Hi,
I'm new to electric guitar and have been bothered by picking accuracy ever since.
For example, if using fingers, I can easily play something like T323 1323, but when using pick, it becomes much harder, I can't hit the right string accurately, I can't even play an open C chord with T323 1323.
Also, I don't know the correct up down pick direction for something like T323 1323.
Can someone provide some insights/suggestions/exercises?
Bruno F Silva
Dear Neal,
I am overcoming the same issue. I started playing a nylon acoustic with fingers, and I am recently transitioning to an electric (about 2 months). I constantly strike the wrong string specially if alternate picking. My experience is that the spatial reference with pick changes significantly as we had the fingers as landscapes. I started trying out different hand positions and wrist motions to cross strings and to strike a note. For me what works best is making a kind of "turning a key" motion with the wrist, guitar neck slight at upward angle so that the pick hits the string at an angle also. Accuracy is improving with some practice and spatial reference is much more subtle. I was watching an interview with Mathews Asato (with Rick Beato) and even him said he struggled with alternate picking which made me (with about 1.5 year of playing) feel absolutely relieved. There are a couple of YT tutorials and exercises to improve, try some and check what works best for you.
All the luck! =)
Hi Bruno,
Thanks for your detailed information, really helpful! I've been trying to find a good anchor point, either the wrist on bridge or the pinky finger on board, but neither works instantly, I guess the ultimate solution is taking things slow.
I have had the same problem, one way I find it very beneficial is I anchor my picky, and when I practice my chromatic scale, I really focus in on fully relaxing my picking hand, absolutely no tension on your shoulders and triceps, and only focus on your grip on the pick, and make sure you can feel the picky moves as you strike the string, this is because of you can’t feel it, your arms are too tense. Try it! Really helped with my accuracy
I have the same problem, but I've just decided I prefer playing with my fingers. If it's good enough for Jeff Beck and Derek Trucks it's good enough for me!