How do I pick faster?

[itsall4you]

I think it comes from already being able to play a lot of different licks. There are only so many permutations in music so after learning a lot of licks there's a higher chance of the new lick being similar to the old one. This might include similar picking patterns, similar fingering etc. So really it comes down to.. time on the instrument

[Reg]

I can burn... and it comes from good technique and tons of practice of the right material. Most players sort of get their left or fret hand together, but most struggle with right hand/arm. Arm and hand need to be separate, your arm is simply used to help position your hand over strings. When the arm starts to get tight... stop ... your practicing the wrong stuff. Habits are hard to break. Ive seen different pick techniques work as far as speed, but less movement is always faster. When all else fails... take a lesson from a teacher who can cover... chops dept., don't ask someone to teach you something they can't cover... I've always believed it was better to get your alternating picking down first and go from there. It's pretty simple to play slow once your able to play fast... Again practice the right material with proper technique... Best Reg

[Aristotle]

Originally Posted by Reg

I can burn... and it comes from good technique and tons of practice of the right material. Most players sort of get their left or fret hand together, but most struggle with right hand/arm. Arm and hand need to be separate, your arm is simply used to help position your hand over strings.

I don't want to misconstrue, so I'll delve into a little terminology. The arm and hand and fixed mechanisms. Movement occurs at joints. I use elbow strokes, rotary wrist, a little up-down wrist, and finger strokes. For some music or instruments, players even use shoulder strokes (like tremelo on a six string chord). Mostly I use combinations, and often I can't really say exactly what it used.

So, you are saying you use finger or wrist strokes, but no elbow?

[Reg]

Originally Posted by Aristotle

I don't want to misconstrue, so I'll delve into a little terminology. The arm and hand and fixed mechanisms. Movement occurs at joints. I use elbow strokes, rotary wrist, a little up-down wrist, and finger strokes. For some music or instruments, players even use shoulder strokes (like tremelo on a six string chord). Mostly I use combinations, and often I can't really say exactly what it used.

So, you are saying you use finger or wrist strokes, but no elbow?

Yea, it's hard to breakdown between up and down or rotary, I try and keep the movement to a minimum, the faster I play the less movement. It's pretty hard not to have forearm movement also, since as you said, movement occurs at joints. The less movement and more relaxed I can keep my upper arm and elbow the less effort and cleaner I can play. I've been using this technique since the late 60's and have no problems in arms, back etc... I play five gigs a week on average, some nights (or days) I play doubles and my technique is usually better the second gig. I do sometimes use elbow or big strokes, usually for show or to help get the groove going sometimes. I also keep my pick at slight angle and use the sides rather than tip. Best Reg

[Aristotle]

Thanks Reg,
I am not "picking" on you, but I think the topic deserves some investigation. IMO, the details of right-hand technique are much more commonly known for classsical style guitar. And for piano technique, there are books going back centuries that deal with every bone, muscie and connective tissue by name.

I also keep my pick at slight angle and use the sides rather than tip.

I think the pick must be at an angle, rather than paralell to the strings to get clean sound. I never measured, but 15-30 degrees seems normal. However, I need to address what you are saying about the tip.

It would be my understanding the note is always created by the "tip." That is, as the player applies pressure, the side edge of the pick displaces the string. The string slides along the pick, until it gets to the edge of the pick and snaps off. The displaced string then begins to vibrate. It's similar to when an archer releases the displaced and tensed bow string. I know in classical, it is important to understand that the finger is not "hitting" the string, but pushing it into displacement - otherwise, you will never had full control of dynamics.

It seems to me that what you are advocating is primarily wrist strokes, as opposed to say, finger or elbow (or shoulder strokes). IMO, that may cover it for electric, but not necessarily for acoustic guitar, like country or bluegrass. I should probably check out Youtube, but it is hard to believe that Django wasn't playing from the elbow and shoulder sometimes.

The pivot joint may also be a function of hand and body size. The larger one's body (or the smaller the instrument) the smaller the arc of the stroke is when compared to the body, and less body part movement has to be involved.

One of the theories I think is worth investigation relates to a whip. If you think about how much faster the whip is moving at the tip, than at the point where the force is applied, there may be something in the physics of that type of motion that could enhance alternate-picking velocity.

To close, and repeat, everyone's biomechanical systems are not the same. These comples activities require the sequential firing of muscles. What is natural for one person, may not be natural for another, and there is always the possibility that some minor physical therapy is necessary to neutualize tensions that cause the body to work against itself. I still think right-hand technique is an area in need of exploration.

[Reg]

Hey Aristotle...no problems, it's a good topic worth checking out. I've always had good picking chops, I'm not sure how hip my harmonic and melodic chops were when I was young... but that's a different subject. If strings are one plane, and if square or straight off strings is 90 degrees, I keep my pick at between 60 and 70 degrees. I automatically adjust for up strokes when I grace arps, string jumps etc... for dynamics and articulations. The other pick angle... if flat picking, or pick same direction as strings is 0 degrees, I'm at 10 to 20 degrees, I also adjust for jumps,( less angle) and more angle for double stop style licks, tremolos etc...
Again were talking melodic playing, not comping. And the main point I push is less movement, it's difficult for seasoned players to change... and their are many picking styles but to me personally it's pretty simple... Your point about velocity might be worth checking out, I play very hard sometimes and rarely play like solid body player like Martino, Frank G etc... I'm not a rock player playing like a jazz player...I'm a jazz player who covers other styles when I need to. I've re-fretted my Guild Artist twice in the last 10 years,( combination of playing hard and way to many gigs). Anyway if you come up with more, lets check it out... Best Reg