You had me on the first sentence. I've been trying to find a guitar lesson to help a beginner like me find the solution to simple picking problems instead of these crazy shredding tactics. I'm glad I came across your video. Thank you for your time and effort.
Finally someone heard my prayers,lots of lessons on how to use your pick for soloing but not for strumming ,which is my main issue ,so a big thanks for this video
Yes, it seems most all of the youtube teachers teach soloing which most don't take up the guitar to do. Most just want to learn how to play on the porch, at a campfire or for the wife or a few friends. Over 90% of beginner guitarists quit in the first year because there aren't really good teachers out there.
My problem with picking is sometimes hitting the wrong strings that I meant to miss. I try to do it slowly and build up, but it seems to occur again and again. It's a bit frustrating. Thanks for your encouragement.
I'm a self taught guitar player - playing for a long time and I've only recently gotten interested in being able to add some lead to my playing. I'm going to try this out. Thanks!!
@@armandocastejon5025 learn tabs first, they will 100% help you throughout your self taught journey, after that learn some simple riffs (and try to learn hard riffs if you want a good challenge after learning a somewhat medium riff)
@@Audioslave_Fan Something that has helped a lot is trying to play more songs with barre chords. I will increase the difficulty level as I get better, thanks!
James, I couldn't agree with you more. I want to accurately pick the strings and Not keep hitting the wrong string. I go online and the instructor is shredding and playing rapid arpeggio's and it's like, Give Me a Break. So looking forward to your arpeggio picking video! Do you have that video now on your website?
I’ve heard teachers say never to use any thumb/finger movement. But I find a lot of the tonal variation comes from dynamics that can only be found by the small adjustments and angles - especially depending on the pick you’re using.
I've been trying to learn Simple Man by ear all day. After figuring out the chords (C major, G major and A minor) I spent all day trying to pick the strings to match the riff. Kept hitting the wrong strings over and over. Came to this vid, decided to try it with a metronome, set it to 200 bps and low and behold suddenly I'm playing it perfectly. Thanks man
I’m uncertain if this would help me, but the thing is that I was trying to play “Phantom of the opera” from Iron Maiden and my main issue is that at some point goes from a loop that uses power chords using the A, D and G strings, but the loop requires you to play it like this (A D G D A D G D) and I most of the time end up picking the wrong note mainly because I’m self taught and I learned to play with downstrokes but recently I started using alternate picking but I’m not comfortable enough to use alternate picking when doing loops.
im a lefty but play righty where learned on a shared guitar as a kid. by a certain point i was locked in and decided its how i play but i definitely have to be aware and work on my picking precision so thanks for this. conversely i really feel my fretting hand has a nice edge so it's not entirely a handicap lol. for me i only really slip up with the g and b strings it seems, where it starts getting thin i guess my brain has trouble registering the difference. high e seems to be easier where i suppose its kinda got an obvious point of reference to fretboard edge. gonna try and do this it'd be pretty amazing if it breaks that bad habit.
First I want to say hello to you and thank you for this important content, I have been trying to learn this technique and luckily I found you and I promise myself to practice the way you are suggesting and again thanks.
Hi James, there are alot of picking lessons to be found but it's rare that the actual pick size is mentioned, so can I ask what pick width do you use in your videos, and do you vary what size pick you use ?. I am still trying to settle on the perfect pick for me - I like a .60mm, sometimes a .48mm. or a .73mm. Should I try settle on using the one size only ? What do you recommend ?
Consider guitar-playing as an art or a craft. Painters don't use just one brush. They have an assortment of brushes and learn when and how each brush should be used. Similarly, woodworker has a variety of chisels. I'm sure that you can think of several other examples. So constantly experiment with a variety of picks. Eventually you will find your favorites and you will know how and when to use them.
