Lesson 2, Right hand

[Ax]

Hi,

I have a question regarding the right hand technique exercise of lesson 2. The idea is to practice alternate picking between 2 adjacent strings.
Now, when I normally move between strings, I raise/lower my forearm to reach all of them. However, I noticed that when I do this exercise, I'm only using my wrist to switch between the 2 strings while my forearm barely moves. Is this normal, or should I try to use the elbow instead?

Thanks a lot, and great site

[StoneDragon]

I find that when I'm concentrating on one or two strings, my forearm doesn't move.... it's all in the wrist.

My forearm only moves to reposition my hand when I'm switching strings... ei... if I were going to switch from the B and E strings to the D and G strings.

[Ax]

I see. Thanks, I was worried I was doing something wrong.

[FINGERPICKINGOOD]

"its only wrong if its uncomfortable"

[StoneDragon]

There's no real standardized right hand method for pick style guitar.

For the left hand, a guitarist can draw from what's available... classical position has proven itself for technical, demanding music... Baseball bat grip has proven itself for blues style bending and vibrato, etc...

But with the picking hand, everytime you think you have the best way figured out, somebody comes up with some unorthodox style that blows away the competition.

I modeled my picking style after some of the hottest players at the time Dimeola, McLaughlin, Malmsteen, Vai etc... All of these players tend to pick from the wrist, primarily. The only guy I ever saw who was able to reach that same level while using arm movement was Vinnie Moore.

[Ax]

But don't you think that a beginning guitar player can practice in a way that will limit his progress in the future, and become accustomed to it?
While we're at it, I also have another quesiton (which I'm sure has been asked a zillion times before, but I'll go ahead anyway):
When you're holding the pick, do you straighten your thumb knuckle or lock it? I found that even if I initially keep it straight, it loosens while I'm playing. I was just wondering how other people hold theirs.

[StoneDragon]

Yes.... definitely. But I think it's impossible to say, "This is how it must be done."

There are a lot of factors that go into picking technique. What works perfectly for one person may not work at all for the next person.

What a person has to do is look at their own technique and determine those things that are inhibiting their fluidity, relaxation, accuracy, mobility, etc... That's all I can do if I'm teaching them in person.


I keep my thumb knuckle flexable, and my grip is not too tight on the pick. My picking hand is pretty relaxed all the way around. You could reach in and pull the pick right out of my fingers without too much effort.

Here's a picture (http://www.zentao.com/guitar/lesson1/myhand.jpg) of my right hand holding the pick. I don't always splay my fingers like that though. More often, my fingers form a very loose fist.... like I'm holding a broom stick.