Picking from the Elbow

[CW14]

Sorry people, but another picking question!

Picking from the elbow - is there anything wrong with it?
I have heard it's not supposed to be done, but I find it hard to exceed about 150bpm without resorting to the elbow. I haven't been speedpicking for long, so could it just be undeveloped muscles in the wrist or something?

Thanks for any advice!!!

[Jolly McJollyson]

I keep my wrist fairly square and pick with the fore-arm...I didn't know there was anything wrong with that...

[HDJ]

It's all personal preference on what's comfortable. I prefer to use my wrist and keep my elbow still....my idea behind this is that if I just use my wrist, I have more control since there is one joint (the elbow) that is out of the equation. The more muscles used means more muscle's that will fatigue also....

Look at Hendrix, he's one of the greatest players of all time, and he had the strangest technique with his picking hand that I've ever seen....It was his own technique and it worked for him, so just go with what is comfortable to you.

[Jolly McJollyson]

Look at Hendrix, he's one of the greatest players of all time, and he had the strangest technique with his picking hand that I've ever seen....It was his own technique and it worked for him, so just go with what is comfortable to you.
Jimmy Page also has some of the worst technique I've ever seen.

[Guitarro777]

Do whatever feels comfortable. yngwie and rustey cooley pick from the elbow. Al di Meola picks form the wrist. John Petrucci picks with the joints of his thumb and forefinger. I do a little of all of them.

[jptk]

ive been told that you can pick with just the wrist up to about 160 16ths. but if you wanna go further you gotta use some forearm.

[Cryptic Excretions]

I use my wrist by preferance and keep my arms fairly still. I recall reading at one point that using the arm/elbow/whatever is a bad habit or posture or something. I don't remember the details but I remember a big "no-no" following using the arm. Now, if it's comfortable to you then I really don't see why it's a problem, so don't take my haphazardous reiterations too religiously.

[CW14]

Thanks for the advice!

I find it much easier to use a bit of elbow, so I guess I'll keep doing it.

Someone just told me once to "NEVER pick from the elbow", but screw it. I just can't seem to get my wrist to move above 150-160bpm.


yngwie and rustey cooley pick from the elbow

Just out of interest, does Yngwie really pick from the elbow?

[Jolly McJollyson]

My bad, I actually pick from the wrist hahaha. What at 160? 16th notes? 32nd notes?

[CW14]

32nd notes - I wish!

My wrist cant pick any faster than 150bpm 16th notes.

[Cryptic Excretions]

I've gotten my wrist up to 200 bpm... only once though. I'm working on getting my sweeping up to 150 bpm.

[Cryptic Excretions]

Furthermore, I did some reading, seems as though (going by a rough estimate of putting 2 and 2 together) the reason why guitarists are told to use their wrist would be the same as a drummer using more ankle than leg in their kicks. It minimizes movement and uses less energy this way... so I've read. I'm also partially talking out of my ass on this one.

[HDJ]

Okay, after reading this thread, I went home and studied the way I use my picking hand. After 16 years of playing, it was about time. Anyway, I noticed I use my wrist all the time except when I'm strumming chord's or playing fast passages. At around 180 bpm, I start using my elbow, makes playing faster easier, to me anyway......But again, just do what's comfortable, I alway's did and it worked......

[lightning_licks]

I don't think I've ever resorted to elbow picking. I've always naturally used my wrist.

[CW14]

So... Could you guys pick fast with your wrist right from the start? Or did you need to develop that wrist speed?

[Jolly McJollyson]

So... Could you guys pick fast with your wrist right from the start? Or did you need to develop that wrist speed?
It needs to be developed. Nobody can pick fast right from the start.

[Akira]

I pick using my thumb & forefinger, with my wrist also.

It's all about what feels right for you.

[CW14]

I think I was trying to pick too hard!

I'm not having much trouble shredding from the wrist now.

Thanks for your input everyone!

[Akira]

That's ok.

*takes a royal bow*

Pfft, commoner.