Controlling Your Picking Hand

[Infinite Dreams]

Hey everyone-
I've been having some trouble lately with trying to pick quickly in between my lower 3 strings. It seems that i can't hit the strings very well and contol my had since i can't rest my hand on the bridge or lower strings. i play a schecter c1 classic- maybe a body style that's not carved would suit me better? any tips? i've heard of some people resting their pinky on the body below the high strings. any help would be great.

 

[Davey]

Re: Controlling Your Picking Hand

hmm.. i have no problem with resting my hand on the bridge at the E and A strings and hiting any string.. but i got big hands too =P

 

[Infinite Dreams]

Re: Controlling Your Picking Hand

bump?

 

[kelvin]

Re: Controlling Your Picking Hand

i know what you are talking about because i got a similar problem.

i lay my ring finger to the pickguard to control the picking hand movement.
but that its a good idea i think since petrucci and gilbert do not do that... hm..?

 

[NathanCahill]

Re: Controlling Your Picking Hand

Laying your hand on the bridge or your pinky on the pick guard is kind of a crutch. It will be a hard habit to break if you don't nix it now. Trust :blackeye: me!

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Controlling Your Picking Hand

Do not rest any of your fingers of the bridge for support! This is a terrible habit to get into, and nearly impossible to break.

The key is proper picking technique: Make a fist, and grip the pick between your thumb and index finger. Hold the pick at a right angle to the strings. Pick from your elbow, not your wrist.
(<----- Check out my avatar for a visual reference )

Start slowly and build up accuracy, then speed. Your picking will have more power, and your alternate picking will be quick and even.

 

[joelap]

Re: Controlling Your Picking Hand

Wait, let me get this straight... don't rest pinky on the pickgaurd? Wow three guitar teachers taught me to do that to improve picking accuracy? I should get out of that habit?

 

[fusion101]

Re: Controlling Your Picking Hand

Odyssey, i don't mean this in any disrespect but yngwie and hammet even rest there hand on the bridge, and there pretty good pickers, but i could be wrong

 

[Infinite Dreams]

Re: Controlling Your Picking Hand

what about fast alternate picking on one string? is that also generated from the elbow rather than the wrist?

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Controlling Your Picking Hand

It's all personal preferance, there is NO right or wrong way. I keep my hand anchored to the bridge for the most part, and pick from the wrist. No troubles here.

 

[kelvin]

Re: Controlling Your Picking Hand

i think i saw petrucci did laid his pinky below the high e string.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Controlling Your Picking Hand

in the petrucci rock discipline video he rests his pinkie on the bridge pickup... twilightodyssey, you just explained exactly how I hold the pick, the way which I thought I devised myself and recently became convinced was wrong. Wow, this is so confusing... I'm just looking for a reason why my picking is so sloppy! :smack: guess I just need to practice...
dan

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: Controlling Your Picking Hand

Hey everyone-
I've been having some trouble lately with trying to pick quickly in between my lower 3 strings. It seems that i can't hit the strings very well and contol my had since i can't rest my hand on the bridge or lower strings. i play a schecter c1 classic- maybe a body style that's not carved would suit me better? any tips? i've heard of some people resting their pinky on the body below the high strings. any help would be great.

The carved body style shouldn't make any difference or effect your picking in any way. Your guitar is fine. I used to have the same problem picking the bottom three strings also. Just keep at it and with enough practice you should be able to train your hand to pick without any kind of concentration. With alot of practice, you will find that it gets alot easier, and sooner or later picking will come naturally to you and will become extremely easy. Practice pays off, it really does.

 

[Davey]

Re: Controlling Your Picking Hand

resting your fingers on the bridge is diferent than resting your HAND. i sometimes put my pinky on the bridge bucker just below the e string, but thats rare