economy malmsteen picking.

[aarclark]

Hello, I am new to this site and have already learned a lot. As a lone guitarist I have slowly figured out many techniques on my own over the last couple years. But I didn't know how to do sweeps, which i just learned and am having a great time with.
The one thing that I am having a great deal of trouble with is economy picking and alternate picking. I can do them both slowly, but am having a hard time building speed. There is one vid on this site that is a malmsteen economy run, and I've been trying to learn it slowly. I play some malmsteen stuff with pull offs, but I'm trying to upgrade to the real picking now.
I don't know if I have too much tension in my hand or what, but it seems virtually impossible. Like the pick gets caught up or something. I watch the vid with the fast picking, and it just seems rediculous when I try it. (I'm practicing it slowly too). Does anyone have any advice on how to build a lot of speed?
Thanks
Aaron

[Akira]

Hmm, you mentioned the pick getting caught, what thickness of pick are you using? Most shredders use thick picks, such as a 1mm pick.

I'm no expert on alternate or economy picking so this is all I can think of at the moment, there are others on here who are more experienced with alternate picking however, such as superhuman and silentmusic.

[aarclark]

I'm just using a medium pick, whatever that is in mm I don't know...

[Jolly McJollyson]

I'm just using a medium pick, whatever that is in mm I don't know...
If you'll forgive my brevity: switch to a heavy pick.

[magicninja]

Practice with a metronome, particularly on this site. There is a metronome link on all the lessons pages. You can set up a speed drill where you increase the speed in set increments. This drill has helped me alot.

[CSchlegel]

I play some malmsteen stuff with pull offs, but I'm trying to upgrade to the real picking now.

Good starting point, though!

Try the same licks but repeat the notes each 3 or 4 times. This gives your picking hand a chance to really get used to the idea.

|-12-12-12-12-10-10-10-10-8-8-8-8-7-7-7-7-|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|

|-10-10-10-10-8-8-8-8-7-7-7-7-5-5-5-5------|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|

|-8-8-8-8-7-7-7-7-5-5-5-5-4-4-4-4-5-5-5-5--|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|

Then gradually remove the repeats.

|-12-10-8-7-10-8-7-5-8-7-5-4-5-|
|------------------------------|
|------------------------------|
|------------------------------|
|------------------------------|
|------------------------------|

Make sense?

I don't know if I have too much tension in my hand or what, but it seems virtually impossible.

Very likely. Both hands need to be as relaxed as possible. Many beginners to fast lines typically tighten their hand muscles almost by reflex. It only makes it harder to get to the next note - so RELAX! Only enough pressure to play the note is necessary. Any more is wasted effort and will only slow you down.

Finally, don't "dig" the pick into the string. Let the pick "glide" smoothly over the string.

Good luck with it, keep practicing & you'll get it!

[Superhuman]

I use 0.6mm picks exclusively - they are nice and firm with very little give and not so thick that the plec spends too much time on the string when playing fast (this gives a sharper picking attack IMO). If I use thicker picks my playing always sounds scratchy - good for chunky rhythms on high gauge strings but not so great for shred licks.
It took me a long time to get my picking down but once I did it became like riding a bike. It's mostly about muscle memory, you have to REALLY imagine the rhythm before you pick it, hear it and visualise it happening then play. When you can do this it becomes so much easier. Try picking 123 123 123 123 and accenting all of the 1's, then try it accenting all of the 2's etc, then try the same with 1234, 12345, 123456. Accenting helps to keep the rhythm in check. Play this on an open string before trying to add in the left hand. Sounds stupid but the right hand needs to be perfected before you start thinking about the left hand otherwise there is just too much going on and you end up out of sync and frustrated.
Adding in the left hand - first try the 123 and 1234 runs using legatto, play them over and over and imagine accenting the 1's. Then visuualise the right and left hand playing it together, all accenting the 1's together - (try the visualisation thing when you are away from your guitar - in work, a boring class, on the bus, where ever). Try it before you diss it!