THIS Is Why You CAN'T Pick Faster
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 พ.ย. 2024
- #shorts #alternatepicking #shredguitar
THIS Is Why You CAN'T Pick Faster
Guitar lesson for increasing picking speed. Picking speed guitar lesson
Sort your Alternate Picking out once and for all:
courses.benhig...
The Complete Guitarist is THE place for Rock/Metal/Shred Guitarists to improve their skills. Includes Badass Practice Plan! bit.ly/3Jq8jmf
Who makes that guitar?
@@patkeating97 It's a Floyd Rose Del Mar 👍
@@BenHigginsOfficial - May I ask what pick you use? I know speed isn’t in the plectrum, but I’m still curious. I’ve been using a perfectly triangular pick made of … Delrin, maybe? … and of an undetermined gauge, but it feels really sturdy. I like it, but I may try finding a lighter-gauged one, so I can hold it more firmly without getting all jammed up in the strings.
@@danopticon Dunlop Jazz III XL in this vid
What if you just pick in one direction? Also what if you use your elbow instead of just wrist?
right, there's only 2 things to worry about: how it sounds, and whether it hurts
hey
Could hurt your head tho if you have a weird picking pattern you have to do perfectly every time to stay consistent.
@Achilles Fergus If you need to pick fast its gonna be really difficult without the right technique, and trying to just brute force it is really bad for your wrist
@Achilles Fergus gd that's a little pretentious
@Achilles Fergus Do you use your wrist to trem pick?
“Hey man, you know you can just do stuff right? Like you don’t need anyone’s permission”
While I understand this is sarcasm, I honestly think there's some people out there that genuinely need this said to them 100% seriously
@@Ken_neThT me.
I’ve become a guitar player I could’ve only dreamed of being as a kid just by practicing and going after it.
The best advice anyone can give for guitar is to just keep practicing. The more comfortable you are with your instrument the more experimental you’ll get
Best comment in the feed! 😂 As simple as Shia LaBeouf "JUST DO IT!" meme
@@Ken_neThT I'm 30 and this just hit me so fucking hard. The amount of shit I don't do because I'm overthinking, worried about how people will perceive it, etc...
“I don’t give a toss” is probably one of my favorite expressions in modern language
Same
It's not modern, u clearly aren't British.
@@6fejmk correct.
Do you know what it means?
also the most British expression I've ever heard
And I notice the hand just naturally wants to tense up too. So making the conscious decision to relax the hand definitely helps me out
I believe that's such a big part of advancing as a guitarist. Being conscious of the tension, not only in the hands, but in the wrists, arms and rest of the body, helps so much in just enjoying the process as well as helps in playing better.
Totally agree. I’ve been playing for awhile and that is probably my biggest hangup is tensing up. This is especially true when I’m trying to do gallops or some chunky rhythms lol. So frustrating!
This is a problem in every instrument. Every new musician tenses up from unfamiliar muscle action, and it has to be forced out. Doing it consciously every day dramatically speeds up accuracy and technique retention.
Speed comes from ease.
Tension and strain are the enemies of speed.
No just go for it
he really doesn’t give a toss!!
My wrist motion was very similar and I can now see how that dragged me down over the years but what is working for me now is pick on string - pushing through strings -accenting and breaking problem areas down to the smallest possible denominator - things I never thought of in the past until brought to light by Lord Higgy
"get the job done" thats the most direct and right statement
“I don’t give a toss,” I’ve never heard that phrase before and I love it
😄 It's common in England.
@@jameseberhard7457 oh my goodness, I love it !! :)
English haha
@Bubble -x12 rain and afternoon tea sounds like a vibe ♥️
Hang out with more Brits
This is some of the best advice ever. Guitar is an instrument of /sound/, not of visualizations. Who cares *how* it looks, as long as it /sounds/ good?!
What about the mechanics used to achieve te job? He is using elbow engagement and is tense up
@@yonatanc25, I think you're projecting your own bad habits.
