1 Weird Trick That May Improve Your Picking

[@skullkid112]

Guitar academies hate him

[@GrooveDuude]

Tom Hess loathes him.

[@brandonescobar4146]

Jessie Klassen because you do not do that kind of picking..hahaha

[@brandonescobar4146]

Groove Duude fuck tom hess the guitar teacher that makes their students like him 100 percent we are all different

[@brandonescobar4146]

Jessie Klassen 0gusje

[@skullkid112]

@@brandonescobar4146 I don't know what the hell you're on about, but English probably isn't your first language so I'm just gonna ignore whatever it is you're trying to say.

[@DesignCourse]

"1 Weird Trick", welcome to a million views buddy! Fortunately, Rick's weird trick videos are actually weird tricks. ;)

[@aleaallee]

I'm surprised you follow Rick Graham :D

[@DesignCourse]

@@aleaallee why? I'm a shred god. I mean, trying to be.

[@zildtinio6250]

Troy Grady should definitely do an episode of cracking the code on you Rick! Your picking technique is something worth studying :D

[@Sorc47]

I've been hoping for that for a while now.

[@michaelherscheid9709]

That's just perfect

[@minimoogle3335]

well I guess troy can't crack the code to Rick's picking efficiency.. Cause its like cracking the mystery of life.. LOL

[@davidcia]

Hell yeah!

[@celticblues793]

i was just saying that to myself

[@beep8771]

Doctors hate him

[@MindsetMastery75]

You're picking technique is flawless. You are one insane talent. I don't understand why you are not out there on a big stage somewhere playing with a hugely famous band. You have gotten to be one of the best guitarist's on this planet! True story :)

[@patpogoallroundguitarist5814]

Space Alien Be on a big stage isn’t about talent, it’s about playing what morons tell you to do and who you actually know (politics).

[@DominicAirola]

He says he has anxiety about playing live. Seems weird considering he’s so good, but maybe he’s worried that if people see him live their minds will literally explode and he doesn’t want that on his conscience.

[@villy_roge]

TRUE STORY!

[@FirstLast-cd6vv]

Masterful economy of motion.

[@amidaryu009]

I've picked this way since I started playing guitar, and I hear it referred to as circle-picking. I was told that it was wrong by some alternate-picking purists, but seeing people like Takayoshi Ohmura and Mikio Fujioka emply the same technique with fantastic results has convinced me otherwise. I recommend anyone reading this checks them out and observes!!

[@gabrieltaylor6196]

I have always used this technique as well and was told it was wrong by "educated" players and I have always been of the mind that if it works for you do it, not everyone's the same. Cheers

[@felipemermella5217]

RICK is the man.

[@MartisGTR]

His picking technique at the intro --- My life goals Rick: I will try to get it back to scratch

[@yonikup2865]

Best picking technique ever.

[@Samurai78420]

This is my go to player when I think that I'm a total badass and get complacent. Works every time.

[@cardsjoker9239]

Absolute virtuoso in my opinion

[@JT_Grogan]

"I always wanted to learn the guitar, but the beginning seemed so slow and frustrating"

[@MiscerVids]

But within one week I was playing my favorite songs by Rick Graham

[@bobwilkinsonguitar6142]

Yousician?

[@MaddesG1]

Hes got vids for days! If u take it lil by little eventually u could play like that if u devote enough time and are that passionate. People thing its an insane talent to play guitar. Its not its a whole lotta discipline. Its like anything u try out doing tho u may discover innate abilities that may pop up with every new thing u start and end up doing for life. Don't ever sell yourself short as an indivual.

[@Priyadarshan_Nag]

Yousicians should never watch Rick’s videos 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@MultiJenji]

Yousician employee

[@nathanguitar4246]

I love how you highlight the importance of being aware of how the technique feels. It’s apparent that this awareness is a massive contributing factor to your skill. It inspires me to reach new levels, not through sheer talent alone, but through awareness, relaxed repetition, and deep/intentional practice. Thanks Rick.

[@Zach-Rosicka]

No matter what video I watch of you, over the years-I’m blow away every single time by your playing and amazing/kind personality! I just love you brother and floored every time I see and hear you rock! The best channel to ever exist on KZbin, FOOKIN’ PERIOD!

