Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

[some_dude]

Over the last couple of decades I've intentionally been a heavy picker. I've kept the gain low and hit the strings hard. I like the response, particularly on rhythm where the reduction in gain allows greater clarity, separation and dynamic control.

Lately I've been wondering if I should reconsider my approach.. turn the gain up and dial my pick attack back. I'm starting to think that maybe my neanderthal approach has been holding me back. The last few years I've been trying to improve as a lead player and I keep hitting a wall when it comes to speed and accuracy. Having to dig in for every note really slows my picking down.

 

[CTN]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

Having to dig in for every note really slows my picking down.

that's what it comes down to.

Having good control of your picking hand means you can dig in for the parts that need the power and oomph, and then dial it back and finesse it for the intricate stuff.

I've always been a pretty light picker generally speaking, and especially so for leads, but for rhythm stuff, when the riff allows for it, I go to town on those strings.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

Billy Gibbons from the Rig Rundown that his tech did, he was using like 13's back in the day, but then started using 7's and his tech says he has a super light touch now.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

I'm a pretty aggressive player, my right hand in particular but I have lightened up over the years...I used to use heavy strings but started having issues with my hands plus I had gotten to a point where I wanted to do more than just bang on the guitar so I switched to lighter strings and started having at least some finesse to my "style"...if I even have a style!

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

I think it also comes down to the song you're playing, I wouldn't play as hard for a ballad as I would for a fast punk song for example. I usually use pretty dynamic pickups so the tone difference can be huge from playing soft to playing aggressively which I like for control and accents. Sometimes ill accent the snare hits of a song with an aggressive strum. The tone really is in the hands

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

I never really gave any conscious thought to it but judging by how fast I ate through picks I can tell that I started by being a really heavy picker but as I got more experience I gradually started pulling back, in part for increased dynamics and in part to increase my speed and decrease right-hand fatigue.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

Picking has been pretty consistent, just make it so the strings don't flap all over the place and go sharp if you pick/hit it.

My fretting on the other hand has changed COMPLETELY. I used to pin down those strings, but now I barely touch them. I like it that way.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

Nope. If anything, my picking has got harder and more dynamic over the years. I prefer bashing with low gain to get a crunchy sound. It sounds right and feels right to me. I approach guitar in a more percussive than melodic way, and the compressed sound of high gain drives me bonkers.

 

[LReese]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

Actually getting softer with old age. Problems with the 'ol thumb. Been playing a lot with the fingers now, especially when fiddling around with slide - A soft touch helps there.

 

[kilphody]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

I've developed this weird picking style in the last few years where I hold a pick with my thumb and forefinger but use my thumb on the E-A-D and sort of finger pick with my middle ,ring and pinky on the G-B-E using the actual Pick for power hits.. I got this huge callous on the side of my thumb now. Johnny Winter was a big influence when I was younger and I used to use a thumb pick only. But I do play a lot softer now with (imho) more definition and clarity..
PC

 

[blueman335]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

I've never been a heavy picker, I don't see banging on a guitar as an approach that works for me. My right hand is very controlled and precise, and moves as little as possible. I can pick hard or soft, with the tip of the pick or the side, so I can get a lot of dynamics and still have the accuracy for high speed picking. After all, the left hand is where the action is. That's the aggressive hand for me.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

I'm starting to think that maybe my neanderthal approach has been holding me back. The last few years I've been trying to improve as a lead player and I keep hitting a wall when it comes to speed and accuracy. Having to dig in for every note really slows my picking down.

V-Picks really helped my speed and accuracy despite my heavy hand. The one drawback I've found to my right hand technique is too much picking noise when recording. I have some ideas about recording techniques to reduce it but I have no intention of changing my basic mechanics. I really like the way a good amp will give up the goods when you really dig in. I do lighten up at times but that's to get a different timbre.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

V-Picks really helped my speed and accuracy despite my heavy hand. The one drawback I've found to my right hand technique is too much picking noise when recording. I have some ideas about recording techniques to reduce it but I have no intention of changing my basic mechanics. I really like the way a good amp will give up the goods when you really dig in. I do lighten up at times but that's to get a different timbre.

I like pick noise, at least for solos.

I find I can 'dig in' better if my right hand is anchored in place; that gives more control and accuracy in my 'digging.' I like to be able to lighten my touch and let the amp clean up. That's easy with a controlled right hand. For me, if I'm banging on the strings and swinging my arm, pick accuracy goes out the window. But part of that may be that I'm a more solo-oriented player and play single notes as often as possible, even in my rhythm work. If I did primarily chords, I'd probably have a wilder right hand, as you're hitting a group of strings instead of just one.

 

[Diego]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

When I use my SSS Strat, IMO the only way to make it sound good is with a light picking hand, particularly for chords and riffs.
Strum it hard and all sort of harsh and brash sounds seem to come up. I use 10-46 strings with medium action.
It works for me.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

When I use my SSS Strat, IMO the only way to make it sound good is with a light picking hand, particularly for chords and riffs.
Strum it hard and all sort of harsh and brash sounds seem to come up. I use 10-46 strings with medium action.
It works for me.

I wonder if that's why I can't seem to get along with Strats...?

 

[Ball&Chain]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

I wonder if that's why I can't seem to get along with Strats...?

I dunno, SRV seemed to be pretty heavy handed and could get a decent tone out of his SSS Strat from time to time.

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

I used to be a meat fist sledge hammer player when I was younger and used .88mm dunlop picks and a whole lot of down strokes along with strumming with my whole arm. Then I decide that had to change since I was in a playing rut. I switched to Jazz III picks, alternate picking all the time, strumming from pretty much all wrist and a much lighter touch and my playing got far better, less sloppy and of course faster. I was also able to get the action on my guitars much lower due to it which was another bonus. Plus dynamics in my playing vastly increased since I could still dig in if needed but also feel just as comfortable playing very light to clean up a section if I wanted to.

 

[LReese]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

I'm liking Jazz III's more these days - Back in the dark ages was told to use the really thin Fenders that lasted maybe 2 weeks, then the Tortex came out which was much longer lived.

Getting some results just using my fingers, but there are just some things you need a pick for.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

I've lightened up my fretting technique due to a non guitar related fretting hand issue. My picking has also changed a bit as a result I still get the job done!

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Anyone transition from being a heavy picker to a having a lighter touch?

When I use my SSS Strat, IMO the only way to make it sound good is with a light picking hand, particularly for chords and riffs.
Strum it hard and all sort of harsh and brash sounds seem to come up. I use 10-46 strings with medium action.
It works for me.

My approach has changed quite a bit since I started playing SSS Strats. I don't know why exactly but I don't like the tone that comes from strat singles when playing hard... but it's the opposite with humbuckers for me, I'll play harder with humbuckers, I don't understand it but I feel I get a good tone from stuff I use so I'll just roll with it.