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Technique Critiques

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Incorporating secondary motion to enable changing strings on an upstroke.

DSX Elbow player here practicing the Pepsi Lick in order to develop the habilty to change string on an upstroke with the help of a secondary motion (forearm rotation) with no improvement at all. Decided to open a TC to get some advice on how to aproach the practice of lines with mixed scapes/string skipping. P.D: sorry for the bad english,not my first lenguage.

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First TC

I've been playing guitar for almost 30 years (I'm 38) and feel like my technical ability has a bit of a handbrake on it. I can tremolo pick around 16th notes at 200bpm but can't keep it up for long as a lot of tension builds up in my forearm. My natural inclination seems to be a wrist-motion, downward pickslanting/upstroke escape motion with my palm resting on the bridge (as demonstrated in the first part of this video). I feel I can get faster speeds when I let my hand hover about the strings but my precision and ability to change strings suffers from this. I also seem to be able to pick downstroke 8th notes at 210bpm and sustain it longer than 16ths at 200bpm. I can fairly easily tap a guitar pick against a surface using what I believe is the same motion at around 220bpm. I also seem to have an issue with hitting strings when trying to string changes at fast speeds despite an apparently escape motion in my playing. I feel like perhaps there is an inefficient motion that I am using to reposition my hand from one string to another that is interfering with my overall technique. I've included a quick run through examples of all of the above in the video. I am just looking for some experienced critique of how I'm playing and what might be getting in the way of more comfort and fluidity at higher tempos. Thanks!

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BBrenjwc
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How to tell whether I'm playing 16th notes or triplets at high BPMs

Core question: Why do my sixteenth notes always turn into triplets above 200 BPM? And I want to identify my primary picking motion. I use my middle, ring, and pinky fingers as the driving muscle group for upstrokes. But at high speeds, I can't tell if I'm relying on a compound motion. How do I integrate forearm rotation into my picking mechanics?The text was translated by AI.

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Hhitori
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I NEED HELP!

This is my first TC and I can already see I need major help. I've been playing for over thirty years and it looks like I've developed some bad habits: from holding the pick, to not playing clean, and getting caught in between strings. I can also see that I'm sort of string hopping all over the place. Please help me! Like Ben Eller says, I want to become a "Shredi" knight!

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KKenD
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Help me find a primary picking motion that does not cause pain

I’m looking for feedback on my picking motion, mainly from a pain-prevention standpoint. I’ve been dealing with pain on the ulnar side of my picking hand — the pinky side of the hand, around the 5th metacarpal / “boxer’s fracture” area. The pain tends to flare up after a few minutes of picking exercises. I saw a hand specialist and had an X-ray. The doctor did not see any major red flags or bone issue. He thought it may be related to old scar tissue from a previous break being irritated by certain movements. He said I probably won’t do damage by playing, but recommended occupational therapy and possibly further imaging later if the pain persists. The pain mostly went away when I stopped playing guitar for about two weeks, but it has started to come back slowly now that I’ve resumed playing. The motion that seemed to set it off was a slightly outward-rotated picking motion, almost like turning a doorknob away from the body of the guitar. That motion felt faster and more efficient at first, but after a few minutes of exercises it seemed to irritate the pinky-side area of my picking hand. I’ve completed the Pickslanting Primer and uploaded a few clips. I included three licks from the Primer, plus a short solo clip to show how I naturally pick when I’m not thinking too much about mechanics. I can alternate pick around 175 bpm, but I’m not trying to become a shredder. My main goal is to find a reliable primary motion that lets me play country / chicken-pickin’ type lines, light rhythm, and general lead parts without irritating my hand. What I’m hoping someone can help me with: Do you see anything in my motion that could be contributing to ulnar-side hand pain? Am I using too much wrist rotation, deviation, finger motion, anchoring, or pick grip tension? Which motion family does my playing seem closest to? What primary motion would you suggest I try instead? Are there any obvious setup changes I should test, such as pick grip, edge picking, wrist position, arm position, or pick depth? How would you recommend I rebuild this without flaring the pain back up? I’m mainly looking for a second opinion on whether my current motion looks mechanically stressful, and what lower-stress alternatives I should try.

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Need help with LEFT HAND POTENTIAL

So, I am quite new to the shredding stuff. I find 115-120 bpm area gives me trouble - which seems far from the demonstrations of lines on ctc, which I’d like to reach myself someday I know I can tremolo pick way faster, so that’s not my concern. My concern is the left hand. How can I test its potential? I am afraid of being stuck at low tempo due to left hand problems My hope for this critique is to give me confidence in my left hand and understand how it develops into faster tempos.