[@sunnys3325]

If I watch Ricks vids in the morning, I dont wanna go to work and jus wanna sit home all day n shred.

[@skin_e_guy]

I just came back from my internship, 12hr work day. Guess who's not gonna sleep and shred all night?

[@sunnys3325]

@@skin_e_guy dont forget to have a bite to eat my friend loool✌

[@skin_e_guy]

@@sunnys3325 will do cap. Cheers.

[@User-lu3gv]

JobS ruin LiVeS

[@ad-archw1582]

Most underrated and under exposed genius in music right now.

[@staylor537]

Great lesson... Relaxation is key !

[@Retrospective.]

After playing for a few decades, i tried pick slanting, and while this isn't that, per se, it does have elements of it. I now hold the pick at about a 30 degree angle titled up, and string skipping for me now, is no issues, i had to change my playing, and not try to life the pick, more "glide" it onto the next string, and the slanted pick, lifts the pick out of the strings. I am sure you are aware of Troy Gradys pick primer, it was a massive help to me. Glad your on the mend fella.

[@radamesd81]

Hello Rick! Thanks again for another great tip! On camera that little movement at the finger articulation reminded me a lot of Malmsteen's picking technique.

[@Sean.Tyler.]

your concepts and techniques changed the way I play the guitar! blew my mind!! thank you for these great instructional videos!!

[@guitardudeguy3139]

Welcome back! I needed inspiration today. Whenever I watch you play it makes me relax more when I play, and therefore makes my playing a bit smoother as opposed to raking through patterns. You have such a relaxed, effortless style. Thanks for inspiring us all.

[@lalrinsangichhangte3157]

Rick, I love your guitar tone.and can you tell me how to set like yours

[@JohnMo510]

To be honest, hearing your voice made sure, I'll be doing extremely well today. Thanks Rick for your teaching! Greetings from Germany!

[@Xtrememan512]

This sort of thing is exactly what I've been practicing with myself and it's really helpful! I've found it to be especially helpfull with tricky sweep-runs. "Frank Gambale - Robo Roo" is an example of an insnanely hard sweep-run for a song (for me at least) that I now can play thanks to practicing with this mindset/approach. Cheers Rick!

[@TommoGuitar]

Great picking, great tone, great vibrato... great everything really. One of the most inspirational YT players.

[@caratcranker5874]

That Strat is absolutely KILLER. The best tone i have heard in ages.

[@alexblake3818]

Delicious tone! Strat, neck pick up and a brilliant practicioner!

[@gingersteve]

That neck pickup is exquisite.

[@Dan_XF07]

Great video! Man.. I really admire your work! Give me a tip please... for a clean alternate picking, especially in rock... hard rock... do you think there is an ideal amount of drive to dirty the notes? In the case of the Strat guitar... I think it has a crystalline tone that stays that way even with more drive. However with humbucker and high gain.. if you put too much drive do you think you can mess up the picking? Cheers.

[@shREDhead44]

Your positivity always makes me feel well Rick! Cheers and keep up the extraordinary work!

[@jamestabor4658]

It does feel great! Another great lesson.

[@johnyeskie7136]

great to see you playing again! thanks for the awesome tip... your sounding great as usual

[@ronniecoffey9945]

your picking technique is phenmonial !!! God bless you sir for the awesome lessons, hope you have a better Christmas 2019 !!

[@BobbyKoelble]

Great video, Rick. Adam Rogers has that same flexibility in that finger joint, and his economy picking technique is lethal. Cheers \m/

[@intervalkid]

Nice tone, good and crackly tamed with a gate. Comes through much better without the excess echo.

[@zaccyo]

That was hypnotizing!

[@mrscott99]

looks like the Frank Gambale way of down up down down up down etc. Hard to get used to but efficient if you keep practicing it

A wonderful and modest player.

[@moonshinebandit9709]

Was watching rhe beginning of this video and totally agree with you I to have this habit and have done it for years.

[@UraniusGuitar]

What is the pedal or the distortion that you use for yourself as well as the stratocaster?

