Why is it easier to pick going up than going down?

[dtmateo]

Going up I mean from high E to low E. For example if I do triplet runs like this

8 7 5 -------------------
--------8 7 5------------
---------------- 8 7 5 --

I can do it at 220bpm or probably 240bpm but going the opposite direction I could barely do 200bpm without getting sloppy.

I don't see any change in angle of my picking hand at all. It doesn't make sense especially that I'm going against gravity when going up

Anyone else notice this?

[ibbyboy02]

Mas mabilis ako in the opposite direction. Siguro depende sa pinagprakisan na routine.
Practice lang ng practice!

[curiousdcat]

Just to clarify, are you picking each note or picking the first note on each string andpulling off the rest?

[DiMarzSiao™]

 

[tahty1910]

Slow down..

Analyze what is happening at slow speed, what causes the problem during down picking.
It is much easier to see problem during slow speed.

picking hand position may not be consistent during down picking as against ascending picking.
or hand tension might start to build during down picking at high speed.

Those might be some factors to consider.

  just an opinion

[tonwins11]

I can do better the opposite direction.

[Poundcake]

The great Joey Puyat gave me a small but priceless tip. He said that if we've practiced doing the alternate picking chromatic exercise (e.g. 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4-etc.) over and over, we should also do so using all downstrokes or all upstrokes. That'll ensure that our picking strokes are more balanced in either direction.

[skunkyfunk]

Downstrokes - Master of Puppets rhythm
Alternates - Most Megadeth Marty Solos.
Tremolo picking - EVH and Kirk Hammet solos

My favorite is Gambale's economy picking.  Took a while for me to learn but it made string skipping so much comfortable.

[tonwins11]

Medyo OT lang po.

Ang isang problema ko when picking is that I use to pick strings that are not supposed to ring. Maybe my picking hand isn't yet that controlled since I'm left-handed. Anyway, here's my question, when you're picking, do you rest your palm over the bridge, or you just hang your palm above it?

[skunkyfunk]

Medyo OT lang po.

Ang isang problema ko when picking is that I use to pick strings that are not supposed to ring. Maybe my picking hand isn't yet that controlled since I'm left-handed. Anyway, here's my question, when you're picking, do you rest your palm over the bridge, or you just hang your palm above it?

Use the classic hair tie.

[oist]

Use the classic hair tie.

this helps.

BTT: Paul Gilbert's "Technical Difficulties" and "Fuzz Universe" helped me get a little more out of my picking. although i do not have as much picking prowess as Pablo, i can definitely say that i am better than what i was prior to studying these songs... picking-wise. di pa rin ako creative. HAHAHAHA

[dtmateo]

Just to clarify, are you picking each note or picking the first note on each string andpulling off the rest?

I pick all notes. I can't do legato at that speed. It would sound like a gallop instead of triplet

[dtmateo]

Slow down..

Analyze what is happening at slow speed, what causes the problem during down picking.
It is much easier to see problem during slow speed.

picking hand position may not be consistent during down picking as against ascending picking.
or hand tension might start to build during down picking at high speed.

Those might be some factors to consider.

  just an opinion

I start slow at 140bpm everytime during practice and then do 20bpm increments until it sounds sloppy.

I think the problem is in my elbow. Looks like pulling the elbow is easier than extending it.

[dtmateo]

Medyo OT lang po.

Ang isang problema ko when picking is that I use to pick strings that are not supposed to ring. Maybe my picking hand isn't yet that controlled since I'm left-handed. Anyway, here's my question, when you're picking, do you rest your palm over the bridge, or you just hang your palm above it?

I mute with both hands. My right hand mutes the lower notes while my left pointy finger mutes the higher notes.

[dtmateo]

The great Joey Puyat gave me a small but priceless tip. He said that if we've practiced doing the alternate picking chromatic exercise (e.g. 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4-etc.) over and over, we should also do so using all downstrokes or all upstrokes. That'll ensure that our picking strokes are more balanced in either direction.

I do this as well but more of an exercise for economy picking.

[dtmateo]

Another thing, do you guys pick with your wrist or with your fingers?

[dtmateo]

I recorded myself doing the triplets so you can see the problem Forward to 1:35 for 180bpm and higher

[shredmaestrobri]

Try adjusting your strap to a comfortable height. Practice standing up. Could be factors.


Really if you could pick at that speed rate cleanly, accurately, and comfortably descending 16th notes, ascending should not be hard to practice and be comfy at all. Takes a lot of mastery to do those at that speed and konting practice na lang yan ascend.

What also helped me is doing lower note groupings kapag mahirap talaga. Instead of 16ths, I do 8th notes or one note per beat. If sixes are hard, I do threes. Then practice lang dun. It takes time pa rin to speed up but I get more control and comfort pa rin which is important for me.

Pero nanotice ko most problems sa picking can be solved through slowing down, having patience to work through it, and giving the right amount of time. Could take a long while to master some problem pero ayus lang yun own development mo naman yun.

I don't think there is any much reason as to why nahihirapan ka instead of the fact that you nee to practice it just some more.

[pitongjerome]

Medyo OT lang po.

Ang isang problema ko when picking is that I use to pick strings that are not supposed to ring. Maybe my picking hand isn't yet that controlled since I'm left-handed. Anyway, here's my question, when you're picking, do you rest your palm over the bridge, or you just hang your palm above it?

You may rest it for additional muting purposes. But you should learn to use youse your fretting hand, the free fingers, the tip of your fretting fingers and the likes. Think paul gilbert, he does not use anything for muting, yet plays so clean. I think he has a lesson on youtube for muting other strings.