That’s a good question, David. Finding the right pick for me has been its own journey. I have tried may be two dozen picks with different sizes and strengths and think I found the right ones for me now that work on acoustic as well as electric guitar. Along the way I also picked up a lot of good advice on how to hold the pick and how you hold it also determines which pick works best for you. In short: try as many picks as you can. Eventually, you will find the right one. PS My guitar teacher once gave me the advice to vary my picks, because I might need to play with a borrowed one during a gig.
depends on person type of guitar gauge of strings and style being played. A .48mm pick will have no tone. Thicker pick stronger sounds if you playing melodies. Thin pick sounds flappy when you strum weak sound. Flexibility gives some leeway on fast strum but reduces accuracy and tone on fast picking. Obviously too thick can also reduce some speed personally but Django didnt have too many problems as his accoustic is concerned with volume. I use 2mm on nylon string .76mm on electric rock metal. I despise steel string accoustic guitars because most neck shapes are terrible except for high end models. but would go around 1.5 if i had too. I do like the wegen 2.5 gypsy jazz picks but expensive niche instruments. thick pick cons no flexibility for beginner harder for noob to fast strum pros much stronger sound and tone. What im trying to say is get a bigger pick. If its an accoustic guitar and the pick is thin the tone is pathetic and weak no volume less dynamic range 1.5 - 2mm If the pick is too thick on electric then doesnt have sharp attack for rock or shred. thus .76-88. Red jazz 3 are ok but fkn slippery like stubbies Once youve found a favourite pick for each instrument nylon electric steel pretty much use the same for 30 years. Tried heaps and heaps but i always seem to come back to the same comfort zone. Other people change every now and then but personal preference.
Being a fingerstyle guitarist I figured that using a pick was no big deal. Wrong. There''s a lot to it, so thanks for this fine lesson on basic accuracy with that little devil.
[Hears you mention his guitar hero, Eddie Van Halen, dies a little inside....] May he RIP. But seriously, I am sponging on all the videos and waiting to hear back from my email before buying the course! Thank you for all the time and detail you put into even the free lessons! I am pretty sure the day will come when family will find me in my pajamas, fingers caught up in the guitar strings, unable to free myself, unable to eat or drink.... cold and craddling my Epiphone Les Paul having been hell-bent on learning how to play. As a kid, I got a guitar but simply did not have the patience. As a young adult, I had the patience, but working my butt off, I ended up having to sell my guitar (I'd recently bought to learn) to pay a utility bill. As an older adult at 51, I have a few acoustic, an electric, and a bass. I have visual reminders every day of just how much I want this.
Even as a player of 20 years I still have the maddening habit of hitting the wrong string when picking "vertically", i.e. individual notes in a chord not always played sequentially as in a sweep motion, i.e. "Stairway" or intro to "Paradise City."
I consider myself an intermediate. My problem actually resides on the picking hand wrist angle. When I have to ascend/descend on the strings, I have to microadjust my wrist so my pick touches the string in a swifting motion. But this causes me to miss the string, and kind of a discomfort on my wrist as the time passes by.
Start with straight symmetrical patterns Am 4 down change to 4 up on top string. Strum the chord down first beat then do 3 up picks descend from top on rest of beats. Use low string as pedal point drone play up and down the chord 65 64 63 62 61 62 etc do the same with a scale running over pedal point. Pick up on whatever string you reach/want on a down arpeggio. Use 332 rhythm type schema DDU DDU DU. Try harder 5/4 DDU DU. ?? Move the scale over the chord on the created up pick accents or use open strings scale like Em on the 4th string move around on down accents (E) G B (F#) B (E) G B (D) B. Chord melody. Strum push thru the strings/chord until you reach the string you want bring out. feel the pick stop on the string above. Do the same then start down up picks on that string. Then move the scale up and down that string IE strum Am reach top string down up pick scale efgfe. Only take fingers off the chord you have to.
Did we view he same video? I didn't see him anchor his picking hand even once. Experiment for yourself and do not limit yourself to one technique. But never 'anchor'. Sometimes having a part of your picking hand on the guitar is helpful. Other times, it is a hindrance. An anchor is always a hindrance and detrimentally affects the tone of acoustic guitars.
@@jeffberdin Ahh...Well, then it's no wonder that I don't care for his music. Seriously, Tommy says that he anchors his picking hand, but in reality he doesn't. His little finger is often in contact with the soundboard, acting as a depth gauge, but watch closely and you'll see his little finger moving across the soundboard almost constantly. He has slight pressure applied through his little finger. Instead of having it anchored, he lets his little finger graze the soundboard lightly through an arc and does not hesitate to remove it completely when keeping it down would hinder his hand motion.
@@fragslap5229the lesson on string tension and really focusing on that is great since it creates that mind-muscle connection . This is a great lesson for beginners
💻 Check out James' Guitar Course To Learn Lead Guitar: goodguitarist.com/lead-guitar-course/
You had me on the first sentence. I've been trying to find a guitar lesson to help a beginner like me find the solution to simple picking problems instead of these crazy shredding tactics. I'm glad I came across your video. Thank you for your time and effort.