[@guismth]

Hi Rick, great lesson!! Can you share how your guitars are set up, action wise and what guage strings you like? Thanks mate, Joe

[@stratpuppy]

PLEASE RICK - Tab for that starting lick !!! Or a video please !

[@usevito3456]

Yngwie's picking technique since he was young. More than 30 years later, modern guitarists are learning it.

[@saprikt]

You can't even call this misleading because Rick always delivers the goods!

[@bennyelsensohn9299]

This finish looks so beautiful! What kind of strat is this?

[@rockstarjazzcat]

Thanks Rick, and a continued Happy New Year! Best regards, Daniel

[@mazklassa9338]

Speaking of the "fingertip" way of holding the pick in order to allow that angle option to adapt the pick across fret movements, shall we say, versus the "rigid" way of holding the pick is the way I used to play because I found the rigid hold less painful in the way the lateral pressure on my 2nd knuckle of my index finger (from the fingernail end) was. So that's why I switched to the rigid technique, and my picking speed and stability improved quite a lot, but it does not allow me to be mechanically flexible enough to reach this level of fluidity 😒. So I don't know whether to switch back and alter the attack pressure I place on the pick or just stick to what I've been doing. 🤔

[@daoallegro1360]

Damn you play so clean. thanks for sharing all your knowledge. Its very possible that you will help guitarists long after you're gone, cream rises to the top.

[@pabloadolfolopezalegria7390]

Hi there, great videos and nice playing...you know...im an alternante picking guy, and i wanna learn to pick like you....but i cant get a good technique...any advice to improve repeating downpick on next string?

[@Joseguillermo1]

Hello friend, excellent channel! in passing I ask you a question ... how do you do to keep the tuning of your Stratos? Greetings from Chile!

[@skimmi4d]

Looks a little like Yngwie. He appears to change the index finger position as well.

[@davejohnsonmusic]

That's what it's all about... exploring different techniques that feel good to YOU. What works for one person may not for someone else. Sometimes you just stumble onto something by accident and because it feels so good to you, or "right", that you start using it in your playing. And that's how you develop your own unique style.

[@Iskaral_Pust]

Rick, do you always economy/directional pick when changing strings?

[@kcmet79]

Great and inspirational stuff as always, Rick. What's interesting is the primary joint movement I've noticed in the past, with a player like say Kirk Hammett, is in the thumb joint. When he alternate picks the joint moves a great amount (e.g. The last lick of the struggle within solo from the video in "a year and a half in the life of Metallica" as played in the studio; that bit is probably on KZbin). I think this is generally referred to as circular picking? You sure have a tremendous amount of speed and control without doing much of that, though. Anyway I will definitely have to try practicing with relaxing the index finger joint. Thanks again!

[@stringst]

That works for me as well..And I think that this ''not so tight, index finger grip of the pick'' is opposite to the ''right way'' of stiff pick grip according to Michael Angelo Batio. So you choose whatever works better for you.

[@LaObraDeMarteLODM]

I just clicked the video without seeing who was it. And I saw just the hands and apparel and without asking myself I thought I was seeing a James Cintolo video. But when you started speaking, I thought to myself "James REALLY Speaks identical to Rick Graham"... So yep... that was my story... Rick great video as usual. Much love man.

[@madadami81]

Thanks for the powerful share, very cool idea

[@mrkrowley1]

Thanks Rick!

[@jarrodgirardin7418]

Takin a serious nose dive in the past while as he melts are faces with that opening riff, Rick Graham you are a GOD when it comes to everything a nd any thing guitar related, a huge inspiration to me is what you are. Best wishes and a ton of gratitude sent your way, my guitar mysia.

[@vubear]

Isn't this what Yngwie calls his centre point technique, allowing the pick to be loose enough to spring back to a neutral, centre position of it's own accord?

[@John-tg5vn]

yngwie is a buttface

[@Chris741113]

@@John-tg5vn Malmsteen is one of Rick's top 5 influences.

[@John-tg5vn]

@@Chris741113 hes still a buttface

[@aeksinsang932]

John he’s way more fuckin bad ass and successful than you envious bastard

[@MidiTempoTracks]

What guitar stand are you using to hold your guitar?

[@alandzavalamederos1783]

Hi and thank you! This kind of tricks is what I'm trying to figure out ro improve my technnique, you use to applicate the economy picking technnique right? Blessings!

