Picking Frustration

[holden2j]

Hey all,
I have received some input on this topic already, but need moral support. I am about to freak out. Not that I am going to quite playing (i enjoy it way too much, I have even missed a lot of my workouts to practice instead), but this whole pick pressure thing is making me crazy. When I do the gradual pressure exercises, I can get the pressure on and then relax, but when I go to sound the string it fires so hard, that it flies to that next string. I have messed with it for a while now, and I am not even using the left hand at this point so that I can really focus.
Please tell me that it is not just me. How long am I going to battle this. I did come from a 6 month start on another course, and have unlocked a ton of left hand tension, and my picking before was anchored. This whole arm instead of fingers thing is hard.
Leads me to a question. With a lot of the videos done on electric (I am using and acoustic), the picking is done a lot with the wrist and hand, yet the gradual pressure is the arm. When we begin to take this to walking exercises, does the arm still generate all of the movement? I can control it much better if I turn the hand slightly to sound the string, using my arm to move into position and apply force, but then use the fingers or wrist to get the pick to let loose. Is this all just a time and sensitivity issue, a pressure issue and I have not learned the feel yet?
So, ultimately, is the technique with the arm pushing and pulling, with the wrist stationary what should be happening? When actually doing the exercises does the amount of pressure remain the same from the exercises or lessen, or is it a learning to control the muscles?
And by the way, Thanks Christian. You have been such a huge help all the way.
Thanks for the input, Brian

[Jamie]

When I do the gradual pressure exercises, I can get the pressure on and then relax, but when I go to sound the string it fires so hard, that it flies to that next string.

That is for two reasons

1) you are not mentally preparing for the change in muscle adjustment that must occur immediately upon releasing the string (playing the note). You are keeping the same adjustment during and after the note.

2) You are not releasing the tension WITH the note.

Do this:

Place minimal gradual pressure on string

Do not play the note, merely raise the pick from the string, relaxing as you do so

Repeat, with the pressure increased a bit. Notice the different feeling in the arm from the point of maximum pressure, through relaxing the pick off the string, to raising the pick above the string.

Keep repeating, with increased pressure

Now, do the same thing, but instead of merely lifting the pick, let it "push down and into" the string before lifting, creating a sound, then continue to lift the pick up.

Repeat this with increasing pressure.

Do this and let's hear what happens. Post a video if you can.

The most direct route to solving your problem is to take a webcam with me. Certainly do that before quitting! This is merely a technical issue, but the solution, in its details, may very well be unique to you and require tweaking during application, but try the above remedy.

[holden2j]

Now, do the same thing, but instead of merely lifting the pick, let it "push down and into" the string before lifting, creating a sound, then continue to lift the pick up.

I am confused. Are you saying lift the pick off the string upwards toward the next string or lift it away from your body. I am not understanding what you are saying. I may be missing something entirely about pick mechanics. My head was thinking just straight down and through. Is the pick mechanism more like a circling thumb instead of a bouncing thumb? Sorry if I am seeming elementary here, but it all comes down to foundation for me. The best way to a good golf swing is through, grip, posture, alignment, and ball position seems simple, but most get it wrong. I want to understand all I can before I add bad habits on top of the ones I am already trying to break. Thanks

[Jamie]

"Lift" means toward the ceiling, "push down" means toward the floor.

[N E Y]

.

[holden2j]

Hey Jamie,
Thanks for the clarification. I have a couple more questions (I take it literally in the understanding that you talk about)...the lifting of the pick from the string and releasing when performing the gradual pressure, is it supposed to be done rapidly in the exercise? My intial answer to myself would be yes, because it is required to release the tension immediately when actuall pushing through.
I have only had a few minutes to work on this, but I want to see if I understand the mechanics of what you are trying to tell me. So the exercise teaches to release the tension, and you say after really pushing through and sounding the string that you lift the pick and continually lift it. That was the piece that I was not getting, so the string pushes down and the pick is actually lifted and pulled upwards. So this stops the downward motion and causes the floating feeling to come back and relax the pick back between the string that was sounded and the next one down? In an exaggerated motion, the pick pushes down (to the floor ) and if you were exaggerating, you would have the pick come back up and touch the string you just sounded. Does that sound right? And the pick actually remains where it was when it released the string, because you have released the tension and the downward pressure has been stopped.

[Jamie]

Do all of this very very slowly. Lift the pick and focus on the changing feeling in the shoulder/arm. You will still learn to release immediately. You must do this slowly to really consciously feel everything.

Where the pick ends up after striking the note will vary in actual playing. We must be able to leave it where we want. I like to have people learn to leave it halfway to the next string at first. So, picking down on the 6th string (as in 1-4 ex) it stays in between the strings, ready for the uppick on the 6th string.

Yes, your description sounds like you have the right understanding. Just make sure to do it slow, after slow practice, you can try it faster. Do slow, then fast each practice session.

Is that clear?

[holden2j]

Yes very clear now. Thank you. I also reread today the section on picking, and I think I had too much pressure on the pick as well, which I am sure was not helping.
After lightening my grip and working on this I had the sensation in my foream that the muscles that control my thumbwould tighten a little on a down pick, on the up pick the ones that control my index finger seem to respond, but release after the string is sounded. I'm going to keep working to get a better feel, but thanks again for the help. I am going to work on it through the weekend and maybe I can post something with both hands working at the same time.
It made me think of a bungee cord. If you were on it and let go at the point of maximum tension right before it recoiled, you could esentially be suspended at that point in the air. So for the exercises if I can release tension at the right moment the pick will be suspended. The point at which it sounds is the point at which the pick stays. Is that right? Well seems like a good analogy to me. Thanks again

[Jamie]

Yes, you are thinking correctly Brian. Keep it up, you will see big changes.

If you want to unravel the mysteries of guitar technique, there are two things that you think of constantly as you practice: Anatomy and Physics. The principles of these two fields of study are what govern what you can do on the guitar.

Read this, it will help you......

Playing From The String
http://www.guitarprinciples.com/virtuos ... ring-.html

[holden2j]

Thanks Jamie,
Loved the article, not so much about the weeks or months to undo habits, but the content was great. My bungee wasn't far off. It is so funny how guitar and golf are so similar. Good golf starts with good fundamentals. After that it is about anatomy, where your body is and how much tension it is holding. If you hold the tension you will limit the speed of your swing. Average pga tour player swings 114 mph, average amateur 80-90 mph. Biggest difference is tension. Then physics, the path at which the club attacks the ball, the angle of the club face, the angle of attack of the club. It is all very fascinating to me.