Picking Hand Positioning For Fast Playing Styles - Intermediate Guitar Lesson
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
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This lesson covers the basic of how to plant your picking hand in order to develop a faster picking technique. Everybody will approach picking slightly differently but I think you will find the info covered in the lesson will make for a good foundation.
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Lesson Taught By: Carl Brown
![How to Hold a Guitar Pick the RIGHT Way [Guitar Playing Masterclass PART 1]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/v9RIjw8psHo/mqdefault.jpg)
![How to Hold a Guitar Pick the RIGHT Way [Guitar Playing Masterclass PART 1]](/img/tr.png)
It's an Eric Johnson signature model with a Dimarzio Fast Track 2, Pro Track and Chopper pickups in it. :)
Years ago, I bought a couple of the "stylus picks" (look them up if you can't picture what I mean). The tip of the pick is not flat, but cone shaped and trains you to uses the very tip of the pick. If you go too deep into the string it stops you dead. It actually encourages you to pick properly overall and use more of your wrist/finger joints to pick. This is a practice tool only of course. You wouldn't want to use it full time.
They are awesome! Have used them on and off over the past few years, come back to them when my picking is feeling off, really great for getting it nice and accurate.
Just ordered some, so I’ll see how they do for me. I’ll try to remember to report back.
@@guitarhvac how are they?
Once in a while you see a video which levels you up on guitar. This is an amazing video and I am finally starting to see results with this idea. Thanks Carl! You just made me play fast!!!!
I just found out that it wasn't my fretting hand that was giving me trouble keeping up with a faster tempo, but my strumming hand being the source of the issue. This was a really helpful video, thank you!
Hey!! My pick is a red Jazz III by Dunlop and it is 1.38mm. If you haven't tried them I recommend checking them out because after a little of getting used to the smaller size it can really dramatically change your picking abilities for the better. Cheers!! Carl..
I started playing about 3 months ago. I can downpick really quickly but every-time i attempt to quick alternate pick, the pick gets stuck on an upstroke. It is extremely frustrating.
Check out Troy Grady's Cracking the Code to see what pickslanting is. If you don't have the time/patience (bunch of long videos), check out Ben Eller's videos about pickslanting, he has about two or three of them, which are straight to the point. I believe it is gonna help you greatly. And if you want to play fast stuff, check out the channel BERNTH, he has a great channel with great exercises and is a great player. One of his latest videos is a compilation of 10 picking exercises he did. Perhaps it may be "too advanced" (not being condescending) for your current stage, or not even your goal, but I love the channel and had to share it. I hope I helped and keep practicing! (watch Paul Gilbert for motivation, he is my favorite player by far)
Murilo Escher rock on man, I appreciate the help.
That problem will go away with time. Don't worry too much about it. Just practice
Mak Mehmedovic it already did. Im galloping and alternate picking with ease.
I have been playing the guitar for 11 years and the most difficult thing for me was to fix my alternate picking whet it comes to crossing string (usually 3 notes per string). You can start slow with a metronome and increase the speed by 2 or 3 bpm when you feel comfortable. And remember that it takes time to develop speed and accuracy. If you can play in 120 bpm right now, there is no way you can reach 200 in a month. Be patient and the results will come ;)
This felt of kind of a eureka moment. I've been consistenty playing for 3 months or so and I'd been struggling with the pick until now. I picked up the guitar to match what you were doing and it somehow clicked. I tried before, resting my hand on the bridge, but I didn't quite get it.
Thanks a lot dude!
@OrangeFerriswheel Hey, its the red Jazz 3. I have been using the Ultex Jazz 3 lately though. Thanks for watching!! Carl..
Thank you Carl! You are a gifted guitarist and a gifted teacher too. And this is really important for those who want to learn how to play a guitar!
Hey Taxue, just as nowinterweather said if you want pinch harmonics just dig in and pick a little harder over a harmonic node point. I personally pick very lightly and it keeps my pick a lot more nimble. I also do a lot of circular movement with my thumb to ease the transition from string to string. :)
transitioning to the electric after playing acoustic for years, your videos are just incredibly informative!!! THANK YOU
Thank you! Just got my guitar for rocksmith, and can't wait to practice this!
