Description
The Cracking the Code Pickslanting Primer is the essential introduction to guitar picking technique.
We teach you the technical concepts that underlie fast and accurate picking — and we break down the actual techniques of legendary players like Yngwie Malmsteen, Eric Johnson, Michael Angelo Batio, and more.
The complete package includes 7+ hours of detailed “how-to” video tutorial chapters, along with over 75 slow-mo video examples with complete tablature in PDF and Guitar Pro formats.
Pick Design And Function
The fascinating topic of how picks work and how to choose one
Pick Grip
Getting familiar with the many ways to hold a guitar pick
Wrist Motion
Mastering the most commonly used joint in picking motion
Forearm Motion
This fascinating joint is an important collaborator in many picking motions
Elbow Motion
The simplest joint in picking technique is also the fastest, and a capable choice as your core motion
Downward Pickslanting
Switching strings with the escaped upstroke, with complete blueprints of Yngwie’s and Eric Johnson’s picking techniques
Upward Pickslanting
Switching strings with the escaped downstroke, key to the legendary accuracy of John McLaughlin’s picking technique
Two-Way Pickslanting
Mixing escape types for three-note-per-string playing, enabling blazing alternate-picked scale playing a la Michael Angelo Batio
For more detail and full chapter listings for the Pickslanting Primer, please browse the platform page. And note that when you buy the download product, you’ll be able to view all the videos and musical examples here on the site, too, for added convenience.
Here's an overview of what's included with the download. For more detail, check out the platform page!
Getting Started
Title |
Getting Started With The Pickslanting Primer |
Choosing A Pick
Title |
Choosing A Pick With The Rule Of Roundness |
Pick Design And Function Reference
Title |
Chapter 1 - The Classic 351 |
Chapter 2 - Edge Picking |
Chapter 3 - The Jazz III |
Chapter 4 - The Big 346 |
Chapter 5 - Gauge |
Chapter 6 - Angle Of Attack |
Chapter 7 - Material And Tone |
Chapter 8 - Chirp |
Chapter 9 - Abrasion |
Choosing A Pick Grip
Title |
Choosing A Pick Grip |
Understanding Pick Grip
Title |
Chapter 1 - Trigger-Style Grip |
Chapter 2 - Pick Point |
Chapter 3 - Grip Exposure |
Chapter 4 - Thumb Overlap |
Chapter 5 - Extended Trigger Grip |
Chapter 6 - Angle Pad Grip |
Chapter 7 - Trailing Edge Grip |
Chapter 8 - Middle and Three-Finger Grip |
Chapter 9 - Supporting Fingers |
Testing Your Motions
Title |
Chapter 1 - Starting With Speed |
Chapter 2 - Alternate Picking |
Chapter 3 - Testing Your Speed |
Chapter 4 - Testing Van Halen-Style Wrist Motion |
Chapter 5 - Testing Di Meola-Style Wrist Motion |
Chapter 6 - Testing Elbow Motion |
Chapter 7 - Testing Forearm Motion |
Unlocking The Tremolo
Title |
Chapter 1 - The Tremolo Test |
Chapter 2 - Beginner Tremolo |
Chapter 3 - What Is Stringhopping? |
Chapter 4 - Solving Stringhopping |
Chapter 5 - Choosing The Best Motion |
Chapter 6 - Improving Fast Technique |
Understanding Escape Motion
Title |
Chapter 1 - Escape Motion |
Chapter 2 - Switching Strings With Even-Numbered Groupings |
Chapter 3 - Switching Strings With Odd-Numbered Groupings |
Chapter 4 - The Garage Spikes Problem |
Chapter 5 - Pickslanting |
Chapter 6 - Pickslanting vs Edge Picking |
Identifying Your Picking Motion
Title |
Chapter 1 - Goals For Identifying Your Motion |
Chapter 2 - Primary Motion |
Identifying Elbow Motion
Title |
Chapter 1 - Identifying Moore Elbow Motion |
Chapter 2 - Identifying Wylde Elbow Motion |