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TTurasaz
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One position to rule them all

I have 2 very different picking styles. One i palm mute (reverse dart and wrist) and can play chugs and down pick well. In it, I can't gallop real well and I certainly can't play fast lead. The other I thumb mute (forward dart and elbow morton) and can speed up pretty well for lead lines but I can't chug or down pick well. My thumb plant falls off the bridge and I lose all control. I would love help trying to find a way that I can do both with one hand position.

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Alternate picking

At certain mid tempos my shoulder gets tired and the sync becomes tricky I usually get around this using hybrid picking but want to fix it

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Synchronization for Open String Licks

Dear Cracking The Code Team, I have been struggling with licks that use open string for a long time now. At the Moment I am trying to learn System of a Down's BYOB. Here I am strugglin the most with getting the intro bit up to tempo while maintining hand synchronization. The sequence is: (7000 0000 7008 0070) x3 + (7008 0070 7008 0070 ) x3 I have attached a videosof me playing the intro to that song. I watched all of the Synchronicity Course already, but with this problem it doesn't seem to help much, because I cant use the "legato only" approach for getting my left hand in regular time idependently of my right hand. I already recorded my playing in my DAW and think on main problema occurs with the "800" bit, because i lift my middle finger too slow and therefore swallow the 00 after the 8 and the main problem occurs with the "7070" bit. Those tend to be the most sloppy. However I have not figured out a way to improve on this. Right now I am using John Taylors Metronome Method where I start at 60 bpms every day and increment by 5 bpm as long as I play it cleanly. However with this approach I always max out at around 135/140 bpm. If I use the "fuck it approach", and just hammer through the 16th notes with my right hand and accept some left hand mistakes, I sometimes manage to sort of get 150 bpm like in the video. But overall definitely not good enough to play the whole song without major fuckups :D. Would appreaciate your feedback a lot! Cheers I would love to know how to work on these kind of riffs, because Im working on this song for over a month now and still cannot remotely play it reliably on the original tempo of 165 bpm.

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Yyukaza17
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My first TC

Hello! I share my 1st video to check my motions. I uploaded a video playing a short run, trying to don't get stuck between strings. My primer motion is USX and I'm trying to apply and get used to DBX. Let me know what you think :)

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Normal Downpicking

Hi, this is my go to movement for picking. here you can see me down picking. I can't go faster than 180 after 15 years of playing and I have been focusing on that the last months with great frustration. Anything I can do better? BR Miguel

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DDefts
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Fast Fretting 5/24/26

Hi! I’ve been working with the team for a while now and am checking in to get some feedback on what to keep working on. I’ve added a couple face on and picking hand videos for review. On a single string my triplets and chromatic 16ths feel better and faster and I think my picking technique is improving. My biggest struggle is the 16th not box that I’ve been practicing on adjacent strings. Example would be D string 7 to 9 then G string 7 to 9 & repeat. I’ve been stalled there for several months around 120 bpm and am not sure how to progress. It feels like my picking gets really hoppy at speed and doesn’t feel like my single string picking. It feels like I’m just stalled out here and don’t think I’ve improved in a couple months. Overall any feedback on what to do next would be really helpful. Thanks!

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First TC/Need Help

Hey! My name is Theo, and this is my first TC with CTC. I'm looking to fix my right-hand accuracy and speed, and some guidance as to where to start and what to practice to get to my goals. For starters, I've played for 14 years since 2012, and I went to learn jazz guitar for some of those years. I always had difficulty playing fast and technical stuff. I would get tired when playing faster music, and completely avoided bebop lines or anything high-tempo. I used to play with a 3-finger grip, but switched over during my education and relearned new muscle memory for picking. My current goal is to play Cliffs of Dover by EJ as well as Troy's "Cliffs of Doverkill"! 13 Pentatonic Trademarks" licks. I am also wondering why it is that my initial motion tests had my fastest speed with the EVH style picking? Anyway, below are some videos of my right hand using my Magnet. I would greatly appreciate some assistance, especially on what to practice and a strategy for where to proceed from this point, and how to reach my goals. Thanks, Theo :)

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Mixed Escapes (Hard Mode)

