guys i need your advice..

[spkenn5]

hey guys, i really need advise for sharpen my picking technique and other techniques.. sweeping and string skip mostly.. do you guys have any inputs for me? and i dont know why whenever i pick at high speed, it hurts my picking arm, it'll stop me from playing after a while.. it can be either..
1. i havent got used to it yet..
2. i have bad picking technique..
3. i should quit lol..

any of you guys can recomend me a good book about modes? i didnt get it yet.. hopefully soon i will...

btw if you guys want to hear my sloppy playing please go to

www.soundclick.com/k5

all the way in the bottom: since when i first picked up the guitar up to recently now..

[mi2tom]

The 3rd one is never an option, if you put it in as an option then... you'll eventually choose it one day...

[Dee]

I think it's a combination of the first two points you brought up.

How are you holding the pick? Gripping too tight? Don't.
Don't dig in too much.
Don't have too much of the pick tip exposed.
Use a Dunlop Jazz III pick (sharp point = smoother, faster picking).
Lighten up your touch all round.
Try to pick more from the wrist than the arm -- picking from the arm is an awful habit and looks amateur.
Let the pick "float" or glide across the strings and and avoid pressing your forearm or wrist too tightly against the guitar body.
Stay relaxed but keep a certain amount of snap and aggression in your picking hand.
Economise movements.
Practice picking on a single note, single string. Get it as fast and smooth as you can with minimum movement.
Experiment with different positions until you're comfortable.
Try using the pick at different angles.



We've talked plenty about modes here in the past . Do a forum search and ye shall find.

[Ki swordsman]

i agree with all Dee's great points.

i'll just add- the Jazz III also comes in an XL size which is normal pick size and also different hardness models(red is slightly more flexible yet still a hard pick- my favourite )
but the pick won't mean squat til you deal with technique issues like Dee's tips.

relaxation is the key, relaxing the muscles as much as possible while playing and untraining tensions(even random ones that occur in nonguitar related places while playing guitar or hard licks)

look at any pro in any physical sport/field/hobby and you see that they look really fluid and flexible(look at Vai ) and totally at ease on the instrument. that comes down basically to relaxation and being rid of unwanted tensions. some of which comes naturally the more you play but some needs a little training(especially removing tension)

[Eco]

best way i found to practice my alternate picking was to run through triplet and chromatic patterns along with a metronome. Start out at a lower speed your comfortable with then move up till your happy with the speed and how cleanly you can do it.

Also try a bunch of different picks and thicknesses, everyones different, its just about finding what your comfortable with.

[spkenn5]

Al, thanks for your comment! I'd hate to see me choosing that #3.

Dee, you're awesome! I really thank you for finding my bad side.
1. Yeah, I gripped my pick too tight. thats why i tend to stiff my arm up
2. Don't dig in? Srry i Didnt get it
3. Yeah, i used Jazz III and i let little part of the pick touches the string
4. Lighten up your touch all round. ( how do i do this? )
5. I already using my wrist to pick.
6. Let the pick "float" or glide across the strings and and avoid pressing your forearm or wrist too tightly against the guitar body. ( ah this is the problem! )
7. Stay relaxed but keep a certain amount of snap and aggression in your picking hand. ( do you have any idea how to do this? )
8. Economise movements. ( economic picking? )

@Ki sworsdman: I am having problem with that, playing stuff relaxed.
@Eco: I am already using that.

60bpm-140bpm: i can nail it relaxed, but above that, i tend to stiff my arm up thats where the pain start coming.

[Gudster]

Don't tense up. Even while playing quickly your right arm should be quite relaxed.

[mi2tom]

And don't be too hard and too soft on your practise regime as well