lower strings picking

I have this problem picking the low E-string. When picking on other strings I have no problem but on low E its like **** I'm stuck. It is also very hard for me to switch beetwen low E and A when changing on the inside. Any idea?

Uh..put some balls behind it? I dunno.

I would try making sure you're using the right picking technique, and if you are you might want to try a different thickness of pick.

When I first joined this forum and asked questions on this they all said the same thing. PRACTICE!!! And practice I did, and I did it well.

The problem might be the fact it's heavier/thicker thus it has more resistance. Ontop of just playing songs, I did tedious scale exercises so that when I switch from E to A, the transition is smooth till I got faster.

what exactly happens when you play on the low e? does the pick stick to the string or do you lose the pick or what? cuz i have never heard anyone having that problem. either they have problems with playing and holding the pick exactly, or they have no problem. but problems on particular strings is a new one since the low e and a strings are not THAT different in diameter.

Try this line very slowly and precisely , and go as fast as you can ... After a couple of days of practicing , this should be on of the easiest and fastest things to do on guitar.

Begin with a DownStroke, and alternate pick throughout.

A---------7--------%-|
E-7-9-10-----10-9----|


I think I should credit Paul Gilbert here , since he keeps on teaching this line (on different strings) on every single video he makes !

Here's another good thing (but not as good)-

d---------------9---------|
a-7-10-9-10---10-9-10-|

Play it 4x. See that 7 at the beginning? Play that 7th fret the first 2 times (like it's written), then instead play 10th fret E string there (third time) and then 8th fret E string (fourth time). That's 'last resort', by papa roach. Play it as fast as you can with good technique and it's a decent picking/left hand warmup.

edit- where's a monospace font when you need one? Hopefully this looks ok now.

New problem a? And yes my pick is caught on the string. When I move my hand up there I loose my hand support and pick digs in too much soo it slows me down. I went from 16th notes at 120bpm to 160bpm in last three months but when playing fast every time I come down to lower E it just slows me down or I screw up. Thanks for the exercises.

1). Your pick is too thick AND/OR

2). You've got to make your picking hand raise ever so slightly as you get towards the thickest string to keep the same consistency in alternate picking at fast speeds. This will prevent the pick from 'catching' on the string and causing problems.

Ey Dude,

Seriously go to a gym and get some forearm strength or something Or you could do exactly what everone else has said, PRACTICE Dagnabbit!!!!

Having trouble switching between the lowest strings is crap, a real guitarist would easily get over it. What a dumb and weak question you have proposed. The sort of thing that you should have figured out for yourself easily and simply solved the problem.

PRACTICE and you shall overcome. Do exactly as you have been instructed to do simple minor string skipping exercise. Or do this one.

------22----33----44-----55---
---00----11----22-----33------

Up and down the damned fret board over and over and over and over and over again until it sounds flawless.

I appologize if my brutal honesty and attitude offend you but seriously get over it.

Yes it is exactly what aiwass said. I gues it will just be practice, practice, practice...

Seiko_Hejiro: I am a bodybuilder and because my arms are the best part of my body(very strong) I guess it isnt the strength LOL.

a bodybuilding guitarrist? LOL - looking for a job at ManowaR? :D

LOL.