I'm Getting Frustrated!!

[DrewJD82]

@TSJMajesty I dunno if this is helpful at all but I don't think we've discussed this aspect of pick technique; you'll notice in the first clip that there's practically no excess movement with the pick aside from how far it needs to travel to hit the string on each side and make it to the next one. What you can't see from this angle is what my forefinger and thumb are doing with the pick-



You can see in this vid below, the faster I get going the more the knuckles are retracting the pick. It's nearly impossible to see when my wrist starts moving, but I know I wouldn't get into the speeds I get into without that little bit of movement happening.

 

[la szum]

I know this might come across provocative, but: Why not look for something that you fingers like to play fast?
The only things I can play fluently are within my comfort zone(s) - and I always found it to be much more rewarding to expand those comfort zones rather than doing completely unrelated things.

I feel like there's some juice to be squeezed out of your comments.

It's valid. Not everyone can do something another person can do, just because that person
can do it, and/or just because other people can do what that one person can. It's pure fantasy
to presume otherwise. It's also a tad belittling if some people use it as a stick to elevate themselves
at the expense of someone struggling---and go, "See! Look at me!."



I think the notion that anyone can do anything out of sheer effort is a veritable sickness and disease of the mind. ....
and if anything can act as an obstruction to our own uniqueness as unique beings--as you suggest. The power of
positive thinking and all of that jazz. (and yeah, i think positivity is awesome :lol just not as an absolute ).

Maybe that is out of line here, but holy fuck..... we can't just will our way into any and every outcome possible, can we?


(There's an amazing book about that, too ). Like you can't force yourself to fall asleep, have an orgasm, or fall in love
with someone. Many of life's greatest experiences can't simply be forced upon us... not by ourselves nor by others).

None of this means things are impossible. Just that some things are impossible for each and every of us. No one
can do everything. Especially at a world-class level. Not even JP.

 

[la szum]

Oh, one more thing.... in my life, frustration usually precedes a breakthrough. Literally,
every time I have been frustrated and hit a wall, and want to quit, or give up---and
if I keep pushing----then some kind of breakthrough comes as a result. Maybe not the
one I am chasing or wanted, but the fruit of our labours and effort is never not honoured
by the Universe.

 

[TSJMajesty]

I feel like there's some juice to be squeezed out of your comments.

It's valid. Not everyone can do something another person can do, just because that person
can do it, and/or just because other people can do what that one person can. It's pure fantasy
to presume otherwise. It's also a tad belittling if some people use it as a stick to elevate themselves
at the expense of someone struggling---and go, "See! Look at me!."



I think the notion that anyone can do anything out of sheer effort is a veritable sickness and disease of the mind. ....
and if anything can act as an obstruction to our own uniqueness as unique beings--as you suggest. The power of
positive thinking and all of that jazz. (and yeah, i think positivity is awesome :lol just not as an absolute ).

Maybe that is out of line here, but holy fuck..... we can't just will our way into any and every outcome possible, can we?


(There's an amazing book about that, too ). Like you can't force yourself to fall asleep, have an orgasm, or fall in love
with someone. Many of life's greatest experiences can't simply be forced upon us... not by ourselves nor by others).

None of this means things are impossible. Just that some things are impossible for each and every of us. No one
can do everything. Especially at a world-class level. Not even JP.

Yep, that's all fine and well. But I would've never known that I could play at the level I'm at now, if I hadn't "set the bar" to go for a riff such as this.

I'm going to keep pushing, but at least I know approximately where my limits are, that I didn't know before trying these sorts of challenges.

And "What one man can do, another can do" just doesn't apply in all situations. It's part of what makes us unique.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Oh, one more thing.... in my life, frustration usually precedes a breakthrough. Literally,
every time I have been frustrated and hit a wall, and want to quit, or give up---and
if I keep pushing----then some kind of breakthrough comes as a result. Maybe not the
one I am chasing or wanted, but the fruit of our labours and effort is never not honoured
by the Universe.

