Wrist Motion Reference

The wrist is probably the most commonly used joint in picking technique. Thanks to its 360-degree range of motion, it is also the most sophisticated.

The wrist is capable of creating all pickstroke types: single escape, double escape, and trapped. What’s more, it can do this from several different arm positions, effectively reproducing the same picking techniques using entirely different sequences of muscle action. Let’s take a look at how it works.

Identifying Wrist Motion

Chapter 1 - Identifying Wrist Motion

The most multi-directional joint in picking

 

Chapter 2 - Identifying Di Meola Wrist Motion

Maybe the most popular picking motion of all time

 

Chapter 3 - Identifying Stern Wrist Motion

Mike's motion moves sideways, but on a tilt

 

Chapter 4 - Identifying Gilbert Mixed Escape Wrist Motion

An introduction to mixing escapes with wrist motion

 

Chapter 5 - Identifying EVH Wrist Motion

The wrist motion family with a unique pick grip

 

Chapter 6 - Identifying Dart-Thrower Wrist Motion

The wrist motion that rests on the thumb

 

Wrist Mechanics

Identifying Wrist Motion

The most common joint in picking technique takes many forms

 

Axes Of Motion

Super versatile motion capability derives from two simple axes

 

Chapter 1 - Wrist Mechanics Explained

Understanding the wrist's unique multi-axis motion capability

 

Chapter 2 - The Clock Face Model

Cracking the Code's powerful system for understanding complicated wrist motions

 

Chapter 3 - Clock Face USX

Understanding the upstroke escape motions of Mike Stern, Eric Johnson, Eddie Van Halen, and Albert Lee

 

Chapter 4 - Clock Face DSX

Comparing the downstroke escape wrist motions of John McLaughlin, David Grier, and Andy Wood

 

Chapter 5 - Clock Face DBX

A close-up look at the double escape pickstrokes of Steve Morse, Molly Tuttle, Andy Wood, and David Grier

 

Chapter 6 - Clock Face Stringhopping

Why is stringhopping wrist motion so inefficient? Let's find out

 

Reverse Dart Thrower Wrist Motion

Wrist Motion Comfort

Diagnosing fatigue and tension

 

Reverse Dart Wrist Picking Styles

The Double Escape Picking Style

Mixing downstroke and upstroke string changes from a centralized form

 

The Downward Pickslanting Style

Upstroke escape alternate picking meets downstroke sweeping

 

The Upward Pickslanting Style

DSX alternate picking meets upstroke sweeping

 

Two-Way Pickslanting vs Double Escape