Finally someone heard my prayers,lots of lessons on how to use your pick for soloing but not for strumming ,which is my main issue ,so a big thanks for this video
Yes, it seems most all of the youtube teachers teach soloing which most don't take up the guitar to do. Most just want to learn how to play on the porch, at a campfire or for the wife or a few friends. Over 90% of beginner guitarists quit in the first year because there aren't really good teachers out there.
My problem with picking is sometimes hitting the wrong strings that I meant to miss. I try to do it slowly and build up, but it seems to occur again and again. It's a bit frustrating. Thanks for your encouragement.
I'm a self taught guitar player - playing for a long time and I've only recently gotten interested in being able to add some lead to my playing. I'm going to try this out. Thanks!!
I'm learning by my own too, any advice?
@@armandocastejon5025 learn tabs first, they will 100% help you throughout your self taught journey, after that learn some simple riffs (and try to learn hard riffs if you want a good challenge after learning a somewhat medium riff)
@@Audioslave_Fan Something that has helped a lot is trying to play more songs with barre chords. I will increase the difficulty level as I get better, thanks!
@@armandocastejon5025 no problem friend! I'm also new at this starting 2 months ago. Still going strong!
@@Audioslave_Fan Oh really? I started like 10 months ago, but practice really does the trick 👌🏼
Wow I've been wanting to start working on bettering my picking right on time for me thankyou for the exercise
Always helpful. You're right. We're no guitar gods! Just play our favorite songs.
Thanks James for your dedication.
🎶🎶🎶
This video deserves a million views, incredible
I absolutely agree with the shredding statement. I have 0 desire to play in that manner.
James, I couldn't agree with you more. I want to accurately pick the strings and Not keep hitting the wrong string. I go online and the instructor is shredding and playing rapid arpeggio's and it's like, Give Me a Break. So looking forward to your arpeggio picking video! Do you have that video now on your website?
Practicing slowly.. learning faster.. thanks for the lesson... all things help. 👍
I’ve heard teachers say never to use any thumb/finger movement. But I find a lot of the tonal variation comes from dynamics that can only be found by the small adjustments and angles - especially depending on the pick you’re using.
Comment for the algorithm. Nice video! I have played since 1995, but nobody is too good or too experienced for fundamentals and drills like this!
I've been trying to learn Simple Man by ear all day. After figuring out the chords (C major, G major and A minor) I spent all day trying to pick the strings to match the riff. Kept hitting the wrong strings over and over. Came to this vid, decided to try it with a metronome, set it to 200 bps and low and behold suddenly I'm playing it perfectly. Thanks man
This really accurate and helpful for beginners thank you very much for teaching everyone!
I’m uncertain if this would help me, but the thing is that I was trying to play “Phantom of the opera” from Iron Maiden and my main issue is that at some point goes from a loop that uses power chords using the A, D and G strings, but the loop requires you to play it like this (A D G D A D G D) and I most of the time end up picking the wrong note mainly because I’m self taught and I learned to play with downstrokes but recently I started using alternate picking but I’m not comfortable enough to use alternate picking when doing loops.
I like to also use scales for picking practice and thank you very much for all of you lessons, God Bless you.
Excellent tutorial and demo. Thanks.
I have trouble picking the low E consistently and now I have a good idea why. Thanks!
Great video! Helped with my picking! 🎸
Really helpful. Love the shirt. Thanks GG. You don’t have a lesson on Zepplin’s “Hey Hey what can I do?” By chance ?
I needed this .. your guitar algorithm is better than TH-cam's
👍
i love your video and i like this video
Hi. Where is the worksheet you mention? Thanks
Great video James 👍🏻and you’re soooo right with what you said at the beginning. Thanks to ya for this easy to follow explanation.
Are you supposed to rest your picking hand on the guitar or is it supposed to hover above the strings when doing scales/leads
im a lefty but play righty where learned on a shared guitar as a kid. by a certain point i was locked in and decided its how i play but i definitely have to be aware and work on my picking precision so thanks for this. conversely i really feel my fretting hand has a nice edge so it's not entirely a handicap lol. for me i only really slip up with the g and b strings it seems, where it starts getting thin i guess my brain has trouble registering the difference. high e seems to be easier where i suppose its kinda got an obvious point of reference to fretboard edge. gonna try and do this it'd be pretty amazing if it breaks that bad habit.
