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Are there any words aside from "practice" and "loosen up" to assist in
developing smooth tremolo picking? I've been working on it for years
and its still not even close to adequate. I'm a little better with
very rapid chords, but I lose the precision with single notes.
I was taught long ago to keep a pinkie anchored on the pickguard
whenever possible while playing, and I think this habbit is very bad,
so I try to let the hand "float", but it is only marginally helpful if
at all.
Any excercises or techniques worth a try?
Do you mean rapid staccato picking like on miserlou? I tend to rest
the pinky side of my palm right on the bridge while picking. I use a
medium pick.
--- In , Rob Campbell <mantid@g...> wrote:
> Are there any words aside from "practice" and "loosen up" to assist in
> developing smooth tremolo picking? I've been working on it for years
> and its still not even close to adequate. I'm a little better with
> very rapid chords, but I lose the precision with single notes.
>
> I was taught long ago to keep a pinkie anchored on the pickguard
> whenever possible while playing, and I think this habbit is very bad,
> so I try to let the hand "float", but it is only marginally helpful if
> at all.
>
> Any excercises or techniques worth a try?
You left out 'choose the right pick' from the already mentioned many
times list ;-)
On ething i think hasn't come up yet in the many treads on this subject
is the dynamics of rhythm pattern.
try doin' it a bit slower then what you can handle, and bring in the
propper Accent - mediumaccent -noaccent dynamics:
A - nA - mA - nA - A - nA - mA - nA etc, no accent being the upstroke.
then build up speed and loose the accents again allong the way. A bit
the same way in which you'd learn drumfilling accuracy, really.
for me (and that is a huge disclaimer) that helps building accuracy in
trem picking.
WR
--- In , Rob Campbell <mantid@g...> wrote:
> Are there any words aside from "practice" and "loosen up" to assist in
> developing smooth tremolo picking? I've been working on it for years
> and its still not even close to adequate. I'm a little better with
> very rapid chords, but I lose the precision with single notes.
>
> I was taught long ago to keep a pinkie anchored on the pickguard
> whenever possible while playing, and I think this habbit is very bad,
> so I try to let the hand "float", but it is only marginally helpful if
> at all.
>
> Any excercises or techniques worth a try?
and to quote Dick Dale, "meter is EVRYTHING!"
--- mono_tones_1 <> wrote:
---------------------------------
You left out 'choose the right pick' from the already mentioned many
times list ;-)
On ething i think hasn't come up yet in the many treads on this subject
is the dynamics of rhythm pattern.
try doin' it a bit slower then what you can handle, and bring in the
propper Accent - mediumaccent -noaccent dynamics:
A - nA - mA - nA - A - nA - mA - nA etc, no accent being the upstroke.
then build up speed and loose the accents again allong the way. A bit
the same way in which you'd learn drumfilling accuracy, really.
for me (and that is a huge disclaimer) that helps building accuracy in
trem picking.
WR
--- In , Rob Campbell <mantid@g...> wrote:
> Are there any words aside from "practice" and "loosen up" to assist
in
> developing smooth tremolo picking? I've been working on it for years
> and its still not even close to adequate. I'm a little better with
> very rapid chords, but I lose the precision with single notes.
>
> I was taught long ago to keep a pinkie anchored on the pickguard
> whenever possible while playing, and I think this habbit is very bad,
> so I try to let the hand "float", but it is only marginally helpful
if
> at all.
>
> Any excercises or techniques worth a try?
.
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Rob:
the "slow and methodical" approach works well...
get a metronome and set it to a slower setting (like 60
beats per minute to start)...
play along with that tempo methodically...it may seem
boring, but the idea is to work the "muscle memory" in your
picking hand. Play Miserlou at this slow slow glacial
speed.
Then try 70 bpm...then 80 bpm...later in the week start at
60 bpm for 10-15 minutes...then 70, then 80, then 90...
a week later, start again at 60 bpm, them 70 bpm, then
80bpm, then 90 bpm then 100 bpm...
you get the idea...work it up to whatever tempo you are
striving for.
I believe that metronome (or drum machine/drummer) tempo
work should be an integral part of every musicians
"workout/practice" regimen. For tremolo picking, the
metronome can be an invaluable aid to help develop timing,
endurance, strength and eventually...speed.
