Shred Technique

SpeedStar

I started this thread so those, like myself, can find answers or opinions to some of the finer points when playing fast. I have a few questions and if anyone would like to answer them, then thanks. Feel free to post you're questions

Q1 - Is it better to pick strictly from the wrist, or a combination of wrist and elbow?

Q2 - Is it okay to rest my other fingers, of my picking hand, against the guitars body (bellow the high e string)?

WantzChas

Funny you started this. I recently read a couple of topics on the John Petrucci forum, which shred technique in my opinion is mighty close to perfect.

Q1 He said you should use both, or he does anyway. Use your arm as a crane between strings and pick with your wrist.

Q2 He said that he anchors, as far as I could tell his pinky finger of his picking hand, mainly for the reason to mute the strings as he play

arjunmenon

Well, if you notice Petrucci's technique, you'll see that he sometimes anchors his pinky when he does the whole string skipping thing, but more often than not you'll see that he tends to tuck his middle, ring and pinky fingers when he's tearing it up ( a la Marty Friedman). You'll see this happen quite clearly when you watch the G3 performance of Glasgow Kiss (the main solo where he turns down his volume and switches the p/up,and then again towards the ending of this solo and lastly in the outro solo).

Going back to the point, i personally feel/think that the wrist (with a bit if a rolling action with the thumb and index) with minimal application of the elbow works best.

Cheers

SpeedStar

I figured as much, I'm using my wrist now, but the weird thing is a can play a 3 octave scale faster than I can tremolo pick on the bass string. If I pick with my arm I can reach insane speeds but I have very little control. I think I'll just use my wrist and see what happens.

I anchor my pinky unless I'm playing on the lower strings, so I think finding whats comfortable is the best.

Although my goal is to confirm what the perfect technique is and adapt my playing to that.

Guy-Onraet

Arjun is a badass, he knows the score. Like he said, pick from the wrist, but don't lock (tense) the elbow. Don't anchor your pinky either, as this creates tension in your shoulder and arm. You want to be as relaxed and make your movements as economical is possible.

arjunmenon

Thanks bru. ? Well, you're pretty badass yourself. And i couldn't have said it better myself. +1

SpeedStar

Thanks Badass's, I'm adjusting my style now, it seems like speed and string crossing come easier when the hand is closed, but not clenched. So closede but relaxed. I open the hand up when I'm doing fast strumming etc.

cain

I have a video with Thomas Blug at home where he explains some techniques. He playes with the fingers out at low speed and the retracts ( closes the hand up ) as soon as he starts playing faster. He also said that if he wants a dirtier sound he would let the fingers stay out. One thing he said that does makes lots of sense is, the lest of your hand you move, the easier it is to move ( physics kind of stuff with motion ). I dont have much speed but i find making a relaxed closed hand helps for control, and petrucci is just a freaking monster, he needs no legato since he can just pick everything at 400bpm ?