Trying to play leads but not articulately

[voivod]

I have a bad habit of "knocking" the other strings with my pick or the heel of my hand on the strings that I don't play...my rythym playing is fine but the minute I want to wail,that problem always happens....when my heel touches the strings,I get a "harping" effect and is really annoying and it is sloppy.......anyone know a technique to dampen the other strings while playing lead or any other tips...drop me a line...I would appreciate it.

[MrSteed]

In the final analysis, picking may be about the hardest thing to do

right on the guitar -- have to a hit a very tiny target accurately

at high speed consistently. It's just too much to really go

into in depth in this medium.

 

Generally, it all boils down to sloppy practice = sloppy playing.

You have to start slow and concentrate on accuracy and good

technique and relaxation.

 

You may even have to be prepared to rip out your

old way of doing things and start over with something new.

Hard to say without really knowing what you're doing.

[Knottyhed]

Originally posted by voivod I have a bad habit of "knocking" the other strings with my pick or the heel of my hand on the strings that I don't play...my rythym playing is fine but the minute I want to wail,that problem always happens....when my heel touches the strings,I get a "harping" effect and is really annoying and it is sloppy.......anyone know a technique to dampen the other strings while playing lead or any other tips...drop me a line...I would appreciate it.

 

Two things I used to do and don't any more:

 

1.) If you're not sounding a string lift your finger off it. I used to make this mistake often when doing a run accross strings and it can make your solo's sound messy as strings ring on longer than they should. This is more noticable if using alot of distortion.

 

2.) Dampen the ringing strings with your palm, move the picking hand so the heel of your palm is somewhere over the bridge pup. Dampen the strings, you should (or at least i did) find that you'll naturally lift off the string you're picking and mute the ones you aren't. This is particularly important when playing with alot of distortion if you're going to keep your playing clean and avoid feedback issues.

 

Basically practice this running through scales, chromatic exercises etc. and also work on keeping your pick movement efficient - i.e. try not to swing it around more than you have to whilst alternate picking. Oh and practice to a metronome, you'll develop a much better sense of timing and sound much less sloppy as a result.

 

The 'cleanliness' of my solo playing has improved considerably since i started doing that.

[voivod]

thanks for responding,I will give it a go and give you the results!

[Paragraph51]

Yeah...but it will take some dedication, discipline and effort on your part.

 

Scales. Scales in ascending and descending sequences, arpeggios also in sequences too. Slow sure and firm, play no faster than you can solidly fret and solidly pick the notes using alternate picking only, in perfect meter, time and rhythm and with consistent loudness and tone. Practice on an acoustic, or an electric strung a gauge or two heavier than what you you play on, unplugged. Wear ear plugs that are effective enough to eliminate the sound of all but solidly picked notes..use 31db for acoustic guitars, and something like 18db cut for a solidbody electric played acoustically.

 

Once you are playing the notes solidly, begin practicing the above mentioned items. Use a metronome and work your way up to at least 2 hrs per day of perpetual practice.

 

After you practice, get your playing guitar and just play, using a light and deft technique, not the heavy, exaggerated method you used for practicing with. When ever you find yourself reflexing back to an erroneous technique to get through a difficult seres of notes, stop and spend ten minutes using the slow solid practice method playing it the right way, alternate picked and notes ringing loud and strong.

Be resourceful and logical when choosing what to practice. Scales are #1, until you can play through them and all the common sequences with effortless mastery.