First I want to say hello to you and thank you for this important content, I have been trying to learn this technique and luckily I found you and I promise myself to practice the way you are suggesting and again thanks.
Love this. Thank you!!
ERM, the "bigness" off the vibration regarding open string vs 12th fret is properly referred to as Amplitude ☝🤓 (I am ass at guitar)
Nice lesson , thank you.
Glad you liked it!
Damn son. That’s the best online class I’ve ever watched
Thanks! This will help me!
such awesomeness and good, helpful lessons and tips, once again.
Love this , will give it a try!
Hi James, there are alot of picking lessons to be found but it's rare that the actual pick size is mentioned, so can I ask what pick width do you use in your videos, and do you vary what size pick you use ?. I am still trying to settle on the perfect pick for me - I like a .60mm, sometimes a .48mm. or a .73mm. Should I try settle on using the one size only ? What do you recommend ?
Consider guitar-playing as an art or a craft. Painters don't use just one brush. They have an assortment of brushes and learn when and how each brush should be used. Similarly, woodworker has a variety of chisels. I'm sure that you can think of several other examples.
So constantly experiment with a variety of picks. Eventually you will find your favorites and you will know how and when to use them.
@@jimwing.2178absolutely agree with that, soft hard tear drop pyramid pick, what is comfortable is the right one for that person.
That’s a good question, David. Finding the right pick for me has been its own journey. I have tried may be two dozen picks with different sizes and strengths and think I found the right ones for me now that work on acoustic as well as electric guitar. Along the way I also picked up a lot of good advice on how to hold the pick and how you hold it also determines which pick works best for you. In short: try as many picks as you can. Eventually, you will find the right one.
PS My guitar teacher once gave me the advice to vary my picks, because I might need to play with a borrowed one during a gig.
depends on person type of guitar gauge of strings and style being played. A .48mm pick will have no tone. Thicker pick stronger sounds if you playing melodies. Thin pick sounds flappy when you strum weak sound. Flexibility gives some leeway on fast strum but reduces accuracy and tone on fast picking. Obviously too thick can also reduce some speed personally but Django didnt have too many problems as his accoustic is concerned with volume. I use 2mm on nylon string .76mm on electric rock metal. I despise steel string accoustic guitars because most neck shapes are terrible except for high end models. but would go around 1.5 if i had too. I do like the wegen 2.5 gypsy jazz picks but expensive niche instruments.
thick pick cons no flexibility for beginner harder for noob to fast strum pros much stronger sound and tone.
What im trying to say is get a bigger pick. If its an accoustic guitar and the pick is thin the tone is pathetic and weak no volume less dynamic range 1.5 - 2mm If the pick is too thick on electric then doesnt have sharp attack for rock or shred. thus .76-88. Red jazz 3 are ok but fkn slippery like stubbies
Once youve found a favourite pick for each instrument nylon electric steel pretty much use the same for 30 years. Tried heaps and heaps but i always seem to come back to the same comfort zone. Other people change every now and then but personal preference.
@@theendmyfriendmy favorite pick is finger
Of course you mentioned Eddie,he was the best. RIP. I'll use this to improve my accuracy and be like him anyway. Thank you
Thanks for the info.
So good and clear.
Nice video. How do you like that Revstar? I am craving one
Being a fingerstyle guitarist I figured that using a pick was no big deal. Wrong. There''s a lot to it, so thanks for this fine lesson on basic accuracy with that little devil.
very helpful.thanks
[Hears you mention his guitar hero, Eddie Van Halen, dies a little inside....] May he RIP.
But seriously, I am sponging on all the videos and waiting to hear back from my email before buying the course! Thank you for all the time and detail you put into even the free lessons! I am pretty sure the day will come when family will find me in my pajamas, fingers caught up in the guitar strings, unable to free myself, unable to eat or drink.... cold and craddling my Epiphone Les Paul having been hell-bent on learning how to play. As a kid, I got a guitar but simply did not have the patience. As a young adult, I had the patience, but working my butt off, I ended up having to sell my guitar (I'd recently bought to learn) to pay a utility bill. As an older adult at 51, I have a few acoustic, an electric, and a bass. I have visual reminders every day of just how much I want this.
