A simple approach that transformed my picking technique

This approach transformed my picking technique and is taken from my 'Economy Picking' download. Hope you enjoy the video, please like, share and subscribe!
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[@BartPlanting]

Didn't know there was a technique that had my last name to it. Awesome lesson as well

[@abhaysharma5072]

😂😂😂

[@blee3621]

You should have trademarked it!

[@santaclause6839]

Rick Graham is who guitar gods and virtuosos come to for lessons

[@MikeSalow]

I saw this video when you posted it a few years ago and it improved my alternate picking 10 fold. I had been struggling with playing clean alternate picked lines for years prior to seeing this video. Thanks for that!

[@richardjones2811]

How exactly since alternate picking has no rest strokes.

[@MikeSalow]

@@richardjones2811 I put to practice what Rick explained in the video. They aren’t really rest strokes but rather a technique to lessen the size of your pick stroke which helps with clean/fast alternate picking runs.

[@richardjones2811]

@@MikeSalow Making the plectrum travel the shortest distance isn't rest strokes.

[@MikeSalow]

@@richardjones2811 yeah, as I said in my last comment.

[@guitarstruggles3140]

Troy Grady talks about something similar with his sweeping technique he calls them "rest strokes" I believe. I think you are first with planting. You are one of the best on KZbin, Rick. You inspire so many people. Thank you!

[@ubershredder1989]

there are indeed very few lessons on this on KZbin. However in classical guitar planting is one of the basic techniques. Played with the fingers instead of pick ofcourse...

[@matsp888]

@@ubershredder1989 He mentions the relation to the classical guitar, and it certainly sounds logical. You pluck the string rather than attacking it from the air. I suppose there's a reason for the term "plucked string instrument" ;)

[@Snowy0123]

he has the best picking hand in the business.

[@ricomajestic]

+Brian Jewell Check out Chris Brooks he also has a great picking hand!

[@Snowy0123]

+ricomajestic nice, thanks. seems like he quit making yt vids

[@onpsxmember]

I'd say that about MAB

[@JohnProph]

Troy probably the best detective out there, no doubt

[@jamesrockford2626]

batio sucks

[@josaniracheta1463]

My classical guitar teacher taught me the same thing. He helped me become aware of the amount of force I used on my picking hand and fretting hand. When you use only the minimal amount required, you can move faster and play for longer periods of time.

[@oudaram1]

Hi Rick, been playing and teaching for fifty years, first time i.ve heard of planting on one string. It has vastly changed my picking in 2 days! Can't believe the difference, This is a turning point for me. Thanks, you nailed it!

[@satch4u3]

Great tip! You're a monster, Rick. I have been a fan of your playing for a number of years now and you never fail to inspire.

[@RickGraham]

+Joey Hillier Thanks Joey!

[@picksalot1]

Your "planting" technique instantly transformed my picking. It is so easy to do and incredibly effective. Thanks!

[@davidefelix]

This has been one of the most impacting video on my playing

[@Dimitri-Jordania]

I realized this some time ago n try n teach this to my students.

[@SpaceCowboy57]

I'm pretty embarrassed that I didn't figure this out myself, but I guess the logical simplicity of this is what separates geniuses from noobs like me. Thanks for showing me this!

[@ToneD5150]

Hell yeah! My classical instructor taught me this technique as well. Thanks for refreshing our memory this is critical to learn and understand for major advancement....!!!

[@SurfingSerpent]

I literally discovered this exact idea when changing my technique many months ago. I decided to call it the string magnet exercise, because my pick is being pulled to the string as soon as I cross it. I eventually tried to pick so close to the string that my planting of the pick would literally mute the string as soon as I crossed it. So when I picked it just sounded like sharp noises rather than a note. I have a hunch there's some field above us that connects our minds, because I've had so many occurences where I think of something unique, and then I find out others have thought of the same thing months later.

[@jazzercaster4749]

I've been working on this exact thing the past few months and I've made so much progress, my picking and cordination has never felt better, feeling so connected to the guitar. There is a video by Rez Abassi on mymusicmasterclass where he touches on this for a second. Good work Rick, very improtant and yes! not talked about enough!

[@renakmans3521]

Jazzer Caster I know about that video!

