Speed

[francric]

I read something today about picking speed. It said to hold the pick at an angle. When they say angle, what angle? Do you use the side of the pick? Do you hold your pick on a angle at all times when playing any lead or only when you want to shred?

[francric]

Ok, since there are no shredders here, how are you slowpokes doing it?

[koogie2k]

Well, I tend to hold the pick in a "choked up" position. I barely have the tip of the pick showing when I pluck the string(s). I do this for several reasons. One, I get some really great pinch harmonics. Two, it gives me more control of my attack. This may not work for you or anyone else, I just find it comfortable. I have decent speed, nothing that would melt the fretboard like Morse, Gilbert or Petrucci, but, I ain't slow either.

I noticed that I hold the pick fairly flat, almost at a 90 degree angle to the strings. I got my speed and continue to work on it by practice, practice and more practice. That is the way to develope speed in my opinion.

I think (again, my opinion) holding the pick at an angle like a 45 or so, would cause a problem with alternate picking....hence, slow you down due to having to drag the pick further up or down to pluck the string.....does that make sense?

But, some peeps on here may have other methods that may work that are different than mine.

[kbaim]

I'm more in the methodical (read: slower) picking approach. Mostly alternate picking strokes, but with hammer ons and pulloffs.

I've noticed that when I try and play fast I tend to play consecutive scale notes. Whereas if I don't try and play fast, I end up sometimes surprising myself with note selection and phrasing...though often times I end up boring myself.