I’m so glad you said this. I had a bit of a brain breaking moment a few years back due to how to held the pick etc and you’ve just helped me undo that
@@t.a.7970 Thank you
I like the "just go for it" mentality, but the major difficulty in playing fast isn't necessarily in the picking hand - its in the coordination of the two hands. This aspect does require a lot of patience to build up speed...but still sometimes you just gotta go for it.
Definitely, I cover these aspects in other videos 👍
Talking from experience, this is the truth! Finally some honesty on the subject. Thank you for this!
My biggest steps in improvement I ever made playing was learning a new technique, over thinking it, trying way too hard to get it just right, then picking it up the next day really lazy and getting it just right. It's strange.
Yes. Practice and fail for an hour or so, go to bed, sleep, and get back to it the next day. You will have magically learned to do the thing
@@Gurrehable pretty much! Gotta love it.
That's the part that most people can't get too, for some reason all my friends who wanted to learn guitar from me can't even get to the point of developing calluses bc they "practice" and maybe they really doo learn something but then the next day they don't do it again with a more relaxed and confident attitude, they just wait until they see me again and go something like "hey I couldn't do this thing, how do I do it" and id always say something like "idk you just practice it and adjust what/when u need to but the important part is(insert whatever I think they are struggling with in particular)" repeat next week into perpetual no improvement, I don't know how to tell them they just don't care enough about getting better bc if they really did they would be practicing before work, after work before bed, really anywhere you can comfortably fit it at least for the first few weeks until you can comfortably play notes cleanly ever time you fret one
Thank you. People don’t understand this is how our brains work. I don’t know the science behind it but it’s like your brain properly internalized whatever you did or learnt throughout the day making you better at it when you wake up. It’s happened to me with games, longboardimg, guitar, anything you can improve at really.
That’s why people say it’s better to practice 15 minutes a day everyday a week rather than 4 hours a day once a week
Thanks for Info really helped out😊
Man that guitar is beautiful
Yep, great purple.
@@DiscoScottie grape purple
@@nicochevez2124 - yummy!
looks like a car, sleep curves n shit
....BUT -What type of Guitar is This...? (It says Floyd Rose on It ???
Awesome, thank you for sharing 🎶🎶👍
I love the phrase "I don't give a toss." First heard it from Colin from CS Guitars. It's awesome. You are two of my favorite guitar TH-camrs.
I found this exact advice by Ben around 4 of 5 years ago, from some of his older videos. I'm telling you Ben this advice was life changing. Remember how you said to wiggle your picking hand in a sort of like hand shaking motion, and then turn that motion on its side and just try to get it as loose and fast as possible? In less than a week I was already nailing the exercise that I was working on. These days I can just shred away any alt picking licks that I want. Thanks a lot Ben!
I am an overthinker and I over complicate everything but that has served me well in alot of ways. However, I fell in love with the guitar because of how free my mind feels while playing it. It was the first thing that I ever did that I just started doing it and stopped thinking about it. I don't know why my brain is wired that way but I'm glad that is. And yes you are correct.
This explains why I love guitar as well - after twenty years of playing, I finally understand this because I saw your post =D
That guitar is stunning, love that deep purple color! My next guitar is definitely going to be purple, you’ve just sealed the deal on it!
My problem is that it gets stuck and delays it for a second, not really long but it’s noticeable.
this sounds like you could be tensing up your wrist/arm a little too much
What's "it"? If its your wrist or hand, yea you're tensing up and need to ease up. If you're talking about your pick, how thick of pick are you using? May need to move up a few gauge
You may be digging too deep. His floyd rose guitar has a raised body beneath the picking area to prevent just this. But since 99.9% other electrics don’t have this feature, just practice “gliding” over the strings, don’t dig too deep… you’ll probably find there’s only one or two spots where you’re tripping up creating that delay. Create exercises for yourself around those spots, and you’ll overcome them in no time. And metronomes can be helpful, but bursting also needs to be practiced, going from 0-100 in a burst… try it!
