wrist movement

[Antagonist]

im sure this has been asked a million times but i can't find my answer. when i play guitar my picking arm is always moving about, and my friend reccently told me that i should be trying to play more with my wrist, making my arm not move around as much. i also noticed that my arm, from moving about gets sore really quick after playing, and i tried to use my rist more but i can't seem to get it.
Is my friend right and if so, does anyone have any suggestions to help me start picking and strumming that way.

:confused:

[btangel]

Ur entire picking arm shouldn't move. It's mostly your wrist and adjusting positions with your forearm. I believe that's the standard way picking is taught.

But there are some people that pick with forarm movement, so I guess just do what feels most natural. I'd give it all a try and find out which one suits you best.

[Antagonist]

yea its my forearm like you say. i'm just wondering if i could be going faster if i learned to use my rist more then my forearm :confused:

[Ehvam]

I must admit that i'm a bit confused by what wrist and forearm mean here. For example when i pick my hand turns like i am opening a door knob. Is that wrist picking? Or is wrist picking more like an up and down motion of the hand?

[Antagonist]

Wrist picking to me is like when your doing triplets or picking single strings(not strumming) your forearm isn't really moving up and down its more your wrist. The forearm part is what i do, i can't seem to be able to do triplets and such with out moving my arm. My thinking is if theres less movement in my arm then id most likley be able to go faster and could probably play longer with out getting sore.

[Padawan]

Can you post a picture of your picking hand?

[smallbusrider]

I pick w/the wrist. However, I can't say that moving the whole forearm is bad either. Watch when Vinnie Moore picks fast;his movement comes from his forearm. I suppose someone should do what feels most comfortable to them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dulmJXawfjg&search=vinnie%20moore

[EricV]

Exactly... one should TRY different approaches, but I strongly suggest to go with whatever feels most comfortable. That I did try to point out whenever I wrote about picking stuff, whether it was in articles or forum posts.
Vinnie Moore is an example I use a lot myself... I have heard people go "He is doing it wrong". Which is kinda funny considering just how great his picking technique is. It might not be as efficient as the floating hand or pure finger/wrist movement, but he made it work for himself and gets great results.
So yea, once you have tried different approaches, go with what works best and feels most comfortable or natural. Then stick to that
Eric

[Antagonist]

alright thanx alot!
that makes perfect sense :D