Hi, I’m back again.
This time, I’d like to start with my primary motion and build my picking technique up step by step.
Based on the courses here, I’ve mapped out a learning path for myself. Since I’ve noticed that the escape of my faster picking motion seems to be more DSX-oriented, I’d like to keep exploring it through the Pickslanting Primer and see whether this motion is actually usable long-term — ideally, whether I can sustain 16th notes at 180 BPM or above for at least around 20 seconds.
If the motion turns out to be viable, I’d then like to use Synchronicity to work on my single-string playing and develop better synchronization between the two hands.
At the same time, I also want to build technique through actual music rather than just isolated exercises, so I think working through the material in Metronomic Rock DSX alongside Synchronicity could be a good fit.
So my eventual goal would be to get to the point where I can play the two pieces in Metronomic Rock DSX really well.
I know this will take time, and that it involves several different things: single-string picking, string changes, and synchronization between the two hands. So I think I need to tackle these things one at a time.
For this thread, I’d like to focus first on finding a motion that works for me at high speed.
I’ve attached a video. I did the tabletop test, and then on the guitar I played tremolo as fast as I possibly could, without worrying about the metronome or the quality of the notes. Toward the end of the tremolo attempts, my arm and shoulder did feel a little sore, but this is about as fast as I can currently play.
I have a few questions:
1.Are these tests useful for figuring out what motion I’m using?
2.Can I treat this as my primary motion and start building from it?
3.I’m also not sure how playing this rough and uncontrolled is supposed to develop into tremolo picking with good timing and consistent note quality. How do you normally get from one to the other?
4.And is the technique I’m using here the kind of motion that should be sustainable at 180 BPM for, umm, at least 20–30 seconds?
I understand that the motion may be completely different at different speeds. Once I’ve found a motion that works at high speed, how should I transfer or adapt it to slower speeds? I’m asking because tremolo at around 120 BPM as 16th notes actually feels relatively comfortable to me, but at around 60–80 BPM my picking hand feels very awkward, and I have trouble staying consistently locked to the beat.
Thanks so much for your help. I’d really appreciate any feedback.