You are probably holding the pick too hard, and using more of the pick then you need. Loosen your grip, and try using just the tip.
If this is happening when you move from one string to another it's because of pick direction and you should watch Troy Grady's Cracking the Code series.
This is absolutely true. A lot of time beginning players have this "embarrassment" of others hearing them practicing and trying to improve and sometimes even if youre alone. I struggled with this a LOT. People can do a lot more than they realize they're capable of, they're just afraid of doing it wrong and looking stupid but once you get over that feeling and just go for it you will surprise yourself and greatly improve.
I like “stop overthinking” type videos for all aspects of life sometimes we need to slow down and just try what feels right without fear of failure
One of the things that held me back was how hard I was hitting the strings. When I hit the strings as lightly as possible, I find I can strum much quicker and with much better dexterity. Good luck out there, guys. 🎸🔥
Volume comes from technique, not force. It is surprising how little energy it takes to get a string ringing well.
“I don’t give a toss what it’s doin” loved that
I give a toss
"How can I play fast ?" "Just play fast lol"
I tell my gf the same thing over and over
"I dont give a toss how it feels, I wanna do it faster"
She doesnt understand, tho. Smh
Same
@SPAZZ really now
@carc what are we wittnessing here?
@carc 💀
Hope you're doing well in tenth grade this year
Wise words spoken from a wise man
“I dont give a toss”🤣
“How do you pick faster? Just pick faster.” and it’s literally true 😂
'I don't give a toss what it's doing!'. Love this, cracked me up!
I always loved how Richie would do those classically inspired single note riffs with a bend that just blew one away!
Richie Blackmore is great
Thanks!
👍👍🍩🍩🎄
Instructions unclear, furniture in my living room is levitating
Excellent tips bro☝️👍
Thank so much helps right away
That’s the most annoying part i see a lot of new guitar players worrie about how the look while playing form hand form to picking and I always tell them it doesn’t matter how you look all that matters is that it sounds good and if it hurts
That grape guitar looks good enough to eat 😋
this video really helped, i've always hated my picking hand because it didnt look cool like other guitarists and i tried having different picking techniques but nothing was better than the original one, so i just stuck with that one and remember if it's not broken, dont fix it
I needed to hear this, thanks .
No you didn’t. This is dreadful advice.
Accuracy is what is important. Speed is built over time.
Try to play fast too soon and it will be messy.
I'm so glad I found this❤ thanks Ben Higgins Official
I was told by fancy guitarists for over a decade that I have incorrect strumming technique (it was once compared to skating mongo, which really made me nervous since I used to skate and skating mongo not only looks dumb as all hell but also puts a very hard cap on your abilities no matter how much you work it, which is a big problem if you’re like me and want continuous growth/improvement) , so I finally started really working on changing. A few years in, I finally strum “correctly”, only to find that the music I’ve always played (punk/garage/rockabilly/etc.) is full of guitarists who pick like I used to bc that’s the most practical or only possible way to play some kinds of styles.
The lesson here is, don’t let the “right” way scare you out of YOUR way, bc your way may work better for you-unless someone tells you not to skate mongo, you should always listen then because they are right and you will always be wrong about everything in your life so long as you think it’s ok to push mongo.
Imagine skating mongo 💀💀💀
What the hell is Skate Mongo?
@@majesticpbjcat7707 you push with front foot instead of back foot,
mongo is awful
👏👏👏 Solid advice, sir!
You can even apply it to a great many things in life... If you aren't able to do something that you wish you were able to do ... just STOP NOT BEING ABLE TO DO IT! 🤯
I play in a grindcore band, and can’t stress this tip enough lol
Thank you. I’ve always played slow because everyone says so, but naturally I play fast and then I learn faster.
I've learnt more from you than I have from any guitar teaching app or other youtubers 😩
Wow, that's great to hear!
