Pickslanting EXPLAINED! Techniques, practice tips, and MORE

Downloadable backing tracks, bonus guitar lessons, and MORE here: / benellerguitars
This week, all my Patrons, even at the $1 a month level, are getting a TON of downloadable stuff to go along with this video! Practice tracks at various tempos, midi files so you can make your own perfect practice session, and Guitar Pro files so you can play all day!!! Sign up today and get 'em!!!
Grab last week's practice tracks at a variety of tempos, plus the midi tracks so you can build your OWN workout, PLUS the downloadable TABs here! / 50395556
How about a treasure trove of drone tracks that i made!? 12 root notes, 12 major chords, and 12 minor chords, for a total of 36 super long drone tracks! Its everything you need to learn all your scales in every key! Here's the direct link you need: / 49828461
Wanna learn ALL the notes and master the board? Here's the lesson you need: / 45181774
The BEST Half Hour of Alternate Picking Practice EVER: / 33563344
The secrets of note targeting revealed: / 38535524
My followup to my Ditch the CAGED System video: / 40492155
Get sweet deals on all the nice things i use here: imp.i114863.net/jxdA0
@troygrady blew the lid off the secrets of alternate picking with his now-legendary Cracking the Code series, in which he showed us how speed demons like Yngwie Malmsteen, Eric Johnson, Vinnie Moore, and @andywoodmusic are able to navigate alternate and economy picking at extremely high tempos with ease through the use of upwards escape (USX) and downwards escape (DWX) picking (formerly called downwards and upwards pickslanting). These ideas completely revolutionized my playing and taught me so much about my own strengths and weaknesses! But how did i practice them, and how do you start to incorporate them into your own playing? Like this!!!
In today's video, i'm going to show you an EJ-style B minor hexatonic lick in 2 variations: one to practice your USX picking, and another to practice your DSX. With these two picking styles mastered, there's going to be NOTHING you can't play! I'll be using my Magnet camera mount that Troy Grady gave me to let you all see straight down the barrel of my picking. After i show you the lick, i'm going to break down both picking styles in detail, and give you a ton of tips to make sure you get a successful slant happening STAT! I'm still working on these concept, too, so i'll be hammering away at this stuff alongside you all! Be sure to grab all those practice tracks from my patreon page and get to working on becoming an alternate picking MACHINE!!!
Gear:
Les Paul with Suhr SSH/SSV pickups
Axe FX 3
What do you want to learn next on Weekend Wankshop? Let me know in the comments!

[@gorz859]

"Shreddy Kruger" is the best thing I've heard all year

[@itay92w]

Hahaha i like that nickname !

[@sahelanthropus4422]

I literally laughed out loud.

[@ninevoltromeo]

There's this "shock rocker" named Demon Boy who had a guitarist named Shreddy Krueger.

[@malikmanautou2960]

Idk, shred-i knights went insane

[@huskiefan8950]

Shreddy Krueger is my Halloween costume next year! 😅

[@ShredmasterScott]

best lesson on alternate picking ever muhaha

[@IvanVallebona]

Lmao I can hear your evil laugh

[@urvermin2682]

A WILD SHRED APPEARS TO SLAY THE WORLD... WITH RIFFS 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@Imokyourok440]

Ha! I just watched one of your videos.

[@robertominozzi1674]

it is fair to reckon that this is Troy's idea, but your communicative skills make this whole slanting thing much clearer and ..'learnable' for me.. you are the definition of what a proper teacher has to be.. bravo!

[@Montanajj]

Same for me. Just was easier to take in and learn

[@jean-pierrerossouw1034]

100% agreed

[@katten39]

Yes! Honestly I didnt know what troy was talking about but this explanation blew my mind haha

[@lewe666]

Agreed. This explanation was great and easy to digest

[@capsule5789]

Totally agreed!

[@karstenhammerhansen]

I cant wait to close up film how shit I am!

[@vonmilash823]

Being a longtime player, I always instinctively knew I had to pick slant to cross strings but I could never do it. Then I saw Grady's vids with MAB and tried something like what he does. Now, chicks love me for my angled in-out motion and attack.

[@WillVRam]

what is MAB?

