Using "Less Pick"

Описание: Why don't we talk more about using a small amount of pick on the string. Isn't it important to have smooth attack? Yes! But when you film technique, the actual amount of pick attack doesn't always look like what you think it's going to look like. You'd be surprised how much pick can appear to contact the string while the attack can feel completely smooth and unobstructed to the player — especially when edge picking and rest strokes are involved. This is because it's not just "how much" pick contacts the string, but also the direction it's moving relative to the string plane. i.e. A glancing attack is not the same as a head-on collision. It's complicated! So when players have trouble with speed or smoothness, it's usually because something is wrong with the overall form or type of picking motion being used. The fix is usually something more systemic, like "anchor this way", or "try this other joint motion" – and suddenly things click and everything is fast and sounds good. TLDR if the technique is slow, or the pick/string contact feels weird, try overall form changes or try another picking motion. Edit: FYI this is a one-way economy lick based on USX motion ( http://troygrady.com/primer/reference... ). Because of the diagonal trajectory of the picking motion, only downstroke sweeping is used. This is essentially how Gypsy jazz technique works, and also the techniques of Yngwie Malmstee, Eric Johnson, George Benson, Shawn Lane, Marty Friedman and many other amazing players. Very different joint mechanics between these players, but similar end result of a picking motion that moves along a diagonal pathway where upstrokes escape.