[Guitar Picking Tutorial] Picking From Wrist Vs. Elbow

tomhess.net/Gu... When changing strings on the guitar, the very best (fastest, easiest, most relaxed, and with the best tone) way to pick is [...]
... not from the wrist, and not from the elbow. The best way to pick is to use a compound movement that combines arm movement from the shoulder and the elbow of your picking arm.
Why? Because this is the only way to keep the articulation, tone, and pick attack consistent across all strings. Why is that important? Because the more consistent these things are, the faster your picking can be, the easier it will feel (especially when you play at high speeds), and the more accurate your guitar playing is likely to be.
Plus, when picking using this compound motion, it’s faster to learn and master your picking technique because the pick angle is the same for all strings (making it easier on your brain to memorize the exact feeling needed to play perfectly every time.
When you pick from the wrist or the elbow only, the pick angle changes from string to string. This change of picking angle changes the tone (and not in a good way) and makes mastering your picking harder to play at high speeds with consistent accuracy.
So, grab your guitar, and let’s have some fun!
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What To Watch Next:
The Right Way To Hold The Guitar Pick [Ultimate Guide]
• The Right Way To Hold ...
[How To Sweep Pick] From The Wrist Or Elbow?
• [How To Sweep Pick] Fr...
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Want to finally get your guitar playing to where you want it to be? You can, via tomhess.net/Gu...
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[@buckycore]

God, i love intelligent teachers like you who provide the physiology behind how and why you do things when playing guitar vs. "do it because i said so" type youtube channels

[@syaoranoni54326]

Tom you have helped me make a breakthrough as i was anchoring my forearm on the guitar and using the elbow to switch strings. Thanks for this well considered video

[@bbook1997]

Hey Tom Hess. I have been following your lessons now for a few years. I pick up the guitar every day, but I probably only put in about 15 minutes-30minutes at best. Yet, I'd say I've improved tremendously in that period and had fun doing it. It just takes a little more patience (and money). But I really enjoy your lesson strategies and the weekly live bonus lessons and the incredible forum you provide for your students. Guess what I'm saying is, you can help someone who only puts in 15minutes a day, so long as they at least pick up the guitar every day and are not easily discouraged.

[@zozozouave2994]

Incroyables explications comme d'habitude ! Merci Tom de nous aider à débloquer notre potentiel )

[@tomhessmusiccorp]

My pleasure, glad you like it! :)

[@renejohnkerkdyk5006]

Excellent analysis of the picking motions. Thank you, Tom Hess!

[@tomhessmusiccorp]

Thanks Rene and you’re welcome!

[@jiridolezal5805]

Thanks a lot for your incredibly detailed discussion of the topic at hand.

[@sergiopusep]

Incredible lesson, thank you Tom!

[@A20Y11]

thank you for explaining picking motion in such details

[@tomhessmusiccorp]

My pleasure!

[@tereason]

nice explanation, thanks.

[@Mr42083]

Well presented sir! Thanks!

[@markda_shark8201]

Subscribed , thanks Tom , excellent information

[@Precisionetica]

Thank you, Tom for making these videos. I thought you were the guy from Symphony X initially! 😅

[@cpm5689]

Exceptional! Thank you Tom Hess!

[@tomhessmusiccorp]

My pleasure, glad you enjoyed it!

[@Cognitoman]

I like the way you teach.

[@jacebastian7192]

Very good advice, thanks for sharing!

[@tomhessmusiccorp]

My pleasure, Jace!

[@RWKTUNES]

The best teacher ever!

[@tomhessmusiccorp]

Thanks :)

[@jeffreymckeown]

I definitely need to know how to play fluently when I am standing. I have no problem playing while I am sitting.

[@mitsontube]

Hi, Tom, Thanks a lot for laying this motion out in such detail! Makes all the difference! Besides, when using the wrist to change strings, there’s a lot of tension being build up especially when going from 1 to 6. My picking wrist is suffering from enormous tension (also when strumming) which comes from having used a computer mouse very actively for many years. Only recently I have found what seems to be the solution to my problem. I have slightly rotated outward the whole lower arm from my elbow so that the muscles on the outer side of the arm (that normally are tense while working with the mouse) are more or less relaxed, and the weight of the wrist is being supported by the muscles on the inner side. To achieve that I have to position the body of the guitar strictly vertical or even facing down just a bit. Did you have similar cases in your teaching practice? What can you say to this? And another observation: Wearing a sleeve gives the picking arm too much freedom. It becomes unstable. Without the sleeve the arm is too sticky, which doesn’t allow for easy string changes. In this video you have your sleeve rolled up halfway. Is that what you’s advise?

[@tomhessmusiccorp]

Yes, I’ve seen this before. One thing I believe you would really benefit from is my free class on tension: tomhess.net/Total-Tension-Control

[@tomhessmusiccorp]

regarding the sleeve: I simply always wear my shirts that way. It doesn’t affect the freedom of movement for my arm one way or the other. If you find it to be a problem not wearing a sleeve on your arm, 2 suggestions are: 1. Clean the body of your guitar and make sure your arm is clean or 2. Sand the clear coat paint off the body of the guitar where your arm rests or play a guitar with a satin finish.

[@GuyHarrison-nm1xt]

Very good observation. Sort of like internal wc to external

[@77zrod46]

I have more control standing up. When I sit and have to double pick a few notes over multiple strings my pick will actually rotate in my grasp no matter how hard I thumb it. Glad you made this video so I can controll that issue.

[@hanyzaky3284]

Thanks a lot for this lesson,what about if I play lick between just two strings and go back and forth many times on one note per string ?

[@tomhessmusiccorp]

In such a situation where you are changing between strings very frequently such as playing only one or two notes on the new string before changing back to the previous one, using your wrist can make sense here in this type of situation.

[@teds4165]

😊

[@NeuroApathy]

Does this work perfectly with multiscale guitars also? (8 string)

[@D1rectedBy]

Those little details makes all the difference!! Never notice that the shoulder would make so much difference!!! I’ve been practicing this for 30 minutes;) and I’m always seeing results!! My sweep is much cleaner, I’ve just start this technique! I also change my pick grip! It’s more efficient!! I’ve watch 2 videos today the other was to keep the finger near the fretboard with light picking !! Seriously thank you so much ! I’m ashamed to say that I’ve been playing guitar for so long ! Now I know I can improve !!! Thx again 🤘🤘 Definitely subscribed to your Chanel 🤘🤘

[@tomhessmusiccorp]

My pleasure and good job putting it into action right away! :)

[@serban2139]

One Q, you don't actually pick with the shoulder and elbow as you transition, you just transition, then you continue picking with the wrist as normal, as if you didn't transition, hope that makes sense, right?

[@tomhessmusiccorp]

Yes, unless you’re sweeping.

[@ianthompson4558]

PICK ATTACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!🤘👹🤘

[@Cognitoman]

Not to mention your hand won’t be in a natural position, and if your using elbow to change strings your tone will be different as well because you will move closer to the bridge