[@willinguyen1]

@@WillVRam Michael Angelo Batio

[@notoriusdrifter40]

When you are so fast not even your step dad could keep up!

[@Jawamie_Jr.]

Troy Grady videos should be required viewing for new players. And not new players. And regardless of whether you want to shred. Just super helpful to finally have someone who actually wanted to go in depth into the mechanics of playing rather than just saying “uh, practice slow and do whatever you’re comfortable with.” Thanks for this insight Uncle Ben. Appreciate it

[@lovemesomepollo]

Thanks for showing me what's up about the source of this technique. I checked out Troy Grady and it's really really good.

[@Stringprodigy]

Chris Brooks also covers this extensively in his book Neoclassical Speed Strategies for Guitar. Highly recommended.

[@BenEller]

Agreed! Chris’ books are great.

[@theeouapolal7262]

Dude, I hope you're doing well, 'cause damn, you're articulate, intelligent, eloquent, straight-forward, and probably one of the best teachers by this kind of medium (online video) out there... Let me tell you, I'm probably old enough to be your great grandfather... just so you know... I've seen A LOT OF TEACHERS!! REALLY APPRECIATE THIS!!!

[@Rynan1994]

Holy crap Ben! I used to be a student of yours when you were giving lessons at the Fret Store back around 2007, but had to quit going because I broke my leg and couldn't climb the tiny staircase that place had. I find you here just giving all this stuff away for free now!? Jokes aside, good to see you're still shredding man!

[@jonmckenzie6923]

Not gonna lie this has blown my mind

[@rickfeith6372]

This one time, at Sweep Picking Camp, I learnt the art of slant pickin and cross combobulating. Highly recommended.

[@RumzDizzle]

So you're saying I've been doing it wrong my whole guitar life... nice, knew there was a reason I stunk

[@doomcue]

This is why odd groupings on adjacent strings are a challenge for me (without using economy or mini-sweeps). The constant wrist motion to go from outside to inside (and back) string changes and up/down escapes is still something I have to work on every practice session, even after 20 years of playing. Andy makes it look effortless, but it's work for us mere mortals.

[@noozzoo5152]

The pros of old never talk about how difficult it is. They want to maintain the illusion that it's easy for them. I agree with them, because it makes the show so much more fun when you think they're superhuman. Vai is a perfect example of this, even though he's more of a legato player. The illusion of ease is the main trick his trick bag. It's horrendous watching a decent player stressing and trying to squeeze out a difficult line. It might sound fine, but yuck, it looks hard and isn't enjoyable.

[@starbattles1]

Yea, completely changes the hand muting too. My pick style is that in between flat style. My pick style developed around what I needed to do to successfully hand mute the other strings. I change angles and my hand muting either doesn't happen, or it mutes the string I am trying to play. I think you should have talked about how the 2 styles effect hand muting. I think they go.... wait for it...... Hand in hand. LOL

[@yogxoth1959]

Turns out I'm a downwards escape kind of player and I've also been mostly playing metal, so you were spot on Uncle Ben! Unfortunately, my picking style makes palm muting difficult (I'm a beginner too). Super interesting video anyways.

[@johnmello2540]

Why was I literally having trouble with this last night and lookin for a guide. Little did I know I would be blessed the next morning!

[@justinburnett2173]

I "worked" from home today just so i could watch this video and practice...Thanks buddy!

[@drip_hajro]

Thank you so much! Now i can finally play the bridge riff of "megalodon" correctly

[@ewljr]

Thanks for all your videos! They’re always helpful

[@ClunyBard]

Great video. Really made it clear to me. Thanks.

[@skjones91199]

Another great video! Thanks, brother!

[@bartekpiwonskiofficial]

Great video! Very informative. Thank you.

[@kotkot329]

Thank you! It 's a great video lesson!

[@LakesideAutobody]

Nice video Ben - helped a lot :)

[@user-qi2zt8nr9u]

Cool video! Thanks!

[@jz4901]

Great clear explanation. Super content as always, BE. Cheers and thanks! Z

[@ironjosip]

An amazing video!

