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Hi everyone...
I'm new to this forum, as well to the guitar (since august 2003). I
have a Squier Strat. I don't have a teacher or anything other than
that fender book that came with it. Surf Guitar is also fairly new to
me. After looking for advice on double picking and trying multiple
ways, I found I could do it better (better meaning...I can do it at
all) by holding the pick diagonally to the strings instead of
perpendicular, cause I was just some how not good with strumming
up...anyway other than noisier picking, I find this is the best way
for me to double pick. I also recently found out how to use the
tremolo bar...
anyway... I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on my
picking technique, and what elements are necessary for a surf tune.
Thanks a lot,
-Alex
My advice is to practice alternate picking exercises with a
metronome. For example start by playing a single note or scale,
example: Set metronome to 60 bpm (Bpm = beats per minute) and pick
down, up, down, up etc. in time to the ticks. For me I do not allow
my forearm to move, all movement is from my wrist. Over time go from
¼ notes, to 1/8 note to 16notes and keep increasing the bpm until you
can't keep time. Practice like a maniac.
Also try searching for "alternate picking" methods.
Rick
--- In , "Alex Hoffman"
<indiglowblue@y...> wrote:
> Hi everyone...
>
> I'm new to this forum, as well to the guitar (since august 2003). I
> have a Squier Strat. I don't have a teacher or anything other than
> that fender book that came with it. Surf Guitar is also fairly new
to
> me. After looking for advice on double picking and trying multiple
> ways, I found I could do it better (better meaning...I can do it at
> all) by holding the pick diagonally to the strings instead of
> perpendicular, cause I was just some how not good with strumming
> up...anyway other than noisier picking, I find this is the best way
> for me to double pick. I also recently found out how to use the
> tremolo bar...
>
> anyway... I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on my
> picking technique, and what elements are necessary for a surf tune.
>
> Thanks a lot,
>
> -Alex
You might want to search the archives, we had a big
discussion about it once. People here all do it a
little differently; with some guys it's all wrist,
with some a combination of wrist/forearm, everybody
grips the pick a little differently.
Personally, I use Dunlop Tortex mediums (yellow ones)
or Heavy Alien Piks gripped between my thumb and index
and bird finger and mainly use my forearm. I don't
know how I developed this habit or if there's anything
wrong with it, but I find that I'm better off just
letting my forearm control things. I try to keep my
pick perpendicular to the strings as much as possible.
Switching to flatwound strings will also greatly
reduce that scraping noise you hear when you pick
sideways.
richard
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Hi Alex and welcome!
> I'm new to this forum, as well to the guitar (since august 2003). I
> have a Squier Strat. I don't have a teacher or anything other than
> that fender book that came with it. Surf Guitar is also fairly new to
> me. After looking for advice on double picking and trying multiple
> ways, I found I could do it better (better meaning...I can do it at
> all) by holding the pick diagonally to the strings instead of
> perpendicular, cause I was just some how not good with strumming
> up...anyway other than noisier picking, I find this is the best way
> for me to double pick. I also recently found out how to use the
> tremolo bar...
I stumbled onto that diagonal picking style once by accident. It worked
really well for me for one practice session. I also had my index finger
draped over the edge of the pick with my thumb and middle fingers holding
the pick in place. When I tried it again I could not make it work though. I
used to double pick soley from the wrist, but after reading about how others
do it, I tried to put more of my arm into it. I think I get more stamina
with the arm involved. But I think I am using a combination of both now,
with more arm than wrist. Just keep trying different ways until you find
something that works for you.
BN