[@renakmans3521]

Jazzer Caster Rez Abassi also came out with a great book that covers this and many cool things... tinyurl.com/yczf5bv5

[@mikewallace1270]

In college I studied classical guitar with a teacher who was a Berkeley graduate. His name was William Yelverton. He taught me to “prepare before you pick“. That is the exact technique Rick is teaching here. It’s important to add something to this. And that is even though you “prepare before you pick“ you need to pick the string in time.Try this: With the Metronome clicking and a slow tempo practice a piece or a melody by preparing before you pick but picking the string on the beat. It is somewhat counterintuitive and that your fingers will move in between the beat to prepare to pick the string on the beat. But give it a try!

[@matsp888]

Another thing is that you can of course not use this in normal playing. But it teaches you to never deviate too far from the string.

[@soramon101]

Frank Gambale talked about this way back in the 80s in a video called 'Speed Picking'. The video is about economy picking and he mentions the rest stroke similar to classical guitar like you did. Although his video is mainly just talking about going in the same direction so I love how you took it a step further. Great video!

[@matsp888]

This is not about "rest strokes" though. Look it up. It's about returning the pick to the string as soon as possible.

[@TerribleTommy]

Hey Rick, thanks for the lesson. Allen Van Wert has a couple older videos about this technique. One is called "Is there a shortcut to playing fast?!" on JamPlay's KZbin channel.

[@RickGraham]

+Terrible Tommy Gameplays hey man, thanks for heads up, just checked it out. Cool that another player is using a similar technique. This video is a clip from my 2012 'Economy Picking' video.

[@hairilanuar5808]

Rick Graham you are awesome man!! I'm impressed with your playing,,plus you are passion in teaching us

[@These_go_to_eleven_1959]

Back in the mid-seventies A guitarist named Robert Fripp used to always stress about economy/ conservation of movement on both hands no matter what you are playing. He went as far to say when you lift your left hands fingers off the FB make sure it's minimal! Lift them just enough to release the note being played.

[@danwguitar8651]

Rick, I'm glad to see someone else has thought of this, too. I also have my classical guitar degree and have started doing this very thing. The idea for me when I started doing it was that the less wasted motion I had, and the quicker I could get the pick to the next string (even before picking the next note on that string), the quicker I could play, hypothetically.

[@Tombrosapien]

Something I discovered recently I probably should’ve found out a lot sooner that transformed my picking control is to hold the pick as close to the tip as possible so the pick has minimum contact with the string as well as giving your fingers more pick material to hold on to = more control

[@michalmikolajmaslowski3994]

Thanks, Rick; this is something that I've developed naturally, or without actively practicing & this video has (finally) validated it. As of now, I merely brush the string with the tip of the pick without much of the movement/travel in between the adjacent strings. I've always thought it felt natural, but watching a number of videos focused on DWPS, I thought that my approach was against the mainstream modern picking technique. Minimum pick travel feels like the way to go!

[@anttt___]

Yeah I've definitely not heard this before. I've watched countless guitar videos on KZbin (cant find a local guitar teacher). Good job Rick Graham!

[@jamescreswell3274]

Whoa! I knew about rest strokes, but not as applied to alternate inside and outside picking. This has made me so much more aware of the "depth" at which my pick is landing when alternate picking and has helped me greatly...Thanks Rick.

[@giangiang]

oh my god. These video is light bulb moment, I've always had trouble alt picking at the low part of the neck and banging my head against the wall trying to figure out what am I doing wrong. These video really hit it.

[@Richb718]

Love you Rick!

[@Sorc47]

Great video, thanks. I remember Paul Gilbert talking about this, but he uses it because of the staccato sound, he never mentioned using it to make the picking hand movements smaller. I'm definitely going to try this.

[@ArielEduardoAlba]

Yes!!! I've been wondering about this for some years now, and you're the first one that addresses it! Thanks Rick!!! Hope you're doing extreeeeemely we!!!

[@HaZZb97]

I've never thought about doing this before... might be just what I need to take my picking to the next level

[@anthonyshaw8698]

Awesome lesson. I'll start practicing this way. Thanks Rick

[@banjoenvy001]

That is a gorgeous Strat.

[@Nightshade1881]

Jordan Dennis shhhh don't let fender hear you!! "S-style"

[@woolgum]

Not a FGN?

[@supermotorcat]

WOOLgum Suhr

[@kewlfonz]

It's also known as a 'rest' stroke. This is what the jazz guitar teachers in America seem to call it. Some jazz guitarists like Wes Montgomery favor a lower rest stroke where the pick or thumb in his case, comes to rest on the lower string. Some guitarists like Pat Martino and Gary Moore, favor the upper rest stroke where the pick rests against the upper string. This somewhat akin to 'flamenco' picking for a plectrum. Both have their pros and cons. It's mainly about tone. Upper rest stroke tends to be more treble and snappy whereas lower rest stroke tends to slightly fuller and rounder...