This is almost too intensely relaxing to watch in one go
Well, my problem is that I can do trills (speed bursts) on one string, but have no idea how to apply this when picking different strings. This is where I'm truly stuck. Not only it is more complicated for the right hand, but also requires certain synchronization with the left hand. How to gradually come from tremoling on one string to actually playing fast phases is a mystery.
Igor, I have an Alternate Picking Playlist on my channel that is just the right thing for you! 👍👍
@@BenHigginsOfficial thank you Ben, will check it out 👍
This was a major breakthrough for me learning drums. I kept waiting to get faster and one day I realized "dude just go faster".
God that guitar is beautiful
Reminds me of the frosting that came with my sisters Easy Bake Oven when we were kids. Purple frosting, make to go full toss.
Man that tone sounds really good
Very good advice for your own body to tell you what makes sense but also an economy of motion. I think what this person is saying, is that there’s no one WAY. But, use what works best for you! I’ve seen circle picking utilized, angle of the pick, etc. IMOP, Shawn Lane was/is the fastest so there are lessons to be learned from the fastest “shredders”. It’s a lifetimes pursuit. What works for one person, may not work for another. We all have to find our own “way”. Great video. 😊😊😊
"I don't give a toss!" How deliciously British haha! I'm stealing that phrase!
Cheers from America
Thank you for affirming that l am free to pick as l choose. When l tried to pick the way it is taught it slowed me down.
I am faster and more comfortable when l pick the way l feel is more natural.
Thanks bro.😊
It is taught that way in order to avoid injuries. Beginners will inevitably clench their wrist as if they're wanking off, and limit their speed.
Here's the secret to a relaxed picking motion: STRUM the guitar.
When you're ready, try to strum on fewer strings. Stay relaxed.
Speed that motion up with a metronome. Done.
(The wrist will naturally bend, and stay relaxed)
I needed to hear this
WHAT GUITAR IS THAT?
It's a Floyd Rose Del Mar
Watch Glenn Tipton shredding on stage and then tell me I have to pick a certain way.
This video's point is so valuable.
Floyd rose guitar???
Yep. It has a raised part between the pick ups so you only pick with the very tip of the pick. It's helps you to pick faster. I saw Tim Pierce demo one.
I know, weird, at least you know it’s a genuine Floyd rose trem tho lol
Fantastic advice
Deceptively good advice. When I was starting out I got in the habit of using a lot of thumb movement, even sometimes only using thumb movement to pick some notes, and this was always considered wrong technique. Then 15 years later I learn Malmsteen does it. If it works and it doesn't cause you injury, do it. And you can always learn another way later if you want or need to.
I've never had any issues with overthinking I'd just throw my hands as fast as I could. Focus on speed then cleaning it up and it's worked wonders. I'm glad I watched this video because that's great advice I can pass on because I've met people who just "can't" do it. But they are probably overthinking. Cheers
the finish on the axe looks great!
You have just explained the perfectly. In a way that I cannot explain it
Very solid advice, there seems to be a culture of, if you don't spend 4hrs a day with a metronome it won't come, nope. Got to go for it sometimes. But string changes require intellectualizing the movement otherwise you'll end up with a technique that only works for certain runs and never get mastery of it. But even then, it's more about feeling it out rather than getting it to look right.
The only mechanical advice I can suggest is, picking is more a doorknob turning motion, not a side-to-side "casting a fishing line motion". You attack the string plane at an angle, sometimes alternating that angle during changes. When you speed up you will find that you can loosen your grip and allow the pick to "choose" that angle. I spent my entire teens doing the side-to-side (fishing-line casting motion) and it didn't matter how many hours I spent it NEVER came together. Breaking that habit took a solid year, but it finally all came together
Yes, that's right. And with the string crossing, breaking it down is the only way to get a feel for it th-cam.com/video/E__a61lfceU/w-d-xo.html
This is exactly right and the only advice that has helped me. Just go for it.
Amen!!!! Focusing on pick slant and all that bs just slows you down....just do it!