I don't use the "pinkie/pickguard anchor"
technique...however I do plant the fleshy edge of my palm
on the bridge...almost "palm mute" style...close to where
the carpal bones (wrist) meet the ulna & radius armbones...
I use a nylon MOSHAY picks...it has a "grip hole" to keep
it from flinging outta my picking hand mid-tremolo...
good luck,
-dp
--- Rob Campbell <> wrote:
> Are there any words aside from "practice" and "loosen up"
> to assist in
> developing smooth tremolo picking? I've been working on
> it for years
> and its still not even close to adequate. I'm a little
> better with
> very rapid chords, but I lose the precision with single
> notes.
>
> I was taught long ago to keep a pinkie anchored on the
> pickguard
> whenever possible while playing, and I think this habbit
> is very bad,
> so I try to let the hand "float", but it is only
> marginally helpful if
> at all.
>
> Any excercises or techniques worth a try?
>
>
> .
> Visit for
> archived messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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Here what works for me:
1. My pinky achors my hand to the pick guard so it doesn't flop
around and smack me in the face. Also it so all the motion is from my
wrist and not my forearm.
2. My palm rests across the string so I can control how much the
string rings out. Kind of like conga players etc., mute the skins.
3. Practice to a metronome slowly pick up the speed as you gain
control. Also us alternate picking, up-down-up-down.
Rick
--- In , Phil Dirt <phildirt@r...> wrote:
> and to quote Dick Dale, "meter is EVRYTHING!"
>
> --- mono_tones_1 <rockverb@h...> wrote:
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> You left out 'choose the right pick' from the already mentioned
many
> times list ;-)
>
> On ething i think hasn't come up yet in the many treads on this
subject
>
> is the dynamics of rhythm pattern.
> try doin' it a bit slower then what you can handle, and bring in
the
> propper Accent - mediumaccent -noaccent dynamics:
>
> A - nA - mA - nA - A - nA - mA - nA etc, no accent being the
upstroke.
>
> then build up speed and loose the accents again allong the way. A
bit
> the same way in which you'd learn drumfilling accuracy, really.
>
> for me (and that is a huge disclaimer) that helps building accuracy
in
> trem picking.
>
> WR
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --- In , Rob Campbell <mantid@g...>
wrote:
> > Are there any words aside from "practice" and "loosen up" to
assist
> in
> > developing smooth tremolo picking? I've been working on it for
years
> > and its still not even close to adequate. I'm a little better
with
> > very rapid chords, but I lose the precision with single notes.
> >
> > I was taught long ago to keep a pinkie anchored on the pickguard
> > whenever possible while playing, and I think this habbit is very
bad,
> > so I try to let the hand "float", but it is only marginally
helpful
> if
> > at all.
> >
> > Any excercises or techniques worth a try?
>
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived
> messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>
>
> Visit your group "SurfGuitar101" on the web.
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
> Service.
>
>
> ---------------------------------
Or use a fender heavy pick and a bunch of gin and tonics
start slow...with the gin anyway
Rich
--- In , DP <noetical1@y...> wrote:
> Rob:
>
> the "slow and methodical" approach works well...
> get a metronome and set it to a slower setting (like 60
> beats per minute to start)...
>
> play along with that tempo methodically...it may seem
> boring, but the idea is to work the "muscle memory" in your
> picking hand. Play Miserlou at this slow slow glacial
> speed.
>
> Then try 70 bpm...then 80 bpm...later in the week start at
> 60 bpm for 10-15 minutes...then 70, then 80, then 90...
>
> a week later, start again at 60 bpm, them 70 bpm, then
> 80bpm, then 90 bpm then 100 bpm...
>
> you get the idea...work it up to whatever tempo you are
> striving for.
>
> I believe that metronome (or drum machine/drummer) tempo
> work should be an integral part of every musicians
> "workout/practice" regimen. For tremolo picking, the
> metronome can be an invaluable aid to help develop timing,
> endurance, strength and eventually...speed.
>
> I don't use the "pinkie/pickguard anchor"
> technique...however I do plant the fleshy edge of my palm
> on the bridge...almost "palm mute" style...close to where
> the carpal bones (wrist) meet the ulna & radius armbones...
>
> I use a nylon MOSHAY picks...it has a "grip hole" to keep
> it from flinging outta my picking hand mid-tremolo...
