so far. At the moment I am having problems posting videos. As soon as I have solved this problem, I’ll post examples.
I have also experimented with various pick grips. 3-finger grips, trailing edge grips, you name it. The funny thing is, in the slightly faster regions beyond 130 bpm everything seems to be easier.
Have you tried locking in on that medium speed motion and gradually slow it down? 130 is a common breaking point between slow and fast techniques. i think of it like the point when walking fast turns into jogging.
Yes, I tried this, too. There seems to be a point when the motion falls apart, I’d say at around 118 bpm. I also tried various pick angles and pick grips. Sometimes I think “Now I got it”, only to find out the next day that I haven’t got anything. At the moment I suspect that pick depth could be a problem.
Well, at times I think I’m just a hopeless case.
Now i’m really curious, can you upload some footage to Youtube and show us what’s going on?
I suspect that you suffer the same malady as me. Lower than 100, easy peasy. Over 130, pretty damned easy. In between? Falls apart. What is it? For me – and I suspect you as well – the answer is we’re string-hopping. Under the problem speed we can keep it together no problem. Over the the problem speed and we’re using a different motion. It might be trapped, DSX, USX, who knows, but it’s not the motion we use at 120.
I don’t know how to solve it aside from finding a motion that isn’t string-hopping.
Lately I’ve started to realize that usually the feel of having “lost” the nice and smooth picking feel where it just works and flows is due to picking too hard. At that point I just try to consciously relax my hand as much as possible without my pickinh turning into a sloppy mess. After warming up like that I usually am right back on track with nice and flowy picking.