Pick hand technique ?

Hi,when alternate picking and string skipping should I be pivoting at the wrist or at the elbow ? Thanks for the advice.

Whatever feels most comfortable. There are lots of guitar instructors out there who insist that you must only use your arm, but there are plenty of great players who pivot from the wrist.

If it was me, I'd pivot at the wrist. It sounds hard on the arm moving it such small distances. Especially if you're playing really fast.

I would recommend using the forearm to shift from string to string and using the wrist to pick on each individual string. This way you are not over using the wrist and are taking advantage of the larger forearm muscles.

Mike.

I would have to agree with Mike P. it really just takes practice and finding what you are most comfortable with

I agree with Mike, part of the problem with turning your wrist is as your wrist turns the part of the pick which hits the string does as well. This will give you an uneven tone.

Yeah, these guys all have good advice. There are great pickers who use varying approaches, experiment and find what feels most natural to you.

Originally Posted by: jiujitsu_jesusWhatever feels most comfortable. There are lots of guitar instructors out there who insist that you must only use your arm, but there are plenty of great players who pivot from the wrist.

I've never met a guitarist or instructor who EVER said it was good technique to use your arm. It's a huge waste of energy, and not nearly as efficient as the wrist. Plus it's terrible for your forearm and elbow.

Originally Posted by: Jolly McJollysonI've never met a guitarist or instructor who EVER said it was good technique to use your arm. It's a huge waste of energy, and not nearly as efficient as the wrist. Plus it's terrible for your forearm and elbow.

you're both dead wrong.

the movement of the right hand can be divided into three categories, depending on where the picking motion is generated. the threre possibilities are elbow, wrist, and fingers.

Elbow.
properly developed, this type of movement can produce high speed and precision, including when moving from one string to another. this movement however requires more practice to properly develop the concerned muscles, because the mass of forearm and hand must be moved.

Wrist.
in this case the elbow and forearm dont move, and the picking motion is done by the wrist. this type of movement has two main variations.

1. wrist anchored to the bridge- the wrist and/or the palm of the hand rests on the bridge or other part of the guitar.

2. wrist hovering above the strings- neither the wrist nor the hand touch the guitar.

Finger.
Elbow, forearm, and wrist don't move. the picking motion is generated by the fingers only-- thumb pushing down and index/middle finger pushing up.

each approach has advantages and disadvantages, and they're all used by the best and fastest players in different situations.


the reason the elbow motion is hated so, is because people develop it the wrong way, and eventually screw their muscles.

Originally Posted by: pureyou're both dead wrong.

the movement of the right hand can be divided into three categories, depending on where the picking motion is generated. the threre possibilities are elbow, wrist, and fingers.

Elbow.
properly developed, this type of movement can produce high speed and precision, including when moving from one string to another. this movement however requires more practice to properly develop the concerned muscles, because the mass of forearm and hand must be moved.

Wrist.
in this case the elbow and forearm dont move, and the picking motion is done by the wrist. this type of movement has two main variations.

1. wrist anchored to the bridge- the wrist and/or the palm of the hand rests on the bridge or other part of the guitar.

2. wrist hovering above the strings- neither the wrist nor the hand touch the guitar.

Finger.
Elbow, forearm, and wrist don't move. the picking motion is generated by the fingers only-- thumb pushing down and index/middle finger pushing up.

each approach has advantages and disadvantages, and they're all used by the best and fastest players in different situations.


the reason the elbow motion is hated so, is because people develop it the wrong way, and eventually screw their muscles.

Actually, I'd say we were closer to both right than "dead wrong," if I read you correctly. I'd like to make a quick correction.

Elbow picking, as you described it, IS the incorrect development. It's hated when it's used in alternate picking. However, when moving from string to string, your forearm and elbow will obviously move up or down in order to bring the pick to the next string. However, the actual act of picking (in alternate picking at least) should be done exclusively with the wrist. It is the technically correct picking method and the most efficient one. It can also produce high speed and precision if you've ever watched John Petrucci or Paul Gilbert play the guitar, and it will do so without possibly injuring your elbow, and allow you to play even faster because MUCH less movement is involved. Speedy playing is all about economy of movement, not power in the forearm and elbow.

I've heard of fingerpicking, but I have to say, controlling a pick with only your fingers is simply a good way to drop your pick, and not have the grip for speedy playing.

Originally Posted by: pureyou're both dead wrong.

the movement of the right hand can be divided into three categories, depending on where the picking motion is generated. the threre possibilities are elbow, wrist, and fingers.

Elbow.
properly developed, this type of movement can produce high speed and precision, including when moving from one string to another. this movement however requires more practice to properly develop the concerned muscles, because the mass of forearm and hand must be moved.

Wrist.
in this case the elbow and forearm dont move, and the picking motion is done by the wrist. this type of movement has two main variations.

1. wrist anchored to the bridge- the wrist and/or the palm of the hand rests on the bridge or other part of the guitar.

2. wrist hovering above the strings- neither the wrist nor the hand touch the guitar.

Finger.
Elbow, forearm, and wrist don't move. the picking motion is generated by the fingers only-- thumb pushing down and index/middle finger pushing up.

each approach has advantages and disadvantages, and they're all used by the best and fastest players in different situations.


the reason the elbow motion is hated so, is because people develop it the wrong way, and eventually screw their muscles.

Hmm... I'd have to say my style is none of the above, but rather "composite wrist/finger picking" :D . I play fingerstyle, and I either generate the picking motion with my individual fingers, as you described, or form a "pick" with my thumb and index finger and strum from the wrist, depending on what I'm playing. I don't know whether anybody else does that...

Originally Posted by: jiujitsu_jesusI play fingerstyle, and I either generate the picking motion with my individual fingers, as you described, or form a "pick" with my thumb and index finger and strum from the wrist, depending on what I'm playing. I don't know whether anybody else does that...

That's not what he described. He means literally holding a pick and moving it with your fingers.

Originally Posted by: Jolly McJollysonThat's not what he described. He means literally holding a pick and moving it with your fingers.

Oh, right. Well, that seems rather pointless - you might as well fingerpick.

u could always hybrid pick instead of string skip. this means hold the pick between the thumb and first finger and then use the middle and third finger to pick as u would in normal fingerstyle. i try and use the middle finger on the
'down ' beats (when u would pick downwards with the pick), and use the third finger for the 'up' beats. but u dont have to do this. i like this technique because u have all the benifits of a plectrum, eg pinch harmonics, speed with runs, but can also play three notes simultaniusly without having to stum across the whole six strings, and string skip with relativly easily. also your fingers sound slightly pifferent to the pick so it gives you some tonal controll. and for all u speed freaks the more fingers u can use the less you have to move the pick the faster you can go.

a good song to practice this on is the intro to sweet child of mine.

In my experiance, thinking about your pick hand is going to get you in trouble. Once you get the basics of regular, alternate, and sweep picking, stop thinking about it in depth and do whatever you need to do to get around the strings. "Master of Puppets" is played with all down strokes, even though its so fast. In my opinion this is an inefficient way to go about it, but it sounds and feels right to Kirk, so thats what he does. There are very few hard, solid rules on how to pick properly. No two people do it the same.

honestly, i don't pivot at all. i free-flow mostly. just remember to use your index finger and thumb to do most of it.

mainly, if you are looking for speed, focus on using your wrist only. then, after a while, start using your elbow as well, and you will notice that a combination of the elbow and the wrist will give you a great increase in speed. it's kinda hard to get the cordination to do that, but it is very much worth it.