One secret for strumming fast and accurately on rhythm guitar

DannySnyder

Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11053
Berkeley, CA
United States

Posted on Sep 09 2014 09:49 AM

Some picks have more texture and should be less prone to slipping. Buy a few and experiment. I've evolved down to using light-medium picks .5mm

—

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

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

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Noel

Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
United States

Posted on Sep 09 2014 10:42 AM

Maybe someone can identify the manufacturer of this pick? These are the only picks I've found that stay put. The stippling on both sides keeps them from spinning, even with a very gentle grip, so my strumming hand isn't tense. They don't sound the best, but I sound a lot worse when my pick has spun sideways. They feel and play a little thinner than other picks of the same thickness.

—

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

Last edited: Sep 09, 2014 10:51:10

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josheboy

Joined: Mar 13, 2009
Posts: 2365
Twin Cities, MN
United States

Posted on Sep 09 2014 11:00 AM

As for picks, I just use the medium Dunlop nylon picks and they have the grip on them that keeps them from sliding around. It happens live from time to time, especially if I'm sweating a lot, but the nylon grip helps prevent it.

As for the arm rest, I admit that I practice like that a lot. I try to be mindful, but before I know it, my arm is back on the body of the guitar. What is weird, though, is when I play live or rehearse at full volume, my arm almost never touches the body. Its like my subconscious kicks in and corrects my strum arm when I am so focused on what the rest of the band is doing and what my left hand is doing. Strange...

Doing palm-mute drippy rhythms (Astronauts style) totally kills my wrist though. Makes me want to get one of them mute thingies and install it so I can use my arm to strum instead of just the wrist. Of course, I'm strumming super hard, so I think if I just up my volume and let the pups and amp do the work, I can relax a bit more. But then the energy isnt there, and that's half of the song! I must find a balance...

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Badger

Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
United States

Posted on Sep 09 2014 02:24 PM

Noel wrote:

Maybe someone can identify the manufacturer of this pick?

Hmmm. Not identical but looks similar in concept to Dunlop's Max Grip.

—

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.

Last edited: Sep 09, 2014 14:24:52

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crumble

Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
United Kingdom

Posted on Sep 09 2014 03:40 PM

josheboy wrote:

As for picks, I just use the medium Dunlop nylon picks and they have the grip on them that keeps them from sliding around. It happens live from time to time, especially if I'm sweating a lot, but the nylon grip helps prevent it.

I had the same issue and tried picks with grips but I found that when they slip out of position they're harder reposition quickly. Just a few weeks ago I tried a Gravity pick which is kind of boutique job made from smooth acrylic (CD material). It defies logic that a smooth sided pick would grip so well but it does, don't ask me how but it works really well for me.

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Badger

Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
United States

Posted on Sep 09 2014 06:18 PM

I found, today, an intangible, while working on The Crusher (with Atlantics b/t).
It's much more fun if I pretend I'm Danny at the Tribute and dance around like I'm actually having the time of my life. Then it's not work.

—

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.

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Noel

Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
United States

Posted on Sep 09 2014 08:58 PM

Badger wrote:

Hmmm. Not identical but looks similar in concept to Dunlop's Max Grip.

Thanks! I'll give them a try.

—

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

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ConcreteSurfer

Joined: Dec 14, 2006
Posts: 117
Covina, CA.
United States

Posted on Sep 09 2014 11:39 PM

Noel / Danny - I seem to remember someone (it may have been IvanP) posting a video of the Shadows rythm guitarist discussing his technique for fast strumming. Anyways one crucial element was his use of a thin pick.

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irv78

Joined: Jun 26, 2009
Posts: 99
Austria
1 Download Pin

Posted on Sep 10 2014 04:58 AM

ConcreteSurfer wrote:

Noel / Danny - I seem to remember someone (it may have been IvanP) posting a video of the Shadows rythm guitarist discussing his technique for fast strumming. Anyways one crucial element was his use of a thin pick.

