Fast alternate picking on low E string

[joneds]

I was wondering if anyone had any advice about how to get speed up when alternate picking on the bottom E string, along the lines of the heavy bit in One by Metallica. I have no problems doing stuff like this on any other string but when i do it on the low E it just sounds like a mess of scratchy noise. I angle my pick slightly but this doesn't seem to matter when playing similar stuff on, say, the A string. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[joeyd929]

I was wondering if anyone had any advice about how to get speed up when alternate picking on the bottom E string, along the lines of the heavy bit in One by Metallica. I have no problems doing stuff like this on any other string but when i do it on the low E it just sounds like a mess of scratchy noise. I angle my pick slightly but this doesn't seem to matter when playing similar stuff on, say, the A string. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Lower strings seem to move more when I try to do any fast alternate picking. Heavier low strings can help but for the most part, it just takes a different technique to compensate.

[DracWell]

I used to get some noise too. But then again, I'm using a .70 for the low Bb :P
Fixed it by having the pick more perpendicular to the string.

[paTz0r]

I normally just mute it a bit with my pick hand palm, but it is definately hard to pick fast on it when its moving around so much.

[zog]

Don't know if this will help but what kind of pick are you using. I find that a heavier pick works wonders such as a dunlop jazz III. They are smaller and thicker which means they don't flex as much.

[joeyd929]

Don't know if this will help but what kind of pick are you using. I find that a heavier pick works wonders such as a dunlop jazz III. They are smaller and thicker which means they don't flex as much.

Definitely true about a harder pick. I just started trying Pickboy Jazz picks. Got the extra heavy type. Nice pick, a little smaller but not teeny like the usual small picks.

[newamerikangosp]

I "pivot" with the hand/knuckle part of my pinkie (its a knuckle but is at the end of the finger) instead of at the bone on my wrist. Try just figuring out what feels comfortable to you. Just expiriment with placement of your hand, where you are pivoting and just find one you think is best or that feels the best to you

[joeyd929]

One thing is certain... No matter how you hold the pick, it is all about mastering a technique. After seeing and hearing about all the different ways to hold a pick I think that how you hold it is not as important as mastering it.

I think that the people who master it are the ones that just pick a style and forget about all the other options. I personally, spend too much time trying too many different things. It only inhibits after a while.

Then I see these professional cats holding the pick the same way all the time without deviation and they got it together with the pick.

Michaelangelo Batio, George Benson, Alan Holdsworth, Path Metheny, Kirk Hammett, Vinnie Moore, Paul Gilbert, Yngwie Malmsteen, Al Dimeola, the late Danny Gatton, all probably hold a pick totally different but they have mastered it.

I believe the secret to their success is that they don't think about it, they just do it and master it and forget it. It is obvious they are not thinking about the stuff that I waste my time on.

When the rubber meets the road it comes down to this.. If you can't do it yet or have not mastered it yet, then you need to practice more.

[joneds]

Thanks for the replies guys. I am actually using Jazz III picks these days - when I first switched to them I found they improved my accuracy and speed a lot. I might try a heavier guage bottom E too as the string does move a hell of a lot, especially when I'm playing in drop D.

Thanks again

[newamerikangosp]

I would also like to point out that you should try to get your "natural" pick positioning down. Just pick up the plec and play, then after you have stopped thinking about HOW to hold the pick, look at how YOU hold the pick (what felt natural).

[tasdvl9]

Yeah, too many people get caught up on how to pick. They analyze their technique way too much. It's good to try new techniques but if you've given that new technique a chance and it doesn't work then go back to what's comfortable. Reinforce the most comfortable technique into your muscle memory by constant repetition. Eventually through diligent practice you'll be able to play that low E with no problems. It just takes time.

[curiousgeorge]

Yeah, too many people get caught up on how to pick. They analyze their technique way too much. It's good to try new techniques but if you've given that new technique a chance and it doesn't work then go back to what's comfortable. Reinforce the most comfortable technique into your muscle memory by constant repetition. Eventually through diligent practice you'll be able to play that low E with no problems. It just takes time.

....and ,metronome use to get rid of the slop ;)

[fastvfr]

I have found that picking the bass strings closer to the trem/saddle helps a lot.

In fact, it works so well that I brace the outside of my right wrist on the lower corner of the bridge JUST for the fact that I strike the treble strings further from the bridge for good tone. And then as a result I will hit the bass strings progressively closer to the tremolo where they don't wiggle around so much.

Give it a try sometime; maybe it'll work for you, too.

Best regards,

Eric