Me too
rocksmith is a bad way to learn
It worked for me
it still doesnt teach theory and it teaches you to skip notes instead of practicing whatever you're struggling with slowly
tist mcgee how so? there's a mode on the 2014 version of the game so you can practice what you struggle with.
THANK YOU! I finally found a lesson on this. It's all I wanted to know. I wish I would've known this when I had started playing guitar. It's working already, but like these guys said I hope that it won't strain anything.
Thank you oh so very much, Carl. I’ve been plateauing for about 2 weeks because I didn’t realize I’ve been stringhopping for two years. This video saved me
thank for explaining where to anchor your hand so well, it finally makes sense
You took the words right out of my mouth man. Ive been playing for about
25+ years and once i hit my 30's i started getting numbness in my picking thumb well doctor did nerve conduction test and said I had carpel tunel syndrome. Basically all from to much picking from the wrist. Since then I had to relearn to pick with the circular picking technique and Ive never had any flare ups with the CPS. Albiet My picking isnt as fast but id rather that then have to have surgery or give up guitar.
Thanks for that lesson. I've been a fingerpicker for years and found flatpicking to frustrating as hell. But, I'm determined. For some reason, I thought that anchoring was detrimental and tried to avoid it because I was under the WRONG impression that I might be starting a "bad habit." No wonder I was frustrated. So, I went back to my guitar after this lesson and found it really helpful.
Do what you feel is the most comfortable to you and see where you get the best results. Your playing will gradually evolve so try not to get stuck into one way of approaching things. I know the regular red Jazz III that I use is 1.38mm but I believe the EJ model Jazz III is a little bit thinner and it also has kind of a matte finish. Didn't really care for it myself but I played a couple that Dunlop sent me before they were made publicly available so I don't know if there still the same, :)
You and Mile High Shred are keeping me on the electric guitar thanks so much
I just found out that thick picks are better it helped me play faster and more comfortable with less mistakes after 2 years wasted on playing with thin picks , thanks you really helped
after 3 years of playing i came to your hand position of playing (without seeing your video) i guess thats the most relaxed position i can think of after trying almost every other hand position.this hand position is even good at muting when sweeping
Omg just changed my pick and the difference is huge! Woah, I actually don't suck quite as much as I thought! And it's also nice to know it's okay to put my hand down like that, coming from a violin background I was expecting so many "never do this" rules but I keep missing the correct string if I don't!
Carl, I just have to thank you. I always knew that it's good to keep the picking hand planted but the way I was doing it was not really working for me. Then I watched your video and I tried it the way how you explained it and immediately my alternate and sweep picking cleaned up much more. You're an amazing teacher and I want to try and support your work however I can by donating and telling others about your site. Thanks again for everything. Your videos are wonderful and you're not only an amazing guitarist but an amazing teacher as well!
It's the little things like hide the pick and use a small mart of it for picking, that make such a huge difference. Thank you.
I do the same at times, there are people who say that you shouldn't do it but I think it can create some extra stability and another pivot point to use. Some very well known and extremely fast players do it like John Petrucci and Michael Angelo Batio. Thanks for watching!! Carl..
my guitar guru tqvm for your lesson.
now after 12 years, i can play almost any songs that i loved.
I’m a violist learning guitar so right hand stuff is harder for me! I’m using Jazz III picks now and trying to get faster!