[@bwgti]

The trick is practice. I don't follow this channel very well - but I caught there were some health issues recently. Glad to see you are doing better Rick Graham.

[@MARK-r6c3k]

Thanks, I'll give it a try. Much appreciated 😎👍

[@samuelsalesfonteles]

Hi Rick! Which pickups are you using in this video? Is that a Fender custom shop?

[@theexpressionbooth]

Cool im not the only person that does that haha. I have trouble on the economy picking with the upstrokes so it has helped me alot as well.

[@pablohernandez8745]

Wow, in my case I pick by moving the whole hand and very rigid. I just gave a try, to keep the hand fix in one spot and originate the picking movement just with the 2 fingers holding the pick... feels like starting something from zero. Anyway I'm sure practicing this will help. Thanks a lot!!

[@joedamore7653]

Still looking forward to your next album and the phenomenal playing of yourself an Morgan Berthet!

[@rbdrbd]

It's amazing how clean it sounds!! But I assume it's only relevant wirh economy picking, right? I can do basic and some intermediate sweep picking, but the economy picking is planned ahead. It's not intuitive for me to improvise with economy picking, specially scales. Would this be just a matter of practice or requires some specific exercises?

[@federicofernandez4757]

hace unos libros...igual a jam track central..abrazo rick idolo

[@pplo]

I actually discovered that I only would pick upside properly by doing this. it took me a while about 20 years. and even though my picking technique improved a lot, there's still lots of room for improvment lol. great video as always, like before watching

[@808zhu]

Any chance of closeup on your picking hand?

[@RickGraham]

Yes, I'll do more vids soon.

[@808zhu]

@@RickGraham Thanks, Rick. My picking is fast and good, but admittedly still a bit sloppy. I think I need to slow down & feel out the runs, RE: picking technique. Also, it'd help if I played at least once a day. Thanks for taking the time to respond. I really appreciate your videos, happy you're back, & you inspire me to pick up my guitar. 🤘 Cheers from Big Island, HI.

[@guitartube5822]

Rick Graham I think especially with this new camera that could be extreeeeeemely helpful for us mortals to see it slo-mo... cheers

[@johndsouzaguitartoday3075]

Thank you ❤️

[@jav6665]

Trying this technique for the past 25 minutes and then I got caught up in trying to play C Lydian as smooth and fast as Rick. A few times I thought I sounded good, then I watched the video again 😳😒 My fingers hurt.

[@marcusfreeman5479]

Tabs?

[@guitarmemoir]

That is a great tip imo Rick. I hope people realize how helpful it can be, because it is a small point and easy to write off. To add a bit of testimony to buttress your point: I actually came upon the technique myself by analyzing why my picking was inaccurate/sloppy as I tried to get licks up to speed. As it turned out when I was ascending my pick wasn't hitting the string-change cleanly because I was 'coming up short' on the picking motion. By just adding that little bit of extra distance from extending the first finger joint(I don't know what it is called either) it helped my economy picking a ton. BTW, thanks for all the other free help you offer too. PS I came upon a weird trick when I was younger as well...but she is another story. ;-)

[@PROFANITYdeath]

As interesting as always!!! Great food for thought Rick!!!

[@TheN00bPolice]

This was originally referred to as “circle picking”. Gypsy players have done it for years, and Eric Johnson popularised it in electric playing in the 80’s with his first instructional VHS’. You see it being done a lot by inside/economy pickers where it tends to come more natural. Strict alternate pick aficionados tend to argue the pick position should be locked and the movement come entirely from the wrist. Such an idea being foremostly recommenced by no less than Guthrie Govan. I have moved from being a strict alternate picker to now preferring using more sweeping movements in a move to make my picking sound more fluid and musical and less aggressive which I prefer, and as such have also started to incorporate this finger movement into my playing with good success. I basically think there is value to it. I agree also it has a nicer “feel” than locking the joint.

[@FlyingV344]

The NoobPolice// Gypsyplayers don,t circlepick man.

[@TLongUSA97]

Amazing! Just started playing around with this and it INSTANTLY made a difference. So subtle yet so smooth! Thanks Rick!!!