Hey all - Thanks to previous TCs, my mixed escape/two-way pickslanting is pretty decent. I was recently very inspired by the interview with Dimitri Miles Baker and wanted to work on phrases where you have to do multiple inside picking escapes. See Dimitri Escapes vid. my biggest problem is, once i hit that last note on the higher-pitched string, my wrist refuses to simply move left to hit the lower-pitched string without it feeling like big, conscious effort is involved. it’s like some invisible force is pushing back on it. and when i do hit that string, the pickstroke feels unnaturally short with delayed timing and that i have to get back to the higher-pitched string asap. and on the low e, forget about it, it’s like my wrist is pretending to hit the string and it feels v awkward. the rest of the lick feels easy. see “regular sixes” as this isn’t much of a problem with normal 3NPS scales. that “regular sixes” lick is much more natural though. just one escape in the middle of the beat. based on my review of the Synchronicity seminar, I’m wondering if there’s a chunking issue here, as the escape in the Miles-type lick is in a pretty random part of the sextuplet. this is at a measly 80bpm too! it’s not the tightest against the click because i feel like there’s a hiccup or glitch when moving left. like zoolander, i can’t turn (my wrist) left! what am i missing? thanks all! UPDATE: If I just play 10-9-7-9-7 on the high e and then 10 on the B, it’s super easy and i can play it cleanly quite fast. but if i know i have to go back to the high e, then hitting that 10 fret on the b string all of a sudden turns into the “can’t turn left” problem….

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First TC

Need help on identifying primary motion, as well as an escape motion. Regarding escape motion, I feel like I tend to play with DSX, and that’s the motion that I do when I tremolo pick, but I also find it harder to start phrases on an upstroke, and they come out messy. Also having issues with hand feeling “secure” - when I focus too much on anchoring it, sometimes I feel like it gets stuck to the bridge, even if it doesn’t. On the other hand, if I let it float, I don’t have much control over picking. Also, when doing 16th for continuous amount of time, for example Gambale’s Chopbuilder, my arm tenses up around biceps and I have to briefly stop. Not sure if that is relevant, but thought I’d mention it since we are talking about picking. All in all, I would greatly appreaciate feedback and guidance on how to further modify and/or develop my picking technique (practicing is a given :) ). Excuse the mess in the back!

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Figuring out primary motion and escape

I’m trying to assess the motions and escapes tha I already do, before starting to study any particular technique. However, I have a hard time figuring out on my own what I am doing in terms of escape motions and wrist vs forearm motions. Any help and corrections are much appreciated!! Thanks!!

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EeXavo
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Some phrases sound sloppy when playing fast

Im new to cracking the code and just started the pick slanting primer videos yesterday I would like some critique on my current technique and also what am i doing wrong in PaulGilbert’s technical difficulties lick. I have been trying to nail it since almost a decade but it feels impossible and sloppy i am not exactly sure what im doing wrong. I also noticed when paying fast sometime it sounds very “Scratchy” I have attached some Tremolo picking, 2 note per string examples Thank you

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TTpan99
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Technique has gotten worse over 8 months. Completely lost

Hi everyone, I’m posting here because I’d really like help figuring out what my primary motion should be. I’ve been playing for many years, and in the past I was able to play “okay” — not super clean or relaxed, but I could get by and play fast-ish lines. The problem is that I was using a mix of techniques (wrist, forearm, even fingers) and a lot of tension. About 8 months ago, a teacher told me to switch to a more wrist-focused technique. Since then, things have only gotten worse. I’ve been trying to follow that approach, but I feel like I’ve lost whatever I could do before. At this point: - I can’t even do a basic single-string tremolo consistently - my motion feels blocked at the string (the pick hits but doesn’t go through) - my thumb and index interfere a lot - the pick rotates in my grip clockwise It feels like I’m overcontrolling everything, and I don’t have a clear motion anymore. Another detail that might be relevant: I’m left-handed for writing, but I’ve always played guitar right-handed since the beginning. Right now I feel like I have a “mix” of ideas in my head (wrist, forearm, USX, etc.), and I don’t know what to commit to. I’ve basically gone backwards over the last months and I feel quite lost. Honestly, I just want to enjoy playing guitar again, but this whole situation has become extremely frustrating, to the point where I’m even thinking about giving up. Could you help me identify what my natural / primary motion might be, and what I should focus on instead of trying to force a specific technique? Thanks a lot 🙏 P.S.: I would like to add that I am using Jim Dunlop flow max-grip 3 mm picks

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Jjssgom
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DSX Tremolo-consistency, chunking, sync

Hello Tommo, In first video, I wanted to confirm USX motion, with second video to confirm sync with DiMeola 6s on single and multiple strings. For third, I wanted to see if scalar chunk is synced and how I'm changing strings. For fourth video, I wanted to see if 3nps scale is synced and how I'm changing strings. For fifth video, I wanted to see if PG lick is synced and how I'm changing strings-downstroke start I am trying to swipe, upstroke start feels like it is cleaner, but I'm not sure

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AAustinK
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Confused Grip

It blows my mind to 'finally' see inside my pick technique. I've just received my 1st magnet and already feel like I've learned a lot. I'm a 64yr old 'has-been' still trying to get my right hand fixed BEFORE I go knocking on Heaven's Door. I positioned my grip in various styles because I'm still wrestling with what feels most comfortable and ergonimic. I've recently discovered the EVH 3 finger grip works an absolute treat for 'rhythm' playing, and I'm in the process of trying to re-program my action. However, even though this feels very natural for strumming, when picking, it still feels kinda comfortable, but erratic in terms of accuracy. I still don't quite know which direction I should be focused on, because my other grip has developed into a smoother tremelo.