Yeah exactly, it feels almost effortless. :)
pure awesomeness and full of hidden advice's that no one will explain that to you. take his advice and you will see. thank you bro thank you, diffidently checking your website
u just give me the best type of my life, is not about the video talks, is about the hand position, thanks a lot!!
great lesson thanks.i have ears so I can hear what ur saying,its a free lesson and you took time out to show us so peace to you bro
Terrific helpful video. Best 10 minutes I'll spend today. Thanks!
the net is full of demonstrational videos that bring nothing, sometimes a video like this one is very usefull, so in my opinion this is a good video, clearly explained
Best video I have seen on right hand placement. You cover all the important points. Subscribed just for that. I mainly came here to review my technique because I am having some string noise issues. It was reassuring to see that this video conforms to my exact technique. Glad you mentioned picks, too. I think they aren't discussed enough and they really affect my sound almost more than anything. If you like a heavy pointed pick also try the Ultex Sharp. They are like an oversized version of the Jazz III which I feel is far too small for me especially when I switch to big movements like heavy riffs. I just can't go big with a small pick, but maybe that's just me. 10/10 on the lesson. Bravo.
I know a major majority of players keep the pick at about the same angle as the forearm coming across the guitar, but there are exceptions and one of them is quite possibly my favorite player Shawn Lane. He used a red Jazz III but turned it completely around and even though he was probably one of the greatest pickers ever I probably wouldn't recommend it. :)
I love ❤️ the Double Hot rail pick ups !!
Awesome vid. This will help me move ahead leap years. Many things I've been doing wrong!
I really like learning playing the guitar but have been discouraged as far as picking goes. I am left handed learning to play right handed, and while I know I can purchase a left handed guitar I didn't find out until after I started playing right handed...Anyway this is a very good tutorial. Where to place your hand, the angle to hold it at, the type of pick to use, and the motion of the hand while relaxing the fore-arm. All of this really makes a huge different in execution, and mobility.Thanks
Thank you I have been searching for a while on a guide to the best place to put your hand when picking and your video is very helpful. Very much appreciated.
Thanks again Carl, I was wondering why my pick seemed to keep getting caught on my upstrokes and now I see my pick is rounded at the end. Can't wait to get a sharper pick now. All your videos help me so much. I never thought I'd be playing some of these songs you've taught me!!! Thank you so much
I think this is great Video, common sense approach that sometimes we don't think about. Things like a hard pick and hand position. Thanks for sharing
I just started learning guitar and my right hand bugged me big time... Just couldn't figure out where and how to anchor it and how to pick... Two teachers tried to explained me and I also watched tons of videos on that to no avail...
I watched this video and I see huge difference instantly! This should be mandatory lesson number 1....
Just the best lesson with lots of detail for beginner
Thanks a million!!!!
Keep them coming please!!
I'd have to say these are all things that I've discovered on my own since having injured my picking wrist in a work accident and have tennis elbow in my dominant hand as well. So I'd say these are all good ideas. In fact if I don't pick like this then I'll probably have more problems with my wrist and possibly my elbow. Being relaxed and keeping things more ergonomic is always best when doing anything to avoid problems in the future.
It's funny you should mention that. I just discovered the other day, that the pickup could be lowered. It was WAY too high! I lowered it and it helped a lot. I'm trying to learn how to alternate pick better. When starting out, one concentrates on the left hand a lot, I'm trying to take it to the next level, and now I'm focusing on both hands. Thanks for your help. : )
ive been playing hand style perfectly well, even able to play things like highway star and comm. breakdown but i thought it was about time to learn with a pick
The description says " Picking Hand Positioning For Fast Playing Styles " not "im gonna play a load of fast picking" there are loads of vids with people playing fast on the net, this is showing how it's done.
Good vid mate..
Analogy for the soft vs hard pick thing he was talking about. using a soft pick to speed pick is like trying to beat somebody with a pool noodle instead of a Louisville slugger
@pnoplyr14 The pickups I had in my EJ start at the time I did this video were a Dimarzio Fast Track 2, Pro Track and Chopper. I have since gone back to the original single coils because I don't really need a humbucking sound at the moment. :)
THANKS a lot...! i stumbled upon this video as my pinky naturally tends to anchor beneath the pickup as i play something fast or tricky for my picking hand.... i thought may be i'm getting into wrong technique or something... but it turns out that it isnt that wrong afterall.... and thx again... u made me realize my huge picking movements need to be reduced...
thank for the video. it cleared up alot. i consider myself to play decently fast, but my instructor always told me to float. i was never comfortable with it and i always anchored my pinky. glad to know its "allowed". as for the pick, my friend gave me one a long time ago and once i held it, it was like i found my soul mate. iv had it forever. its the only pick i use and the only one iv never lost for an extended period of time. so yeah. theyre amazing. but they were that turtle brand lol.
