Using one form to "calibrate" another

Playing Technique
#1

I have two forms:

One is a mixed-escape form that I’ve put a LOT of time into and seems very capable. It’s roughly Andy Wood-ish: looks pronated on first glance but there’s a sliver of forearm underside showing. It’s no less fast, and probably faster, than my other form:

The other is a wrist USX with a tiny bit of occasional forearm that I’ve spent much less time with, but is more reliable. It feels like I can switch from the latter to the former by using less supination and extending slightly.

I find that when the mixed-escape form is having issues on any given day, something that really helps to dial it in is to spend some time with the USX form getting the attack smooth, then switching. But I don’t know what exactly it is I’m dialing in when this happens: it feels like I’m calibrating pick depth, but that seems unlikely! Anyone else do this and/or have any insights?

#2

I’ve been sort of doing something similar lately. When my flat-ish Di Meola form is feeling wonky, I’ll do the Di Meola tapping test to get the wrist path totally correct. I think this is because the test restricts any movement other than the right one from happening, whereas on the guitar it’s like the training wheels are off. haha I know specifically for me, from watching Magnet footage, that when things are going weird it’s because my upstrokes are burying a little too much.

I have to wonder if something similar is happening for you, that using the USX form for a bit “straightens out” your upstroke when you go back to the mixed form.

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#3

For the last few years I’ve been doing this but not specifically for that; I use trailing edge when I play bass, which changes all the other aspects of my picking inherently.

However, I’ve been experimenting with more trailing edge on guitar just because it feels so different from my regular picking, so when I find myself hitting a roadblock with one, I switch and can get more playing in without changing to bass.

Could be pick depth, pick point, grip strength, tension through muscles… honestly a good amount of variables.

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#4

Huh. This rings true for me. There’s a subtlety about the motion path that needs to be resolved, but I can’t always remember exactly what it feels like, and it’s definitely easier to get that path right with the USX form.

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#5

That’s always tough. It’s especially tough if you stop it for a while. At one point in my life I resorted to note taking to try to leave myself pointers when things were “right” and what the general feeling was. But even when being super descriptive it never really translated well into hit the ground running reliability.

Honestly I run into the same issue from time to time regarding things I find reliable especially when playing cold.

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