[@tr3ndkiller]

"Planting" is not the same as playing a "rest stroke". I mean, he literally explains it in this video, did you watch it at all before commenting?

[@matsp888]

This "planting" actually improves the string changes (and hand relocation) during alternate picking since you have to be on the target string in time.

[@ST077]

That's what I call TEACHING! Thanks a lot Rick,that's something easy and usefull to learn!

[@cluxseltoot]

Always you give good sensible useful lessons - many thanks.

[@jackrobinson3106]

how can anyone give this a thumbs down??? fools. Solid advice as ever!

[@Siberia_Javanicus]

Best advice,,, thank you master 🙏

[@PatrikF666]

Great tip Rick!

[@arialdofurlani2769]

Hey Rick! Your videos are great and give me a lot of knowledge! Could you tell me a bit about the self-regulation process in guitar studies? How do you plan your time in your study routines to avoid procrastination?

[@jfo3000]

I'm pretty sure Gilbert was doing this on his first instructional video when doing the slow demonstrations as well, although he didn't discuss it at all.

[@wadesharp11]

This is my best lesson from you that has instantly made me better! Im shredding always now yeee mother#ukinghaaallthewaytothebank...Thanks Rick

[@MyRealName]

This is just genius. Never occurred to me :)

[@f15H8ul8]

your technique is impeccable. great lessons on your channel. very straight forward practical and useful. and fun too! liked and subbed.

[@MaPaPir]

fantastic lesson! I practice 3nps scales in this manner everyday and it works. thank you:)

[@arpandutta1344]

Love you rick

[@HellGod67]

Awesome! Thanks Rick.

[@fullboreraw]

Great as ever. Thanks, Rick - will put it into practice and await the wonders of progress! :)

[@minkorrh]

To anyone still following the comments on this, your pick can have as much to do with this also. I started using extremely pointed Delrin jazz picks (Dava). Im not plugging the company or anything but I haven't seen a more pointy pick that theirs. What this does for me is allows the pick 'feel' to be highly accurate as you can feel the tiny point of the pick kiss the top of the string. There's no slapping the string with the broad side of the pick like with other designs, it's more of an evolved 'swipe' style picking. I have just a very small amount of pick showing which also is very conducive to pinch harmonics so that's an awesome side benefit.

[@matsp888]

I don't like the sound when you have an extremely small amount of the tip showing, though. Might work with distortion, but it sounds dead with clean tone.

[@miguelfernandezmillan2829]

my mind exploded, gonna try that to my playing, hope it improoves quite a lot ;)

[@rickyjones7282]

Frank Gambale is the absolute master of this technique!!!

[@jakemf1]

The beauty of economy picking revealed

[@TomGoldsmithguitar]

yep

[@itsCONTROVERSY]

yesss. Good shit. thank you man. i think I actually learned something

[@bf2err]

I can't help but think there would be more movement involved with planting. Arm muscles would contract twice on one upstroke

[@shreddy412]

Really clever exercise idea. Thanks Rick.

[@ricuzzom9269]

I am going to practice this. Thank you!!!!!!!

[@bradsims5116]

Doing this slow sucks but it helps me play more relaxed. Rick thanks

[@RNAMusic]

Very interesting video! Thanks for sharing Rick!

[@DizzyKrissi]

wow, indeed a very good tip - I will try it out

[@menamgamg]

I've done this exact thing while practicing! It's real fucking hard to learn and takes alot of time if you want it perfect, but in the end you get a very clean technique :D Another thing that i've used this for is playing 1 note per string, and alternating between two strings, for example if you want to practice outside picking. It's great for it :)

[@matsp888]

It's not easy, but it helps the upstrokes as well.

[@EmbarrassedComposer]

Wow! It just makes so much sense! Thank you!

[@robinmiller9773]

So basic, yet so revolutionary- genius.

[@DirkRadloff]

Very helpful

[@shortbusbully]

This technique is very commonly used by jazz guitarists, especially gypsy jazz. It is considered a fundamental technique for gypsy jazz, necessary to get the proper gypsy sound.

[@shortbusbully]

If you Google gypsy jazz rest stroke you will get thousands of good links.

[@abstractlogic366]

Always show an example of what you are "teaching"! In this cases a simple major/minor scale?