Is that really a thing? Who cares how it looks?! Lol
@@andersrahm424 yes there's entire courses online on pick slant. Not how it looks, the angle you hold it to the strings.
I agree the pendulum approach or strict alternation is just a guideline or habit you want as your default until it doesn't work for what you need.
That is great advice, coming from a hand. Thank you, hand.
Hand says "you're all good, duder"
Old school will definitely be your more blues playing and defining when you really want to impress.
Thanks for this, I've been working on my picking a lot this year. Great to hear someone tell me to just go for it lol
Extremely g00d advice!
Just called me on my bullshit !!
Good work. !
I agree, you have to just go for it sometimes, it might take some time to get use to it, but otherwise you will never reach the next level
I pray to and thank God for you man, thanks for the lesson
Bro's hand like
🤘🤟🤞✌️🤏🤌👌🖖👋🤚🖐✋️🤙👈👉👆👇
Just go for it. Try! Even if you think it sounds off or bad or whatever. Keep at it. It will shape itself into something you love and others will love eventually.
Good advice man, thank you, new sub!
@@MrTears03 🤜🤛🍩🍩
that tone is angelic
The thing everyone needed to hear
Explaining was nice and detailed, subbed
I love the "I don't give a toss" 😂 Thank you fellow Brit 🫡
“I don’t give a TOSS” 😂 lol
Love this advice.
Beautiful Guitar
Thankyou somebody said it✊.
I think keeping my hand still and moving my arm up and down at the elbow makes my picking better and more stable than flicking the wrist. Feels more ergonomic to me
If it works, it works. As long as it doesn't hurt or cause problems. Works for Vinnie Moore, Rusty Cooley, Chris Impellitteri and many more
Rely on hammer ons and pull offs and trust yourself is the best advice anyone can give truly. I’m still not the best myself but if you’ve made it that far on guitar you know about practice
What helped me most was doing short bursts of say 4 notes with a pause inbetween, and doing it rhythmically like a snare drum roll. instead of just a constant stream of notes. Then resting if when i started to tense up.When I got used to that I just upped the amount of notes that were in each group.
Right hand muting can be applied to really focus on the attack of the note and also holding the pick at a slant to get a bit more bite or friction on the string helps .
A big difficulty im still working on is jumping strings and syncing up the left hand.
thats a good way to put it. make it work for you. even try angling the pick in a different way. it doesnt have to be completely straight or parallel to the strings.
For me there are a couple of things to understand about fast picking: first obvious, the way you pick fast is not the same motion when you pick slow...so, like the big Mr. Lane said with that sweet little angel voice he had, practice slow, AND fast, even if you can't make it sound good. The thing is that you have to be aware that you are sounding ugly so you can perfection it. Cause if you think you already are picking fast and good, you will never get to the right point.
And the other thing for me is, no matter the grip or the kind of way that you hold the pick, you have to do it with firm on the fingers and loose on the rest of the arm (starting with the wrist). For me, it worked so much, and i think are the basics for picking technique. Cheers!
As someone who just got an electric guitar, I agree with this.
I learned this a long time ago, if you want to play fast, then do just that. The more you do it, the more articulate you become.
I usually like my guitars kinda plain and traditional looking. That royal purple finish is nice. That guitar just wants to be played.
Beautiful guitar. I would love to have one in that color
“Giving yourself permission to go after it.” I really struggle with this, and not just with guitar but for a lot of aspects of life. I think a lot of people do. When we’re young we’re over-corrected, and often times very harshly. Then when we’re adults we struggle with decision making and follow through because it’s been hammered into us that we’re wrong and we have massive trouble trusting ourselves and feel like we need to ask permission and get constant re-assurance that what we’re doing is correct. Anyway lol that’s my 2 cents.
Your guitar looks awesome 😊
Frank Gambale and economy picking was life changing for me!
That's why I've gone back to holding the pick like I did as a beginner. Feels the most natural, "proper technique" be damned.
You got yourself a new subscriber
Welcome 👍👍🍩🍩