I think i've found the video you've mentioned:

IvanP wrote:

This interview has a ton of close-up videos of Bruce Welch playing rhythm and explaining some of his techniques - really REALLY cool stuff!!!!

http://licklibrary.ceros.com/iguitarmag/iguitar/iguitar/magazine/iguitar/mag/digital/guita/issue4/page/1/

—

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DannySnyder Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11053 Berkeley, CA	Posted on Sep 09 2014 09:49 AM Some picks have more texture and should be less prone to slipping. Buy a few and experiment. I've evolved down to using light-medium picks .5mm — Danny Snyder "With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo 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 Top
Noel Joined: Mar 15, 2011 Posts: 8528 Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.	Posted on Sep 09 2014 10:42 AM Maybe someone can identify the manufacturer of this pick? These are the only picks I've found that stay put. The stippling on both sides keeps them from spinning, even with a very gentle grip, so my strumming hand isn't tense. They don't sound the best, but I sound a lot worse when my pick has spun sideways. They feel and play a little thinner than other picks of the same thickness. — This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got. Last edited: Sep 09, 2014 10:51:10 Top
josheboy Joined: Mar 13, 2009 Posts: 2365 Twin Cities, MN	Posted on Sep 09 2014 11:00 AM As for picks, I just use the medium Dunlop nylon picks and they have the grip on them that keeps them from sliding around. It happens live from time to time, especially if I'm sweating a lot, but the nylon grip helps prevent it. As for the arm rest, I admit that I practice like that a lot. I try to be mindful, but before I know it, my arm is back on the body of the guitar. What is weird, though, is when I play live or rehearse at full volume, my arm almost never touches the body. Its like my subconscious kicks in and corrects my strum arm when I am so focused on what the rest of the band is doing and what my left hand is doing. Strange... Doing palm-mute drippy rhythms (Astronauts style) totally kills my wrist though. Makes me want to get one of them mute thingies and install it so I can use my arm to strum instead of just the wrist. Of course, I'm strumming super hard, so I think if I just up my volume and let the pups and amp do the work, I can relax a bit more. But then the energy isnt there, and that's half of the song! I must find a balance... Top
Badger Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 4536 Wisconsin	Posted on Sep 09 2014 02:24 PM Noel wrote: Maybe someone can identify the manufacturer of this pick? Hmmm. Not identical but looks similar in concept to Dunlop's Max Grip. — 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. Last edited: Sep 09, 2014 14:24:52 Top
crumble Joined: Sep 09, 2008 Posts: 3158 Guildford England	Posted on Sep 09 2014 03:40 PM josheboy wrote: As for picks, I just use the medium Dunlop nylon picks and they have the grip on them that keeps them from sliding around. It happens live from time to time, especially if I'm sweating a lot, but the nylon grip helps prevent it. I had the same issue and tried picks with grips but I found that when they slip out of position they're harder reposition quickly. Just a few weeks ago I tried a Gravity pick which is kind of boutique job made from smooth acrylic (CD material). It defies logic that a smooth sided pick would grip so well but it does, don't ask me how but it works really well for me. Top
Badger Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 4536 Wisconsin	Posted on Sep 09 2014 06:18 PM I found, today, an intangible, while working on The Crusher (with Atlantics b/t). It's much more fun if I pretend I'm Danny at the Tribute and dance around like I'm actually having the time of my life. Then it's not work. — 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. Top
Noel Joined: Mar 15, 2011 Posts: 8528 Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.	Posted on Sep 09 2014 08:58 PM Badger wrote: Hmmm. Not identical but looks similar in concept to Dunlop's Max Grip. Thanks! I'll give them a try. — This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got. Top
ConcreteSurfer Joined: Dec 14, 2006 Posts: 117 Covina, CA.	Posted on Sep 09 2014 11:39 PM Noel / Danny - I seem to remember someone (it may have been IvanP) posting a video of the Shadows rythm guitarist discussing his technique for fast strumming. Anyways one crucial element was his use of a thin pick. Top
irv78 Joined: Jun 26, 2009 Posts: 99 Austria	Posted on Sep 10 2014 04:58 AM ConcreteSurfer wrote: Noel / Danny - I seem to remember someone (it may have been IvanP) posting a video of the Shadows rythm guitarist discussing his technique for fast strumming. Anyways one crucial element was his use of a thin pick. I think i've found the video you've mentioned: IvanP wrote: This interview has a ton of close-up videos of Bruce Welch playing rhythm and explaining some of his techniques - really REALLY cool stuff!!!! http://licklibrary.ceros.com/iguitarmag/iguitar/iguitar/magazine/iguitar/mag/digital/guita/issue4/page/1/ — Top

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One secret for strumming fast and accurately on rhythm guitar