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

[Rockstar216]

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

Depends on the song and what context i'm playing in and how loud or soft I want to be. I think I would consider my self on the softer side of the spectrum most of the time. I will say though in a live situation when the adrenaline gets to flowing all bets are off and may even do some windmill strumming ala Pete Townsend style.

 

[blueman335]

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

in a live situation may even do some windmill strumming ala Pete Townsend style.

Oh boy. Just watch the jumping, as most stages have low ceilings.

 

[GAS-a-holic]

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.

+1!
I've also switched to Jazz III's and lightened up my touch over the last year or so. Not really going for speed but my picking's definitely more accurate and my dynamics have improved.

Xssive, I'm on the Island too, where are you located?

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

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

My style of picking (attack) have pretty much stayed the same (think ballpark Phil X - pretty hard on the strings), but i have recently gone one plectrum thickness down after almost two decades.

I went from a Tortex .73 to a .60 . . . and it just suits my playing so much better.

Never thought i'd change pick thickness . . . but then again, "never say never".

 

[Chris of Arabia]

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

I'd guess my picking was fairly light as things go - doesn't make me any faster mind. I do tend to play quite a lot of arppegiated stuff though, so that probably accounts for it - kind of tricky to really dig in when you're skipping two or three strings at a time.