help me solve a technique issue...

[esVee]

i've run into a weird problem lately,

i'm picking from my wrist but every time i go over a certain bpm mark, i somehow switch to circular picking (index+thumb). it happens "automatically", even if i try to tense the index/thumb area.

i can pick extremely fast using circular picking but i've noticed i lose a lot of attack and tone when doing so..

any ideas guys?

[Malcolm]

i've run into a weird problem lately,

i'm picking from my wrist but every time i go over a certain bpm mark, i somehow switch to circular picking (index+thumb). it happens "automatically", even if i try to tense the index/thumb area.

i can pick extremely fast using circular picking but i've noticed i lose a lot of attack and tone when doing so.. any ideas guys?
Not familiar with circular picking (index+thumb). But, with any speed problem the answer is - slow down and get back in control, then increase speed while maintaining control.

[Sperzel]

I ran into this problem myself when I tried to get my alternate picking together, and it took me many hours to tackle. But looking back at the process, I would have tackled it a different way.
What I suggest is to find a motion that works well fast. Make sure you are comfortable with both the tone, and that you are relaxed. Get real comfortable with it playing tremolo-excercises and after a while, simple one-string excercises.

Then you take this motion and actually move from fast to slow in a way, learning more advanced stuff the traditional way. Make SURE that the motion FEELS excactly the same fast and slow. Now, when you get to a certain tempo, your right-hand won't get confused like you said.

Cheers.

[fingerpikingood]

index and thumb is how i like to solo quickly unless i'm playing an arpeggio using a chord shape, and even them sometimes i do it that way. as for attack and tone, i don't get the same results as you, in fact quite the opposite.

i keep my nails as long as possible without having them stick out beyond the flesh of my finger tips. that way i can still do finger tapping and artificial harmonics and stuff, and furthermore i find the stiffness it provides the fleshy parts of my fingers gives me faster response and better attack and a slightly brighter tone, most noticeable when i go thumb to forefinger style because i use the tips of my fingers and the corner of my thumb nearly using only my nail but my nail is not quite long enough for that.

so i don't know what your nails are like, but i used to bite my fingernails all the time and kept them real short until the day i tried my fingernails longer to play guitar and from that day forward i've never bitten my nails.

so if i were you i'd let my nails grow as long as i could stand while being able to keep both hands the same length and try it out. it really helps strumming too.

[ChainsawGuitar]

Not familiar with circular picking (index+thumb). But, with any speed problem the answer is - slow down and get back in control, then increase speed while maintaining control.

I think I'm about in the same position...and I would give the same advice...but...what is circular picking?!

Do you mean you are just using your fingers to get the motion? I dont understand.

[All_¥our_Bass]

Circular picking is when you use your index and thumb (which are holding the pick) to pluck with instead of moving you wrist.

Also when you start playing faster you have to play a little differently than when playing slow it is impossible to play the exact same way at both speeds.

[ChainsawGuitar]

Ok, well then I can explain more fully.

You should be picking from your elbow, keeping your wrist relaxed and allowing it to move- not picking FROM your wrist! Try it this way at slow speed, and it should give you alot more control, with less strain, and also allow you to get quite fast with the same technique.

As for circular picking, I can't even see how this would be possible without causing yourself injury! Also, you have way less movement and control doing this.

[motown01]

That makes sense

[fingerpikingood]

oh, nevermind what i said, I was talking about playing picklessly.

[ChainsawGuitar]

oh, nevermind what i said, I was talking about playing picklessly.

I think what I said still applies? When I pick, I use hybrid picking...so I use a pick AND my fingers :D

[daystar]

I use a combination of elbow and wrist movements for picking (mostely wrist, my elbow comes more in play when I am trying to play extremely fast). I have not used circular picking for 32 some odd years. I find it slow and cumbersome.