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MMickeyT9
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DSX Trailing edge: Stuck in the strings

I'm trying to get a working DSX Trailing edge motion that can hit at least 180 bpm on all strings. I do the DSX motion most naturally, but with a leading edge grip I can get only to about 160 bpm on a single string tremolo. I tried the trailing edge grip and it got to about 190 bpm, but only on the low E-string with the tall mouse form. I modified the form a little bit and got something that almost works on the other strings, the pick just seems to get stuck on the strings. I tried to find any other players that would use a similar form like me, but didn't find anybody. Is my form incorrect or do I just need to get used to it with time? What should I concentrate on when practising on this?

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TC 2 - Fixing the Down-Down motion, swinging/uneven note volumes, 2NPS asc vs desc speed inequality

Hello! This is my second TC and I wanted to get other opinions on my technique. I was able to work with Joao for months to "decide" where my technique should go direction wise and we found that havi ng my hybrid forearem+wrist type motion was best. I have been staying the course on this for some time now and I want to get a bit more granular in fixing certain elements that make a huge difference in making my picking go from "wow he picks well" to "OMG" The issues I've been seeing right now are that my timing on my down down motion when switching strings either slows down or is super sped up and not on grid. So basically whenever I switch strings, it sounds super sloppy and somewhere down the road, I either get stuck or have to reset myself and start again. This is most evident in the rotating EJ fives pentatonic pattern at the end of the clip. The second issue I've been facing has been that I notice my upstrokes are either slow/swung unintentionally and/or their volume is weaker that my downstrokes. This doesnt give me the nice flat and equal dynamics i am looking for when I'm picking. Probably most evident in the first rotating phrase in the clip. The third issue I've been facing is that especially in 2NPS but its apparent in all others, when I'm ascending (going from low E to high e) my speed is slower on average and I feel like I hit a wall vs my descending. Even when I'm at my most warmed up state, this is most evident. ascending 2NPS pentatonic runs have arguably been my most elusive chunk in my playing to date. Those are the 3 issues I would like to focus on and look for ways to find potential fixes for. I dont know if its me taking the time to just drill it more and more or if theres something i'm not noticing that is impeding my progress. I look forward to your critique! Thanks again for taking the time to watch and respond :)

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Further attempts at sorting out best motion

This is really a follow on to the earlier technique critique at https://troygrady.com/dashboard/tc/495/ although that technique critique was closed before I had time to upload the requested videos. (So it may be worth referring to the old critique to see what has been done before, especially if a new instructor does this critique. It was possibly worth starting with a fresh critique, anyway, since there were a lot of picking related videos on the earlier part of that critique as well). So I have videoed the EVH-style and Di Meola-style tap tests for the longer time and without a metronome. Also, using a mouse wrist rest as discussed on the earlier technique critique. I've also uploaded a new video of the elbow tap test. (Videos of the other two motion tests are on the earlier technique critique; but for a relatively short duration and with a metronome.). Anyway, still trying to sort out my best motion as I was in the latter part of the earlier technique critique? Also, I have another question - is it useful to practise these motions much - apart from the occasional video to upload? I think it was suggested the motions are fairly basic to avoid some of the other complexities with picking and guitar playing, and are normally fairly easy for anybody. On the other hand, I think Troy suggested that he had found practising the forearm motion away from the guitar to be useful. (This feels fairly abstracted from actual guitar playing at this point which I would quite like to get back to.)

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Trying to do RDT DBX with 3 notes per string riff

Hi, this is my first time trying a TC. This is a video of me attempting a 3 notes per string "riff", but the riff is just open strings, so this speed (or lack thereof) is all my right hand, left hand is not involved. I would like to know whether what I'm doing is stringhopping (likely, because I can't get much faster than this), or properly RDT DBX. I would also like confirmation on this: if I want to do this type of odd-numbered note-per-string riff, it would be with a double escape motion like RDT DBX correct? Watching the videos on RDT though, I'm really not sure how I should try to evolve from this stringhopping to RDT DBX, assuming what I'm doing is stringhopping.

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Ssnowman
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