Thank you, keep up the great videos! That really helped me.
If you like shredding do yourself a favor and be patient while practicing alternate picking with your right pinky (depending on size of your hands even the ring or middle!-ouch) anchored tightly bellow the strings on the guitar body while you pick anything alternate style. This is most IMPORTANT!
This will build some muscle in your hands and develop oh so needed precision, stability and CONSISTENCY in your shredding... high e and b you can easily use pinky, ring and middle for anchor - although pinky is enough, for low e its harder to use more than pinky as an anchor for your right hand.
This lesson is great and resting hand is primarily for muting and off course nice positioning and what not, but anchoring your pinky(or more bellow on the guitar body) is the way to build your right hand as a convincing shred machine, not a sloppy shred wannabe diesel machine, hehe...
All of you wanting to be better - be patient and practice consistently. There's no way around this. Master the standards then you will see maybe what is something that's clearly your own style... many masters have insanely weird style, they can pick alternate without even noticing it isnt alternate(Gambale) - but that's something that rare masters develop - at start stick to standard and practice basics but with right pointers - for right hand position of the palm and anchor with fingers . gl
Great video - thanks!
Just started use the pinky anchor learned from classical technique
Is the pinky anchoring the only way to develop that muscles? I've struggling for many years with my picking technique, sometimes I can play fast, For example, i've practicing Technical difficulties by racer x at 106 bpm, and sometimes i can play the main lick at that tempo perfect, i mean for long periods of times, then the next day i just can't, even though I warm up properly, I think my picking hand is blocked or it tends to play with my old bad picking habits. what can i do to solve this? :c
I like to slow down to a tempo where I can control every single note when I'm not sure if I'm using the right picking/any other technique. The only way to kill your bad habits is to continuously make a conscious effort to stop yourself from going back to them for a long period of time.
Agree. Anchoring your fingers also provide flexibility when plucking the thick strings so you dont have to move your arm up. Maybe not the fastest but most versatile picking hand placement.
Very,very helpfull! Thank you!
Hey man, I would just like to say thankyou so much for uploading these lessons, this lesson in particular has helped me so much as a intermediate metal guitarist who's been playing for 2 years. I've always had trouble with positioning of my hand and tremolo picking. I had no idea those little jazz picks were so good for metal! Alexi Laiho is my idol and I want to be able to shred like him so thanks for helping me on my way
This lesson i more important than most of you might think.
First of all following those simple tips you can increase your picking speed immensely.
Second and maybe even more important, that way you are SAFE from injuries.
I have a friend that because of the way his picking hand played he had (was diagnosed) with Tendinosis which basically is chronic tendon injury.
He had to stop playing for about one and a half years because of that.
Thumps up so everyone can see this and realise the danger.
If you're starting with fast picking, use a pickboy 1.5 or 1.7 instead of his saucer plates:)
Hi Carl , what an Awesome lesson is this !!. Thanks millions for the video.. It helped me a lot to play fast guitaring relaxing now.. I trying to master playing fast for years, but i was able to play fast only on the higher 3 strings& when i came to the lower 3 strings i was uncomfortable in playing fast.The techiniqe you explained helped me in playing freely with the same position in all the strings now..Thank you very much for your explanation.Plz do posting more videos .Have a great day !!..
Really good to help you think more about how you pick and why!
He mentions in this video, and the beginner video for alternate picking, that he angles the pick "at a 45 degree angle". When I see him picking, it doesn't look like quite that severe of an angle, but he definitely uses some angle, yeah.
Thank you, great tutorial!
Having been playing wrong/even holding the pick wrong for a couple of years now.