[@danielleiva9456]

Great tip Rick I'd been using that motion and it really helps. Rick do you use light picks? I've changed to light ones and it's works great

[@RingOfRae]

ok, but that looks like hybrid picking...great material. do you have a video on slanting?

[@Luigi-ef7yb]

I discovered this for myself a few days ago and i keep going back and forth between this and the slightly tighter grip. Nowadays, do you still toy with both or have you found one to iust be superior? Greetings

[@ESPSJ]

That Strat is fkn awesome. That's a Mike Smith one isnt it? Does he take a regular Fender and relic it? By far one of the best relic jobs I've EVER seen. Genuinely looks like someone gigged the hell out of that thing and it made it out the otherside.

[@RickGraham]

It is! His relics are truly superb

[@luginonluginon2602]

What sort of pick RG is using? thickness , dimension and material?

[@zakvlad1624]

nice brilliant guitatist.. it is altrrnate picking bro?

[@TreyAlexander]

Unbelievable and awesome!!! So amazing!! So inspiring!

[@harpsdesire4200]

I'm kind of divided on this, I've heard from several sources that moving your finger joints that hold the pick when picking fast is a bad habit that might negatively effect fast picking, but it obviously works for you. What are your thoughts on these naysayers? Michael Angelo Batio is one such person

[@Bones12x2]

This kind of reminds me of a video I saw of Takayoshi Ohmura describing his picking technique. His picking is insanely fast and clean and he barely moves his hand even at full speed, probably even less than Rick. He talks about how important the index finger is versus the thumb. Seems really similar.

[@jadm110]

Rick what type of picks do you recommend or help us avoid

[@arnefreymann313]

Impressing playing. I like it very much.

[@kennethmanuntag]

Hi rick what type of pick you use? Size, thickness etc.

[@IcarusSuite]

The trick is wearing two rings!

[@jonathanalcover1539]

I was kinda doing it subconsciously already, but yeah definitely helps once you're even more mindful about it.

[@alejandroloredogarcia]

what a beautiful guitar

[@trendkill3333]

Do you have any tips on practicing comfortably? Everytime I get done practicing I always have this feeling of a pulled muscle underneath my left shoulder blade and I can’t figure out why, I try to sit up straight for the most part

[@mutantkoffee]

Try to slow down things first, on the other hand, learn to breath for relaxation, not for phrasing, I mean, breath and relax *while you play* ,that helped me a lot.

[@ILikeBoobs.FuckYoutube]

I think you are pulling the neck of the guitar a little too close to your body. (I am assuming you are a right handed guitarist.) Try rotating the guitar, so that the neck of guitar is a bit far from your body.

[@way2sh0rt07grad]

I use a jazz pick for a bit and then switch back to a normal medium. Accuracy and speed improve every time for me

[@typedeaf]

I was scared of changing my technique. I take VERY LONG breaks of not playing; sometimes a year. I always spend time ramping back up to where I was, right before I take another long break. I havent made hardly in progress in decades. I've decided that my technique is limiting me and as of last night, I am trying new things that people like Troy Grady have revealed. I really love how smoothly you and Quayle integrate hybrid picking.

[@LucaMilierimusic]

Rick so do you economy pick also during descending runs? doesn't look like you change the pickslanting...how wonder how can you be so fluid with an apparent downward pickslanting also when you do economy picking in the descending pattern. Anyway your technique is flawless. I wish Troy Grady could interview you asap

[@HeadbangoO]

From what I see Rick does Economy and Legato, not so much Alternate. So no need for pickslanting. But it's fast, so maybe I'm wrong ;)

[@LucaMilierimusic]

HeadbangoO if you sweep pick you should need at least a tiny amount of pickslanting in the direction you’re sweeping, otherwise the pick would get stuck. There is a video of Troy Grady on it, can’t remember which one, anyway I’m sure you can notice you need it yourself

[@JPOliveiragtr]

Master!👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽💎

[@Unikmen]

i highly recommend to watch troy grady's videos. he deconstructed rights hand movement to the tiniest pieces and explained how rotation and such stuff work in each case, and hopefully, we might see you doing collaboration work together! good luck with your playing and get well soon!