I need some tips on how to improve my tremolo picking. I really like Dick Dale, and I want to learn to play some of his music but I cannot pick fast enough or consistent enough. Did any of you have trouble tremolo picking when you first started? How did you overcomb the challenge?

Thank you!

The metronome is your best friend. Start slow, once you master one tempo bump it up. Give yourself a few months and it'll all click. There's tons of tips here on the site, just start searching and you'll learn all you need. Good luck!

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

There is definitely a learning curve, especially as I started learning to double pick when I was still a beginner.

I used a very light nylon pick when I first started. You don't get a lot of thump from the pick, but the pick recovers nicely and allows for a steady rhythm.

The key to double-picking is playing in time. So as has been mentioned above, get a metronome/something to keep the beat. I used to pick as fast as I could, which got a result but wasn't the best result. Pick a melody you know well, mine was When the Saints go Marching In, and just double pick that simple melody. For me, When the Saints was on multiple strings to practice that added aspect.

You can double pick well with light strings, you can double pick well with heavy strings, you can double pick well with light picks, you can double pick well with heavy picks, you can double pick really well with triangle picks.

Good topic; I just took myself 'back to basics' for the purpose of honing the gliss in Pipeline. So, as others have said, start slower and get a metronome - COUNT it; really, honest, no kidding, there's a count. (It's also an example of what happens if you don't, because starting at point A on time is important to being at point B to resume the drippy beat.)

I've found trying to practice really energetic double-picking sitting is like trying to do hand-to-hand combat in a phone booth, so I stand & make sure the guitar hangs in a comfortable position. (But I'm really lanky, your mileage may vary.)

Don't forget to breathe.

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

i find a technic for tremolo picking when is not too fast or not need to push hard on string ,to help the wirst to stay relax and give endurance
i made circle with the pick not only up and down
i use it often cause the picking became really cool and all the note sound at the same level without too much thinking about

i play with 1 mm pick and the way they are eat by strings i have never try with less thick ,something to try

Last edited: May 15, 2017 11:08:15

I need help tremelo picking

Play DEATH.

Last edited: Nov 10, 2017 02:04:31

Ariel wrote:

I need help tremelo picking

Play DEATH.

Worked for me when I started playing guitar!

-Pierre
The Obsidians! (Ottawa surf)
The Obsidians debut EP

ldk wrote:

New member here. I know this is an older thread, but I found this guy's video really helpful and thought I'd point it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XPezIRYnpA

It's a 16-minute video, but the basic idea can be explained in about 10 seconds. He gets to the meat of it at 3:48 to 5:20.

Yeah, this guy makes some very apt points. 1.) Let the pick fall through the strings 2.) a little movement away from the strings as possible.

I wrote above, but will reiterate again... PLAY IN TIME. I used to wail away trying to do it as fast as I could, but if you just do it in time it is so much easier. There is no elbow involved, I used to involve elbow. There isn't a lot of wrist involved either. It's really rotating your forearm.

I'm also a fan of doing "interval training:" if you think of the tremolo as 16th notes, do 4 beats of 16ths, then 4 beats of 8ths to rest. you can increase the ratio of fast to slow (8 or 12 or 16 beats of 16th to 4 beats of 8ths) or speed up the metronome. I do that kind of thing for any technique or passage that is hard to play fast because of my technical failings. works well, I think.

Matt Heaton & the Electric Heaters
Boston's Premier Surf/Noir Combo
http://www.heatonsurf.com

As this topic comes up from time to time I did a little exercise in some software that someone can printout & do that "Insect Dave sitting on the edge of the bed practice" thing (BTDT, lol). I'm still getting used to the software so apologize for any software-induced rests that show up that aren't quite right. I've always respected that ability to toss 3 rapid fire notes into a regular melody line. Go slow & don't forget to breathe.

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.