Common sense tuition as usual. We'll done and Thanks James👏🎸👍
Even as a player of 20 years I still have the maddening habit of hitting the wrong string when picking "vertically", i.e. individual notes in a chord not always played sequentially as in a sweep motion, i.e. "Stairway" or intro to "Paradise City."
really helpfull thanks
How do we get the free e-book?
I consider myself an intermediate. My problem actually resides on the picking hand wrist angle. When I have to ascend/descend on the strings, I have to microadjust my wrist so my pick touches the string in a swifting motion. But this causes me to miss the string, and kind of a discomfort on my wrist as the time passes by.
PS: im on an electric guitar
whats the song at 1:46 i cant seem to remember the name
Sounds like a piece of more than a feeling by boston
I can play this exercise with deft alacrity. But I still suck at arpeggiated chords
Start with straight symmetrical patterns Am 4 down change to 4 up on top string. Strum the chord down first beat then do 3 up picks descend from top on rest of beats.
Use low string as pedal point drone play up and down the chord 65 64 63 62 61 62 etc do the same with a scale running over pedal point.
Pick up on whatever string you reach/want on a down arpeggio. Use 332 rhythm type schema DDU DDU DU. Try harder 5/4 DDU DU. ?? Move the scale over the chord on the created up pick accents or use open strings scale like Em on the 4th string move around on down accents (E) G B (F#) B (E) G B (D) B.
Chord melody. Strum push thru the strings/chord until you reach the string you want bring out. feel the pick stop on the string above. Do the same then start down up picks on that string. Then move the scale up and down that string IE strum Am reach top string down up pick scale efgfe. Only take fingers off the chord you have to.
@@theendmyfriend Thanks! I will give it a shot!
Hi James
I notice that you anchor your picking hand.
Could you please say something about that?
I was going to ask as well 👍🏻
I usually anchor my pinky when fingerpicking and just wondered if you could use that technique with a pick as well?
Did we view he same video? I didn't see him anchor his picking hand even once.
Experiment for yourself and do not limit yourself to one technique. But never 'anchor'. Sometimes having a part of your picking hand on the guitar is helpful. Other times, it is a hindrance. An anchor is always a hindrance and detrimentally affects the tone of acoustic guitars.
@@jimwing.2178 “never”? 👎🏻. Seems to work ok for Tommy Emmanuel
@@jeffberdin Ahh...Well, then it's no wonder that I don't care for his music. Seriously, Tommy says that he anchors his picking hand, but in reality he doesn't. His little finger is often in contact with the soundboard, acting as a depth gauge, but watch closely and you'll see his little finger moving across the soundboard almost constantly. He has slight pressure applied through his little finger. Instead of having it anchored, he lets his little finger graze the soundboard lightly through an arc and does not hesitate to remove it completely when keeping it down would hinder his hand motion.
He mentions anchoring in the follow up video to this one.
th-cam.com/video/J3Z3JBkgZqQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=s5Wzg-WjyVAZkN98
what make and model guitar is that?
looks like maybe a yamaha cutaway. not a pro so that's probably wrong.
what kind of guitar is that?
this is Diabolical in its simplicity
🧐🎸😎🎸
Do you give one on one lessons? I'm an intermediate guitar player, and don't have anyone to play with to improve.
Can't find a link to let me open an account
Nice intro, well said
Always a great help. And it's comfort. We're just "ordinary" people, no (indeed) Van Halen lol. I use all you tips.
Thank you so much!🎶🎶🎶
This is perfect, I can make Chinese music using this exercise so I don't annoy the neighbors lol practicing.
this tutorial is kinda specific
Much 😊
too much talking in the opening...
I only play with my finger nails. Work best for me
Why do u guys have to talk sooo much before u get to the point?
Looks like a Taylor guitar, but obviously isn’t?….
It's Korean's Crafter guitar.
Not to be unkind, but I think you COULD have demonstrated this "how to" in UNDER two minutes.
Completely disagree. Great video
@@D.Boon1 Dude, he just went up the fingerboard playing the same fingering over and over and over and -- you get the picture, right?
@@fragslap5229the lesson on string tension and really focusing on that is great since it creates that mind-muscle connection . This is a great lesson for beginners
This guy provides very useful tips and training routines for free. How dare you!?
@@m.b.8536 I don't see how telling him he could make better use of his time is harmful.
to much talking. i skip
Too much talking
Stop using a plectrum,best way to really connect with a guitar ,,, picks suck.