+Vlad Solomin Same here, man! But make that 16 years in my case, not just a couple! lol
it is the best best best best and best and again best lesson......i got many mistake in my picking and i now it make me clear.
Im at a pretty high level of classical guitar so I play with my finger nails, but recently I picked up an electric guitar. Playing with my fingers is great and it works great but to trem pick and to play faster it’s easier. It’s kinda frustrating tho cause things I can usually play super easily is hard while using a pick, I just can’t seem to hold it right urgh
I use tear drop picks. I was practicing with a Jazz 3 and I broke it, so the only pick I had left was a pick my friend gave me, a tear drop. I grabbed it and was instantly in love. The only kinda pick I'll use now.
@ghostcannon91 The number one thing I concentrate on when doing fast picking is to make sure that the movement not only comes from just the wrist, bust that the alignment of my rest is in a very natural state.. If you hold your picking hand relaxed out in front of your body, you can very quickly see what position it prefers to be in. I would try and incorporate that into your playing, not only will it prevent injury, but it will also create a lot less strain and more speed, :)
but when i anchor my pinky and plant my side hand how am i suppose to play the lower strings without tensing my wrist? it curls maybe i should move my forearm upward?
edit: found out! you just slide your hand down the bridge
Plant your pinky lower.
Great job! This video answered some questions that all the others failed to touch.
GREAT lesson very rare to get so much detail about hand
position, pick, etc
This really worked now I can finally play stairway to heaven solo to speed
This was awesome! It doesn’t appear you do anything new on your channels anymore.
Thanks for answering. That's what I have been doing. Guess my fingers are shorter. No resting palm of bridge for me. Picking behind the middle coil is too cramped and just too far back, so between the middle and neck coil is the spot.
Thanks wonderboy116, I will certainly keep them coming if you keep watching!! Cheers!! Carl...
GuitarLessons365 Hi and thanks for that video. I realized that picking the next near strings is easy even if you have sort of a wrong position with your picking hand. How do you handle picking big gaps like from low E to B and back to A?
Have this problem for 7 years, watching tons of guitar lesson, try to find the best one, still don't know what position is the best for me.
Especially when I got into economy picking. My picking hand become tense when picking fast (because the pinky finger tends to bend inside and tensing the whole hand). Fucked up synchronizing between picking hand and fretting hand. Too forget to go back to alternate picking.
I'm gonna try this lesson (actually my picking style not that different from yours). I guess I have to start over again from beginning. I really want to play guitar nicely and nailed the fast lick. Actually sometimes I can nailed it accurately, but most of the times I Just screw up.
Thanks for the lesson by the way.
"Coming all over the bridge" haha
Sorry. I'm immature.
Great video as always mate! Since i have huge hands I was curious if its okay if I put my hands just below the bridge as opposed to on the bridge where the strings end (just as you did)?
thanks for this. I have a hard time with fast picking for some reason.
This has just changed so much for me.....! : )
Thank you for your video. Its been very helpful. I've been playing guitar only a few years. My picking has been very sloppy. And I always felt my strumming with a pick was wrong. I usually pick with my fingers cause I feel more comfortable picking with my fingers even though they get sore after awhile. Been looking for better finger picking Techniques Too! after watching players like Lindsey Buckingham or Mark Knoffler play using their fingers.
sorry I'm not agree with your comment because I think He is a great teacher and learn to play guitar is not only just play the fastest you can!!! sometimes is good to listen and learn!!!My respect!!!!
This is a very good lesson...what do you think about anchoring on the wood of the guitar while playing the low E string? I've been doing so for quite a while, especially when I do fast Palm Mute sixteenth note runs...
this helped so much thanks man!
This is very helpful because it's so specific. I can tremelo pick very quickly or do 2 strokes per note quickly in this hand position, but I can't seem to alternate pick all the way up and down quickly this way. Any tips?
Tortex 1.0 ftw!...most average pick there is!! And it has a turtle on it!!
You can sharpen your pick on a carpet btw...so you don´t have to buy new ones all the time...
@GuitarLessons365 - Best guitar tutorials on youtube! Thanks for all your vids!
