trouble picking fast on low e streng

[CoBfan]

I have a problem picking on the low e string. Whenever I want to play fast riffs like Angel of Death after one bar my hand loses it's coordination and rhytm. I always start with the metronome slow, but I don't seem to gain speed.....

[soc_monki]

practice, practice, practice...thats about all i can say.

 

warm up really good (remember my advice?) and then set the metronome at a decent tempo (90bpm) and play 16th notes to that (downstrokes ONLY!). time yourself and try to go for a minute. if you cant, thats ok, you may feel a burning sensation which is lactic acid getting built up in the muscles, not tendonitis (theres a difference). this is a common problem for lots of people in lots of areas (sports...in motocross its called arm pump...) and can make you sloppy and just make your mucles not work.

 

the key to overcoming this? drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, and working out (the arm that is...). its like a runner...they condition themselves to run how ever many miles...you do the same for your arm. so do that exercise and when you can do it for a minute, up the time. start alternate picking. do the "galloping" riff (i know you know what that is...like in Metallica's four horsemen

 

this WILL improve your strength and stamina and precision.

 

or you could just learn the entire Master of Puppets album front to back and play it over and over again like i did years ago, and now i cant even just get through Master of Puppets LOL yea i need to work on this technique too just have lots of other stuff at the moment!

 

so do that, and come back in about 2 weeks and let me know if you made any progress!

[gennation]

I still notice that with myself too. After 30 years of practice practice practce, I still notice it. But meh, it's not on everything, just certain things.

[CoBfan]

Originally posted by soc_monki practice, practice, practice...thats about all i can say. warm up really good (remember my advice?) and then set the metronome at a decent tempo (90bpm) and play 16th notes to that (downstrokes ONLY!). time yourself and try to go for a minute. if you cant, thats ok, you may feel a burning sensation which is lactic acid getting built up in the muscles, not tendonitis (theres a difference). this is a common problem for lots of people in lots of areas (sports...in motocross its called arm pump...) and can make you sloppy and just make your mucles not work. the key to overcoming this? drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, and working out (the arm that is...). its like a runner...they condition themselves to run how ever many miles...you do the same for your arm. so do that exercise and when you can do it for a minute, up the time. start alternate picking. do the "galloping" riff (i know you know what that is...like in Metallica's four horsemen this WILL improve your strength and stamina and precision. or you could just learn the entire Master of Puppets album front to back and play it over and over again like i did years ago, and now i cant even just get through Master of Puppets LOL yea i need to work on this technique too just have lots of other stuff at the moment! so do that, and come back in about 2 weeks and let me know if you made any progress!

 

Thanks!!! Just did it, felt great.

I won't do the whole metallica thing, I don't like the all downstroke aproach:p I also developed hate for metallica due to Kirk's solo's:(

[soc_monki]

Originally posted by CoBfan Thanks!!! Just did it, felt great. I won't do the whole metallica thing, I don't like the all downstroke aproach:p I also developed hate for metallica due to Kirk's solo's:(

 

i just used the Four Horsemen as an example of the gallop type riff.

 

and all downpicking is an essential in almost all metal player's bags...so maybe not metallica, but pick some band that you like that uses the technique and work on it. the more you know, the better off you are

[CoBfan]

I will do it for 2 weeks and tell you my progress;) By the way, in the GuitarWorld's transcription of Needled 24/7 say: My ass is at the fire and my heart starts to burn, not my eyes are catching fire. It's hard to tell from the song:p I quess GW is right because Laiho works for them.

[Jeff5]

Originally posted by soc_monki or you could just learn the entire Master of Puppets album front to back and play it over and over again like i did years ago, and now i cant even just get through Master of Puppets LOL yea i need to work on this technique too just have lots of other stuff at the moment!

 

That album is an alt picking but ESPECIALLY down picking work out man. Especially Puppets and Disposable Heros. My forearm hurts thinking about those songs.....

 

Definately work down picking, it has a tone/style all its own and is a good alternative to fast alt picking. Antrhax did a lot of down picking rythyms in the early days too.

 

Lots of good suggestions here. Make sure you relax too. Tension makes you slow. Also try to have as little pick showing/hitting the string as possible. Pick angle is something to think about as well. Trying to think of how to describe this, but your pick should not be flat, it should be slicing the strings with its edge. Speed is definately something you build, it doesn't happen over night, or even quickly sometimes. And if you don't practice it, you do loose it pretty fast.

[soc_monki]

Originally posted by CoBfan I will do it for 2 weeks and tell you my progress;) By the way, in the GuitarWorld's transcription of Needled 24/7 say: My ass is at the fire and my heart starts to burn, not my eyes are catching fire. It's hard to tell from the song:p I quess GW is right because Laiho works for them.

 

actually i got the lyrics straight from the CD booklet im listening to it right now...ill tell you in a sec..

 

and as jeff said if you dont keep practicing it, you lose it fast...i know i did!!! LOL and downpicking has a sound all its own...as well as UPPICKING!!! listen to cowboys from hell (the song). ive known a lot of people to try to downpick the low e string, and it DOESNT sound right. if you watch any Dimebag footage live of him playing it, hes uppicking...and thats why downpicking doesnt sound right on that part...funny how it sounds so different from downpicking...

 

and i just listened closely to the chorus...it is "ass is at the fire" LOL ive noticed Alexi doesnt stick to his lyrics that closely sometimes, but thats ok. its all cool i like the way it was written so ill just leave it i suppose, but thanks for pointing that out, i probably wouldnt have figured it out otherwise!

[BluGP56]

I still have the same problem picking on the low e string. It is a very ackward picking motion on that string, coupled with the fact that I really have to move my whole left hand position to get my fingers to fret the notes cleanly. Angling the pick is important to reduce the pick resistance against the string, approx. a 40 to 45 degree angle. Also, I find it very helpful to not move my right hand in a straight up and down line as I move towards the low E string, but to move in an arc, using my right forearm contact point on the guitar body as a pivot point. To clarify, as you pick from the low E towards the high E, your hand should move in an arc towards the bridge, and when you move from the high e towards the low E, your hand moves in it's natural arc towards the neck.

 

I also find it very helpful to use more finger motion vs. wrist motion on the low E, it helps me pick cleaner.

[CoBfan]

That's funny, I prefer picking with less angle on the e. I never use more than 20 degrees on whatever string I think.

[CoBfan]

Ok I think this is 2 weeks now:p You were right, it's way easier now. But because I thought I gained some strenght I started playing speed excersises for about 2 hours a day and my wrist is exhausted now:p I guess I will have to take a few days off and work on my legato and songwriting;) Thanks for the tip again!!!