USX Sync and Swiping?

[AustinK]

Hey Everyone,

Been grinding in the woodshed and need outside perspective on my sync and how I am changing strings. I believe I am swiping for the most part but I’m not sure.

1st video is USX tremolo-I feel confident in this one

https://youtube.com/watch/jetO7Iyl45Y?si=RU6KJRtftPf4d0GY

2nd is DiMeola 6s on single and multiple strings with USX-I also think this is fine

https://youtube.com/watch/ezAjC3JGJ_g?si=CmqLZoMCHijvC_gs

3rd is scalar chunk-I think I have sync and swipe-not sure

https://youtube.com/watch/1gsPI7wXZDY?si=0tO--aJGlh-R1YH4

4th is 3nps scale runs with swiping-I think sync is ok-may be a bit off on ascending

https://youtube.com/watch/ITmqFDkmb2Q?si=fqLiXAohD3zVSonH

5th is PG lick with downstroke and upstroke start. For downstroke, I am trying to swipe, upstroke start feels cleaner but I’m not sure if it is.

https://youtube.com/watch/Qcy6KWUEjOE?si=6PBUNIcRw23pTqMT

Thanks in advance

[Riffdiculous]

@AustinK

2nd is DiMeola 6s on single and multiple strings with USX-I also think this is fine

I would probably stick with this sort of thing for a while. If you listen to yourself at reduced speed, it’s definitely not synced - the sounding notes are more like C C B A and other variations at times, so the picking and fretting are not locked in.

Just one man’s opinion, but I personally wouldn’t push this sort of thing too hard - I’d find the maximum speed I could play where everything is super tight, and then try to increase that over time. No metronome or anything.

[AustinK]

@Riffdiculous thanks for the candor and taking the time. I’ll keep at it

[Jacklr]

Any videos from straight on? Video 3 it looks like the elbow is taking over which might be throwing you off if you’re focusing on a wrist or fw based motion

[AustinK]

I will try filming straight on. Thanks for the feedback

[AustinK]

@Jacklr here is front view of tremolo. It does look like my elbow is moving a bit. I’m not sure if this is due to forearm rotation and/or my lack of coordination/ongoing development of motor learning.

- YouTube

[Tom_Gilroy]

I agree with @Jacklr, the 3rd video looks like and elbow movement and it’s clear from the from the front angle, too.

Can you play continuous 16th notes with a strong accent on the first note of each group?

[AustinK]

@Tom_Gilroy good point. Yes, but I am not sure how “strong,” it is. Should it be very noticable? I will try to post video later today.

[Tom_Gilroy]

The accent should be very clear. Try to break the string on the accent.

[AustinK]

@Tom_Gilroy ok thanks. I will have to work on making accents more prominent. Here is my attempt at it just now:

https://youtube.com/watch/KCE82DZkcaU?si=9_q1HM_JmlxunWE1

[Tom_Gilroy]

Hi @AustinK,

That doesn’t sound like a 16th note pulse to me, I can’t hear a 4 note grouping. Sometimes it sounds like 2s, sometimes it’s more like 6s. Can you drum a continuously accented 16th note roll, on a table top or your knee? See this video (made for another user).

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7Md3Aa_osJM

The accent is necessary for your perception of the rhythmic pulse, which in turn is necessary for chunking and synchronisation.

[AustinK]

Ok, I assume next steps are:

@Tom_Gilroy

You should be aiming for a continuous accented 16th note roll at at least 160 bpm. No drummer considers this to be fast because it isn’t fast at all. Speaking frankly, if you can’t do this you have bigger problems than picking technique that need to be addressed first.

Drummers get two hands, but they only get one stroke per hand. Guitarists only have one picking hand, but we get both upstrokes and downstrokes.

Now, understand that efficient picking mechanics feel like the 16th note roll rhythmically. So, try to pick continuous accented 16th notes (on a singe string is fine for now) at the speed you can perform a drum roll.

[Tom_Gilroy]

Yeah, that’s the general process

[AustinK]

@Tom_Gilroy thank you. I did not realize this defiency. I am plugging away now. I can do 5 measures of 150 with metronome and probably 145 or so without for same duration.

[Tom_Gilroy]

It’s not what anybody wants to hear, but honestly, if you can’t drum a continuous accented 16th note roll at 160+ bpm on a table, then I think you have bigger problems than picking technique, and you should make them your priority.

[AustinK]

Point taken; this whole thread has been humbling and motivating . I been focusing on drumming here and there in brief moments since your response about an hour ago. I began with struggles at 110 but am feeling comfortable at 140. I had 150 going for a bit but lost it. I can do a few beats of 160. 170 is beyond me at this moment.

Big thanks to you, Jack, and Riff

[Tom_Gilroy]

This is important progress. When you can roll 16ths at 160+ bpm continuously, you will have a reference for what picking should “feel like” rhythmically. You’re on the right track, keep going!

[Staffan_William-Olss]

Try pressing down the strings ridiculously lightly, almost not touching the frets, and play shorter bursts of 7 or 13 notes (triplets). 9 or 17 notes for 16th-notes. Alternate between half tempo and full tempo.