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.