Identifying Forearm Motion
Title |
Chapter 1 - Identifying EVH Forearm Motion |
Chapter 2 - Identifying Gypsy Forearm Motion |
Chapter 3 - Identifying Aldrich Forearm Motion |
Identifying Wrist Motion
Title |
Chapter 1 - Identifying Wrist Motion |
Chapter 2 - Identifying Di Meola Wrist Motion |
Chapter 3 - Identifying Stern Wrist Motion |
Chapter 4 - Identifying Gilbert Mixed Escape Wrist Motion |
Chapter 5 - Identifying EVH Wrist Motion |
Chapter 6 - Identifying Grier Wrist Motion |
Testing Your Primary Motion
Title |
Chapter 1 - Determining Your Primary Motion |
Chapter 2 - Evaluating Primary Motion Test Results |
Wrist Mechanics
Title |
Chapter 1 - Wrist Mechanics Explained |
Chapter 2 - The Clock Face Model |
Chapter 3 - Clock Face USX |
Chapter 4 - Clock Face DSX |
Chapter 5 - Clock Face DBX |
Chapter 6 - Clock Face Stringhopping |
Wrist Motion Tutorials
Title |
Chapter 1 - Upstroke Escape |
Chapter 2 - Using More Supination |
Chapter 3 - Hands-on With Mike Stern and Albert Lee |
Chapter 4 - Downstroke Escape |
Chapter 5 - The Pronated Option |
Chapter 6 - Setting The Pickslant |
Chapter 7 - Starting With Speed |
Forearm Motions
Title |
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Forearm-Wrist Motion |
Chapter 2 - Anchoring, Grip, and Pickslant |
Chapter 3 - Performing the FW Motion |
Chapter 4 - Evaluating Motion Feel |
Chapter 5 - Muting |
Chapter 6 - The Tracking Mystery |
Chapter 7 - The Downstroke Sweep |
Chapter 8 - Flexed Form |
Chapter 9 - Rotation |
Chapter 10 - Noise Control |
Motion Tutorial
Title |
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Elbow Motion |
Yngwie Malmsteen
Title |
Chapter 1 - Downward Pickslanting |
Chapter 2 - Building Speed with the Six-Note Pattern |
Chapter 3 - Switching Strings |
Chapter 4 - Changing Direction |
Chapter 5 - The Black Star Lick |
Chapter 6 - The Volcano Pattern |
Chapter 7 - Scalar Sweeping |
Chapter 8 - Arpeggios |
Pickslanting Primer - Yngwie Style Clips.zip |
Pickslanting Primer - Yngwie Style Clips - Slow.zip |
Pickslanting Primer - Yngwie Style Clips - Tablature - GPX.zip |
Pickslanting Primer - Yngwie Style Clips - Tablature - PDF.zip |
Pickslanting Primer - Yngwie Style Clips - Tablature - GP.zip |
Eric Johnson
Title |
Chapter 1 - The Five-Note Pattern |
Chapter 2 - Pentatonic Sweeping |
Chapter 3 - Five Notes Ascending |
Chapter 4 - Pentatonic Sixes |
Chapter 5 - String Tracking |
Chapter 6 - The Straight Pentatonic Scale |
Chapter 7 - Classic Fives |
Chapter 8 - Pentatonic Pickups |
Chapter 9 - Neoclassical Fives |
Pickslanting Primer - EJ Style Clips.zip |
Pickslanting Primer - EJ Style Clips - Slow.zip |
Pickslanting Primer - EJ Style Clips - Tablature - GPX.zip |
Pickslanting Primer - EJ Style Clips - Tablature - PDF.zip |
Strunz & Farah
Title |
Chapter 1 - Ardeshir's Upward Pickslant |
Chapter 2 - Ascending Sixes |
Chapter 3 - Ascending Eights |
Chapter 4 - Rules of Upward Pickslanting |
Pickslanting Primer - Strunz and Farah Style Clips.zip |
Pickslanting Primer - Strunz and Farah Style Clips - Slow.zip |
Pickslanting Primer - Strunz and Farah Style Clips - Tablature - GPX.zip |
Pickslanting Primer - Strunz and Farah Style Clips - Tablature - PDF.zip |
John McLaughlin
Title |
Chapter 1 - The McLaughlin Four-Note Pattern |
Chapter 2 - Two-Note-Per-String Patterns |
Chapter 3 - John's Upward Pickslant |
Pickslanting Primer - John McLaughlin Style Clips.zip |
Pickslanting Primer - John McLaughlin Style Clips - Slow.zip |
Pickslanting Primer - John McLaughlin Style Clips - Tablature - GPX.zip |
Pickslanting Primer - John McLaughlin Style Clips - Tablature - PDF.zip |