[@bentwheel2063]

very informative, thanks for taking the time and patience to reply explain it

[@wagonet]

amazing explanation 🎉😊

[@bobgure]

Thank you, Ben for a very clear, detailed and patiently taught lesson.

[@vikingguitar]

This is EXACTLY what I've been looking for. THANK YOU!

[@tompluto]

Always impressed by the tasteful exercises you come up with to accompany the videos, Ben. Very memorable and easy to digest. Keep up the great work!

[@Rossimac_]

Best vid I’ve found. I love it! Thanks

[@manfreds86]

Excellent explanation, thank you very much for uploading!

[@thedonrizzguitar]

You’re the man uncle ben! 💪🏼

[@caseycarey5445]

Your videos are on point Ben thanks so much! Gonna get the patreon app and I will see you on there!

[@CompleteProducer84]

This is going to sound like a sales pitch for Troy, but pick slanting changed my entire guitar journey. I had given up after about a decade of playing. I had some good fast chops, but hit a wall. As soon as I dedicated myself to learning pick slanting (both one way and 2 way), within a month I was breaking those speed walls. A little over a year later after learning it, I have made more progress than I had the previous 5. For those on the fence, it is not some gimmick system, it is actually something that most guitar greats do. Since they were likely unaware of it, it probably took them thousands more hours to learn it naturally than if they were hyper focused and aware of it. It is no longer a challenge to play even 3 note per string segments fast across all 6 strings since there is always an escape with 2WPS. It WILL seem overwhelming at first, and the thought of plotting and planning how you are going to go about a lick may seem daunting. But soon you will have an arsenal of options. Whether it be 2 way pick slanting, one way with pull-offs and economy involved, or straight one way pick slanting for runs with an even number of notes per string, there is always a way for a pick escape!

[@zaidanp7258]

Thank you for saying this!

[@theelfman]

Is this something a semi newbie should be working on? Im coming back to guitar after many years of not playing. Seems this would address many of the issues i had with my picking

[@joshmuz9018]

I made more progress in 1 year than the 20 previous thanks to troy

[@CompleteProducer84]

@@theelfman I’d say it depends on how new you are. I probably wouldn’t recommend it to someone who is brand new to the guitar, because these string changing hang ups don’t really reveal themselves until you are starting to pick relatively fast. When you first start playing, you will be alternate picking slow enough to where pick escapes just come naturally. But if you have a solid grasp on alternate picking, I would say learn as early as you feel comfortable to. It’s something I wish I had learned when I was about a year in, because I think my journey would have been a lot easier

[@CompleteProducer84]

@@joshmuz9018 That is awesome. It still boggles my mind how pick slanting is still relatively unknown in the grand scope of things. It is still pretty niche, and it is arguably the most important aspect to improving alternate picking speed and confidence across strings

[@DoveSimon]

This is one of your best videos Uncle Ben. True greatness. Thank you.

[@MatthewWright001]

EXCELLENT video!!

[@israelr6636]

Another freaking awesome lesson, I'll be grooving even more. Thank Uncle Ben 🎸🎶😎!

[@Arazmithin]

Uncle Ben always taking time to Picksplain things the great do for us. Thanks Ben!

[@Adrian041392]

Amazing video! this was exactly my problem!! No it feels a lot smoother when I pick!!

[@papamurf7653]

Thank You!🤘🤘

[@semiproj]

Thank you for this lesson. Very much. I understand clearer than ever and I’m not confusing my hand.

[@ryanfoltz1276]

Incredible lesson

[@justanish6966]

Great channel man

[@hamishnouwens6466]

Thanks uncle Ben, I always sit down with my guitar and play through with you every time you release a video, they really help and we appreciate it!

[@alexkendall9809]

Exquisite instruction dude! The best demonstration I've seen yet on slanting :) thank you for clearing this up for me

[@filiperocha9885]

Thanks to shared your knowledge.

[@ZRossi513]

A perfect episode for my birthday...Thanks Uncle Ben!!

[@nc1969]

great video. the karate analogy is perfect, really helps you realize that this is refinement process. thanks Ben!!

[@XXjg_]

What clarity. This lesson has hit the nail on the head for me. Ben always has great info, interesting perspective, and communicates concisely with a great sense of humor.