>
> good luck,
> -dp
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --- Rob Campbell <mantid@g...> wrote:
>
> > Are there any words aside from "practice" and "loosen up"
> > to assist in
> > developing smooth tremolo picking? I've been working on
> > it for years
> > and its still not even close to adequate. I'm a little
> > better with
> > very rapid chords, but I lose the precision with single
> > notes.
> >
> > I was taught long ago to keep a pinkie anchored on the
> > pickguard
> > whenever possible while playing, and I think this habbit
> > is very bad,
> > so I try to let the hand "float", but it is only
> > marginally helpful if
> > at all.
> >
> > Any excercises or techniques worth a try?
> >
> >
> > .
> > Visit for
> > archived messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
>
yeah the heavy pick is the way to go
I've tried the practising slow thing but it didn't help me much. I
found the only really helpful thing is to squeeze your elbows into
your sides and anchor your hand on the bridge and just fricken go for
it. Everything should be completely locked solid apart from your
wrist. The other thing is to totally totally concentrate on the beat.
It certainly true that playing to a LOUD click really helps.
On 12-Jul-05, at 7:57 PM, rich_from_the_balboas wrote:
> Or use a fender heavy pick and a bunch of gin and tonics
>
> start slow...with the gin anyway
>
> Rich
>
> --- In , DP <noetical1@y...> wrote:
>
>> Rob:
>>
>> the "slow and methodical" approach works well...
>> get a metronome and set it to a slower setting (like 60
>> beats per minute to start)...
>>
>> play along with that tempo methodically...it may seem
>> boring, but the idea is to work the "muscle memory" in your
>> picking hand. Play Miserlou at this slow slow glacial
>> speed.
>>
>> Then try 70 bpm...then 80 bpm...later in the week start at
>> 60 bpm for 10-15 minutes...then 70, then 80, then 90...
>>
>> a week later, start again at 60 bpm, them 70 bpm, then
>> 80bpm, then 90 bpm then 100 bpm...
>>
>> you get the idea...work it up to whatever tempo you are
>> striving for.
>>
>> I believe that metronome (or drum machine/drummer) tempo
>> work should be an integral part of every musicians
>> "workout/practice" regimen. For tremolo picking, the
>> metronome can be an invaluable aid to help develop timing,
>> endurance, strength and eventually...speed.
>>
>> I don't use the "pinkie/pickguard anchor"
>> technique...however I do plant the fleshy edge of my palm
>> on the bridge...almost "palm mute" style...close to where
>> the carpal bones (wrist) meet the ulna & radius armbones...
>>
>> I use a nylon MOSHAY picks...it has a "grip hole" to keep
>> it from flinging outta my picking hand mid-tremolo...
>>
>> good luck,
>> -dp
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --- Rob Campbell <mantid@g...> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Are there any words aside from "practice" and "loosen up"
>>> to assist in
>>> developing smooth tremolo picking? I've been working on
>>> it for years
>>> and its still not even close to adequate. I'm a little
>>> better with
>>> very rapid chords, but I lose the precision with single
>>> notes.
>>>
>>> I was taught long ago to keep a pinkie anchored on the
>>> pickguard
>>> whenever possible while playing, and I think this habbit
>>> is very bad,
>>> so I try to let the hand "float", but it is only
>>> marginally helpful if
>>> at all.
>>>
>>> Any excercises or techniques worth a try?
>>>
>>>
>>> .
>>> Visit for
>>> archived messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>>>
>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> __________________________________________________
>> Do You Yahoo!?
>> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived
> messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
-> >>> Are there any words aside from "practice" and "loosen up"
> >>> to assist in
> >>> developing smooth tremolo picking?
No, there are not :-)
This advice column seems to come up once every six months, and I am always
amazed at
the diversity of opinion. There is the "play from the wrist" school versus the
"swing from
the forearm." There are the heavy-pick adherents, and those who prefer flexy
picks. Some
suggest starting slow; others (a minority?), at speed. And, those who advocate
resting the
hand on the fleshy part of the thumb a la muting, though some suggest on the
bridge
rather than the body; and those who suggest a pinky-brace.
In short, many ways to skin the cat. What I am wonderin' is, is there anyone who
knows a
mandolin player? Those cats know how to tremelo pick. I'd like to hear a really
good
mando picker discuss technique.
Otherwise, I got nothing for you other than: practice. Oh, and loosen up.