 

[Badonkey Kong]

@TSJMajesty I dunno if this is helpful at all but I don't think we've discussed this aspect of pick technique; you'll notice in the first clip that there's practically no excess movement with the pick aside from how far it needs to travel to hit the string on each side and make it to the next one. What you can't see from this angle is what my forefinger and thumb are doing with the pick-



You can see in this vid below, the faster I get going the more the knuckles are retracting the pick. It's nearly impossible to see when my wrist starts moving, but I know I wouldn't get into the speeds I get into without that little bit of movement happening.

Drew!!! Thanks for bringing this up... I have sometimes caught myself doing this - I think particularly when my wrist and/or elbow is tensing up, and my hand is naturally trying to compensate. But for what ever reason, I get distracted and forget about it. I never actually considered working on this as a full time playing technique (apparently I'm just not that bright, lol)... But I just experimented with it intentionally and I think it has potential to get me to speeds with accuracy my wrist/elbow can't achieve...

The trick will be re-wiring my brain at 60 years old after 45 years of playing...

But I'm going to give it a go and see where it takes me.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

To ask the simple question can you play it at the tempo you want with left hand only?

After you answer that I’ll continue.

 

[TSJMajesty]

To ask the simple question can you play it at the tempo you want with left hand only?

After you answer that I’ll continue.

No. I can do 8-note groups, but if I continue, I'm a little late by the time I hit the downbeat on the 17th note.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

No. I can do 8-note groups, but if I continue, I'm a little late by the time I hit the downbeat on the 17th note.

That’s what I thought.
All too often when folks think the picking is the issue, the actual culprit is the left hand.

My gauge for if can play stuff when in nitpick mode, in order of importance.
Can I play it gamer ins from nowhere no right hand.

Can I count out loud while doing so. (That’s my is the stuff internalised test)

And then if I’m still feeling uppity can I play the right hand seperately.

I just tried the lick and at 94 I got sloppy at the shift from 11 to 16th.
80 no issue left hand only.

My suggestion. If you practice the lick say 10 minutes per practice session spend 3 minutes hammering it.

Also can you mumble the line in time?
I’m fairly certain the picking is the last thing that needs work to get you there.

And to the idea of not everyone can play some one else’s stuff.
This is linear 16th at 192. It’s absolutely doable.

 

[TSJMajesty]

That’s what I thought.
All too often when folks think the picking is the issue, the actual culprit is the left hand.

Yeah, I mentioned that my left hand is lagging also. It's both at this point.

My gauge for if can play stuff when in nitpick mode, in order of importance.
Can I play it gamer ins from nowhere no right hand.

I'll try that.

And then if I’m still feeling uppity can I play the right hand seperately.

I do work on that also.

I just tried the lick and at 94 I got sloppy at the shift from 11 to 16th.
80 no issue left hand only.

My suggestion. If you practice the lick say 10 minutes per practice session spend 3 minutes hammering it.

Ok

Also can you mumble the line in time?

Yes.

I’m fairly certain the picking is the last thing that needs work to get you there.

And to the idea of not everyone can play some one else’s stuff.
This is linear 16th at 192. It’s absolutely doable.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I too still think I can get it, and I'm pretty sure I know what needs work.
Thanks for the tips. I'll add them.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Yeah, I mentioned that my left hand is lagging also. It's both at this point.

I'll try that.

I do work on that also.

Ok

Yes.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I too still think I can get it, and I'm pretty sure I know what needs work.
Thanks for the tips. I'll add them.

Well if you can play the licks 1 beat at a time at 80 then all that needs sorting is the string changes and position shifts.

Especially seeing that if you can mumble it means you hear fast enough which is the biggest obstacle.

When my left hand got wonky a good two month ago I couldn’t fret a damn C to Am, and the docs still haven’t figured what’s wrong with it.
So I prescribed myself a beat the hands harder cure. And although it feels like I play with a dead fish strapped to my hand I got all facilities back.

strong Will and being stubborn as a mule and the willingness to suck temporarily are your friend.