[@Dadaadad268]

Yeah I agree

[@TheDgmcmillan]

great lesson.. i also got as lot from your lesson on dorian concepts ..thanks this is gonna help there is an incredibly fast run from mike stern..song called languages ..very fast ..this should help cheers

[@kimmiecrackcorn]

Oh I’ve got to have that guitar ❤️

[@TomGoldsmithguitar]

great wisdom rick!

[@jorgemartins1738]

great tip! great!

[@sobrina2121]

Thanks Rick Graham..gud lesson..!

[@brunoblasco508]

Thanks for the leeson !

[@heidegger101]

it would be great to see you practice this on a scale. what do you do when you change strings ? If you have an upstroke on the low E and then play a note on the A string using planting technique , you are going to have to jump up and over the low E strings. Please explain . thank you

[@jochenstark6348]

It's a fantastic first man!

[@TheN00bPolice]

It's called a rest stroke in traditional terms. It's a very usual technique in gypsy playing.

[@NandoAbreuOficial]

Brasil

[@soulassasin10]

useful tips thanks Rick :)

[@mdjubairnijhum7141]

Tnx Brother it helped a lot

[@tomcatt9875]

brilliant !

[@RishiPrabhu90]

brilliant lesson..

[@TomGoldsmithguitar]

great simplicity too

[@rjjrdq]

I know many-maybe most people hold the pick like you do, but it just doesn't work for me. Scraping nails on the chalkboard sound. Maybe my wrist is backwards.

[@bills48321]

What do you think of planting, in the sense of planting a right hand finger on the pickguard or guitar top to steady the position of the right hand over the strings to help with accurately changing strings?

[@teasingsafe351]

so you don't touch the string by preparing the next stroke, do you? because if you would that'd create a pinch harmonic noise. except you'd only play palm muted. or am i doing something wrong? please let me know

[@PremMajumdarVG]

sorry if this sounds like a newbie question(just started learning guitar 1 month ago) but wouldnt planting mute the string? since we are planting the pick on it that would mute the string right? or am i dumb....

[@thefretbuzz6659]

Cool technique! I notice when im improvising, my alternate picking has waay too much air between a down and upstroke.

[@matsp888]

It's just a waste, really. I notice that with my own playing. I actually thought my movements were fairly small, but no.

[@amjan]

Fucking ACE lesson! Thanks!

[@cirospm]

good one

[@mafeitete]

Kiko Loureiro explains this on his instructional video long time ago.

[@Demonaro]

wow thanks! great tip! :D

[@DJ_UKINSELKA]

Is this the same thing as rest stroking? It is used a lot in gypsy jazz guitar.

[@arjundhannyify]

Then how do you move to next strings... wont planting lead to increased distance between adjacent strings ? I mean its great for single string stuff

[@PerryFogelman]

He went over moving to next strings in the beginning with economy picking. He just focused on alternate picking for the majority of the video because that is the less conventional approach to the concept, as it is usually just used in economy picking. Pushing through and landing on the next string is the move to the next string.

[@ClaudioRowe]

Im trying thisq

[@shaleensharma2731]

Of course Rusty has spoken about it before,he did not refer to it as planting technique. But this technique has been spoken about.

[@tharnheim]

MASTER!!!

[@coyote1able]

I love watching your videos. You are an excellent player. I have a few questions. Some of these may seem stupid to some people, but As I watch your vids and it shows close ups of the fretboard. I notice you shredding away and the strings hardly move. I ask this for the fact that I think my action on my strat is to high, therefore, I cannot play very fast. Did you set your guitars up yourself or take it to Luthier. Also, what size guage of strings do you use. I have elevens on my strat now, but am considering going back to 10's. Could you please cover something on your guitars and playability. Thank You For Your TimeChad

[@sk863cuz]

just got a mim strat and the screws on the saddles are kinda sharp when i plant my hand.. its annoying anybody else have this problem and fixed it?

[@mrgreeneye656]

Hey Rick, excellent video bro!! I always wondered how you're able to play so fast and just like Malmsteen have little movement in your right hand. Do you also do economy picking as well? Thanks in advance...

[@danmenez]

Hey Rick, how to classical guitarists learn big pieces bring them up to tempo? Is there any method? Do you have something like this on your website?

[@MyGroo]

It's a bit annoying that the lower video isn't in sync with the main video (and with audio).

[@userenter8591]

You is Guitar god Master class The most Beautiful 👆Finger

[@marvinmobley6294]

hey Rick do you have a licks tab book if so where can i get it please respond .thanks

[@coreyaudet7582]

Good toot?