About Technique Critique

Sample public critiques

A selection of real questions players have brought to the instructor team.

Taking the Motion Tests

Hi! I'm Iñaki and I'm just getting started with this whole journey. I've played guitar for many years, and I've always struggled with alternate picking speed. I feel it's what's held me back the most. Many times I had doubted whether I could be physically incapable of playing fast alternate picking, but through taking these tests I've confirmed that I am not, and have a lot of room to grow. Just wanted to upload these videos so as to know if there might be any things that I could be doing wrong in some of these motions. I would really appreciate any feedback! Thank you! Send you a big hug from Argentina!

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New Motion Discovery

Over the last month or two, I’ve been experimenting with a new motion that feels like an extended forearm + wrist blend (similar to a Gypsy-style setup). This movement instantly felt fast and smooth, and it’s becoming increasingly consistent and retrievable the more I use it (faster also!). I’m looking for advice on properly identifying this motion and guidance on how to best integrate or develop it further.

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Stuck with slow speed and tension 2NPS

Hello, I worked on improving picking speed earlier this year with some success but I’m still stuck when it comes to 2NPS. I develop tension and what feels like string hopping with garage spikes and can’t seem to shake it. The speed is quite slow. Would appreciate any advice. Thx

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DDFH
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Feedback on my USX motion

Hi, I paused my subscription back in April this year and just renewed it. I haven't practiced my picking motion for months and would like to resume by submitting a technique critique first. I was practicing DSX before, but recently found performing USX is easier. I recorded myself playing tremolo with USX at my current top maximum speed. I would like to know if my current technique looks okay or if there is anything I need to adjust. Thanks!

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First TC

Hi, this is my first critique! I’ve been a Masters in Mechanics member since last December and have been working on developing upstroke escape mechanics (USX), with Eric Johnson’s music/style as my long-term goal. The two videos are descending cascading pentatonic sequences at the 12th fret, both at 150 bpm (16th notes): the 6’s pattern, and the 5’s pattern with the sweep on the 5th note. For starters I’m not chasing one specific problem. I’d appreciate a general evaluation of my mechanics at this tempo and your advice on what to prioritize to play faster and cleaner. I’d also welcome any thoughts on whether my pickslant and escapes are set up correctly for these patterns, and how the sweep is working in the 5’s pattern. Thanks for taking the time to look at this!

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Jjphys
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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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DSX 2WPS -> DBX

Hi, this is a continuation of https://troygrady.com/users/jfo/tc/614/ I'm really committed to working on this goal this winter. I've been concentrating on making my primary motion wrist based instead of forearm based and I feel a lot more comfortable with that, and overall it feels like a much more controlled and stable technique than what I used before. I can feel that upward escapes are within reach here. I'd like to focus on incorporating that with the goal of moving towards a DBX semi-circular motion that will let me play up tempo bluegrass crosspicking eventually, so in other words, the main thing I need guidance on here is how to move forward with the base technique in the video in a way that unlocks (or at least doesn't block) up tempo crosspicking in a bluegrass style. Previous TC was really helpful, just starting a new one to have a new place to keep track. Please let me know what to do next! Thanks a lot.

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Jjfo
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Am I on the right track?

I’ve watched through the primer and tried out some of the ideas. I think I had a zero picking angle before. I’m trying usx, although dsx feels ok too. It’s helped me jump up a fair bit in speed when changing strings. But doing the malmstein 6 pattern and straight pentatonic 2 per string I am much slower than I can tremolo. I think some of it is left hand speed, but also changing string cleanly and quickly, especially on the 2 per string pentatonic scale, I can’t get those speeds. I’m wondering if I’m on the right tracks and just need to practice more. Or if I’m doing something wrong. I’d love to be able to play Angus young/ Hendrix/SRV fast stuff to speed. Thank you!

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TTedsu
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