Picking technique...

[bloodyfretboard]

Umm hey peoples. This may seem kind of stupid, but can anyone let me know any good picking techniques? I'm starting a ska band and can't do upstrokes for my life. :(

Also, I've heard about economy picking but have no idea what it is. Can anyone elaborate?

Thank you in advance.

[ChainsawGuitar]

I suggest you work on upstrokes- you need those to do economy picking anyway ;)

Isn't Ska mostly upstrokes? I.E. off-beats and syncopation etc,.

One of the problems people seem to find with upstrokes is that they are digging in too much with the pick- or holding it wrong. It's really just the opposite of a downstroke, and if you do it more lightly you're hand wont get caught on the strings.

Is this whats happening?

[JazzMick]

Indeed. Ska is all about that those upstrokes on the off beat. Just practice slowly, you will get it in no time. Slowly and lightly. Then as you get comfortable you can start emphasizing the rhythm and accent the chords a bit more.

Dun CHUG dun CHUG dun CHUG dun CHUGA!

Economy picking is sort of like sweep picking, which you may have heard of. It's just a lazy man's approach to alternate picking when you have to move across adjacent strings. I believe there may even be some lessons on this subject in the Articles section of the site.

[bloodyfretboard]

I suggest you work on upstrokes- you need those to do economy picking anyway ;)

Isn't Ska mostly upstrokes? I.E. off-beats and syncopation etc,.

One of the problems people seem to find with upstrokes is that they are digging in too much with the pick- or holding it wrong. It's really just the opposite of a downstroke, and if you do it more lightly you're hand wont get caught on the strings.

Is this whats happening?

No actually whats happening is I do my downstroke and hit the three strings I'm supposed to, but I guess the upstroke is at too much of an angle and its missing all but like the topmost string. I've had to do all downstrokes in the band and after about half a song my arm is dead. Like I can't move it at all.

[Hory]

Umm hey peoples. This may seem kind of stupid, but can anyone let me know any good picking techniques? I'm starting a ska band and can't do upstrokes for my life. :(



Hi.
you can play down strokes on off beat.

But how can one develop good up strokes ? I found the following very useful :
- position your picking hand forearm on the guitar so it is comfortable and supported from there ( pressing on the guitar with the back of your picking hand forearm - this may cause your skin stick to the body of the guitar. So cut a sock hem wide enough and put it on the forearm). your arm wil be controled in position by tightening ur upper arm, shoulder and back muscles. It should feel like your picking hand becomes part of the instrument. No lifting of your elbow or your forearm only your wrist.
- now the wrist : very flexible able to play trills
- palm - hard square shape, wide open , wide open fingers in nice wing like shape
- plectrum position and angle : Hold plectrum with the edge closest to the thumb nail upwards ( it will feel akward as it is in the opposite angle to the one the most players use maybe even you ) you will slide on the upstrokes with longer edge of the pick than on downstrokes - pick tip points slightly donwards.
- learning dynamics of smooth and regular picking : start learning it on waltz rhythm : one down, two up, three down, one up, two down, three up and repeat the six beat loop. emphasize first beat after 5 minutes epmhasize second, after another 5 mins emphasize third. dont loose counting. learn the feel.

This approach is about disciplin and it is quite complex but I can confirm, it is worth learning it.
watch my picking hand here, thanks : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OO-oiMh_Ok

if you need more rhythms which will improve your upstrokes please have look at http://www.ibreathemusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17535
- unusual beat divisions