Awesome lesson. Thank you very much. It really is improving my right hand technique.
Carl, first off, let me say you've saved my a*s so many times learning covers. Anyone who plays in a cover band must subscribe to your channel, as I do. Thank you. I've watched your training vids to try to overcome bad habits (no formal lessons) that are over 40 years old. Any tricks/tips on how to "unlearn" bad things? Ex- planting my pinky, raising both hands too high, etc. Any response is much appreciated, even if I have to pay you for a private lesson.
Great lesson, thanks. Not many videos address this.
What confuses me on every lesson, is they say to anchor your palm area to the part where the strings meet the bridge. If I do that then my palm starts muting strings. Not to mention because it's anchored, my picking is circular, where the 1st strings are picked at a weird angle. So I have to move my wrist - then it's no longer anchored!
I am a semi beginner but still can't say which string is which. Some arpeggios I try you have to jump from string 2 to string 5 and then back to string 3 etc really fast. Most of the times I end up in mixing up the strings. I would be very pleased to reach the point and pick the way you pick at 3:30-3:35. Picking the right string without looking at the picking hand. Could you recommend some exercises to sort out this problem?
Thanks
Try practicing fingerstyle guitar, start with simple patterns or songs like House of The Rising Sun at a pace you can manage, then build up to more difficult ones. It'll give you a good grasp of the distance between strings. There are likely many other ways that you could practice through picking exercises, but that's just how I developed it because I was classically trained a few years back.
3:30-3:35 sounds like a song already in my head xD
Get a Les Paul.
Then play Rebel Rebel 1000 times.
5 years later, so hopefully you learned your EADGBE. Honestly you must have had a bad teacher if they didn’t start you off with skills that let you instinctively go to any string without looking.
my problem is well one touch screens so excuse the spelling. Anyway when I rest my hand on the back I palm mute when I don't what to then when I ease off the back my hand is in the air and getting tired easy.
I have the same problem. I recommend you move your palm down when going down and up when you go up.
...some people just don't appreciate theory...
that's why they are complaining...
but some people do...
if you want to know how its done, then listen
nice video man!!!
Hey Carl thanks very much for the info. I use a Jim Dunlop USA Nylon.60mm. That would be like using a coin,but I will give it a go. Cheers mate, Have a great day, Billy ;)
There is no wrong way when it comes to developing your own picking technique. You just experiment and find what is most comfortable. I've been playing for 7 years, and the way I pick has noticeably changed three times. I started with all my fingers curled in like a fist, anchoring the side of my hand and wrist on the bridge, but now I find it easier to hold the pick with thumb and forefinger and use the other fingers to anchor my hand. Whatever works for you.
Really appreciate the info! I like to play rock, funk and blues and find I have to compensate for the funk rhythms, as it's difficult to play with a harder pick. I think it's just a case practising using the thicker pick. I also struggle with the fast picking. I run out of steam after a while. Anyway, thanks for the lesson
I use the same Jim Dunlop Jazz III Max Grip little firm red pointy picks myself.
I usually buy a dozen at a time about 2 or 3 times a year. Been using them since I switched from the non Max Grip Talc-coated ear wax coloured Jazz III's a number of years ago.
Great picks for Extreme Metal! 🤘
I love how smoothly they glide across the strings.
Though I am finding they are a little shrill and difficult to manage on the higher, thinner strings. Maybe I need to tighten up my grip on them, as in, shorten the amount of tip I have sticking out?
It just seems that the firmness of these picks cause them to be a bit "grabby" on the high strings. They can kind of get caught up, or hung up, on the string. But maybe that's just me? 😅
Lots of helpful advice. Thanks!
Excellent video and Explanation of technique
Guitar tease!
I kept waiting for you to blast out a run,lol
@MrKneitan I think they're called Hot Rails. They are basically humbuckers the size of single coil pickups.
Thanks Carl!
I naturally sometime anchor. .specially fast picking but i dont completely rely on my pinky finger....
I feel natural