 

[TSJMajesty]

My suggestion. If you practice the lick say 10 minutes per practice session spend 3 minutes hammering it.

Is the idea behind hammering it, that you build strength/stamina, which then translates to increased speed? Because just hammering it a few times tires my hand rather quickly.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Well if you can play the licks 1 beat at a time at 80 then all that needs sorting is the string changes and position shifts.

I can play certain patterns in this riff at 90, 1 beat at a time, but not all of them.

Example- when I do 3 notes on a string, then 5 on the next string, and the downbeat on the original string..., that's fine. But when it's 5 notes on a string, then 3 notes on the next higher string..., that string change isn't as accurate. (Probably because I've been working on licks that start with 3 notes, then change strings, a LOT longer.)

And the part that starts on the b/8, and moves up to the 11th position..., I can play those 2 full beats at 90. (Just not 3 times in a row. Lol)

So because parts of this are just about there, I feel like I can get it. Just not sure how much longer it'll take. Thus the "frustration."

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Is the idea behind hammering it, that you build strength/stamina, which then translates to increased speed? Because just hammering it a few times tires my hand rather quickly.

In a way yes. But it comes down to that as soon as we pick every note our attention is much more on the right thus the left beginning to drag and that in turn slowing the right down.

I use to have this horrible habit of turning 16ths into triplets mid way through.

I got a couple of things I have my students do that I bit from Shaun Baxter that will straighten your left hand in a hurry. Plus they make for bitchen alternate picked things.

I think I might have posted one ir two of them before.
I’ll find and throw em up.

 

[TSJMajesty]

I use to have this horrible habit of turning 16ths into triplets mid way through.

I'm turning 32nds into septuplets!

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

I'm turning 32nds into septuplets!

Then you will benefit from Doing the left hand only thing. Lol

 

[TSJMajesty]

@TSJMajesty I dunno if this is helpful at all but I don't think we've discussed this aspect of pick technique; you'll notice in the first clip that there's practically no excess movement with the pick aside from how far it needs to travel to hit the string on each side and make it to the next one. What you can't see from this angle is what my forefinger and thumb are doing with the pick-



You can see in this vid below, the faster I get going the more the knuckles are retracting the pick. It's nearly impossible to see when my wrist starts moving, but I know I wouldn't get into the speeds I get into without that little bit of movement happening.

Hey, I didn't mean to ignore your post trying to help me, then go back-and-forth with Ed's. It's just that I didn't quite understand what you're saying. But if it involves adding a motion other than just using my wrist (which I think was what you were saying), then I think I have my hands full (so to speak) with staying with strictly wrist movements, and, I think I'll eventually get there, w/o adding an additional motion.

I may however, have to go back to resting my ring/pinky on the guitar, sort of like Marty Friedman does, since I can actually pick faster when doing so. But I'd rather not end up doing that just yet. (I hate fingernail scratches! )

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Ok that’s what is was talking about here they are as typical hammer-on pull off things.

They Work great for all hammers or alternate picked.

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[TSJMajesty]

Then you will benefit from Doing the left hand only thing. Lol

Something to add..., I have the beginnings of arthritis. I have it in my knees and in one foot, and it takes me almost an hour of playing before the soreness in the web of my palm, btw the thumb and 1st finger, to loosen up and go away.

And somedays my fingers tingle, and WILL NOT STOP! But I think I know what is causing that, and it's diet-related. So, working on ridding that entirely. (I think it's dairy.)

 

[TSJMajesty]

Ok that’s what is was talking about here they are as typical hammer-on pull off things.

They Work great for all hammers or alternate picked.

Legato-Tapping-Rock-Guitar-Etudes-PDF-Edition-1-pdf.gp

Legato-Tapping-Rock-Guitar-Etudes-PDF-Edition-1-pdf.gp

www.soundslice.com

legato-economy etude

legato-economy etude

www.soundslice.com

Phrase-Shifting-Legato-Triplets.gp

Phrase-Shifting-Legato-Triplets.gp

www.soundslice.com

Kewl!!