[@HollenFaust]

It's crazy how the guitar Immortals aren't even aware they do this, yet we sit there for hours practicing

[@SaintFranssoix]

I can assure you guitar legends probably practiced 10x harder and starting from 5 years old :D

[@GeorgeTsiros]

which is why studying is important

[@HollenFaust]

@@SaintFranssoix what I mean is playing without realizing the dwps/uwps technique. Just natural without the need to focus on it

[@jaredcraig918]

I downstroke naturally but its hard to Consciously up stroke

[@noozzoo5152]

I was doing it back in college (circa 99) and didn't realize it. It was the Michelangelo Batio 3NPS pattern. I had juries (playing every semester for a panel of judges), and they would randomly drop 2 and 3 octave scales, like Bb Mixolydian, and I would have to immediately execute it. Gak! Note #4, which is the string change note, was always messy, until I tipped the top of the pick upwards, and it worked! I started playing it all the time and I actually did notice it, but disliked the angle, and I didn't analyze why it worked. Troy did all that for me much later :)

[@marioarodrigues3281]

awesome very nice work bro congrats from Rio de Janeiro Brasil

[@tgstk2]

holy...this might have been your best lesson thusfar!! and most of them where already bezerkely good!

[@Guithulhu]

More "shred" punery: Night of the Living Shred(as well as all sequels), Shred and Breakfist, Shred Flintstone, Shred Zeppelin, Shredical Device, Shred Dawn, Shreddy Bear, Shreddy Roosevelt, Shredding Chapel, Shred and shoulders above the rest.

[@qwargy]

Golden Shred.. er.. marmalade. Hmm.

[@Guithulhu]

@@qwargy where the Shred Fern Grows

[@EVEROSFP1]

Hahaha!!!

[@petemeyers5342]

This video is so good and so well explained that Troy should upload it to his site!

[@zipperhead101]

This might be the best technique video I've ever seen. By far the best and most complete coverage of a technique I've seen for sure. Thank ya, Uncle Ben!

[@s4tchowns]

Thanks for shedding some light on this topic, Ben! Even though I have known that this issue is holding back my picking technique, I've had trouble grasping the concept. Some helpful cues indeed!

[@khuber996]

Ben, it's never been explained as well to me as you do it here. You are a kick ass teacher! And a phenomenal guitarist!

[@hksonx]

When you said "Do it with BIG DUMB motion", it totally opens up my mind. I have been doing it with minimal motion because I am afraid of hitting other strings. It ruins my groove and articulation. I just tried playing with bigger swings for 10 minutes and it feel 10x times better already. The key is to have the right slanting angle.

[@bobgure]

Myself as well. It runs counter to what many guitar ‘teachers’ advise to make the motion smaller and more economical.

[@Cognitoman]

Dude you’re right! I feel more relaxed now

[@justinburnett2173]

What are some easier popular phrases we can learn to practice this technique and also learn new songs?

[@craigcarroll3333]

Thanx uncle Ben this video with the exercises is perfect. I wasn't doing it right but the way you showed it with those 2 practice scales is great. I'm exited about playing again \,,/

[@OCNmeticadpa]

Thanks Uncle Ben - this is what I need to take my alternate picking to the next level!

[@forprogress999]

Fantastic lesson. Such an important one; if you can’t pick properly, you can’t do the first thing u need to learn on guitar. If you’re already starting with bad technique...

[@noozzoo5152]

I told my girlfriend this, and said it would take her much less time to learn if she gets the pickslanting down first. Once it's baked in, it's automatic.

[@thomass6988]

This is exactly what I've been looking for, I just started paying attention to the pickslanting idea and it's already changed the way I pick quite a bit. Thanks Uncle Ben!

[@petealba707]

Nice addition to the Troy Grady videos. I couldn't figure out the pickslanting on my own so I've been using legato technique during faster passages for many years. I discovered Troy's videos a year ago and have upped my picking game tremendously. This is another great video on the topic.

[@JBGWAlain]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen alternate picking explained better than this. Well done!

[@3carlosprieto7]

Thank you Ben for the outstanding lessons and clarity in your explanations. You are helping us be better guitarists and in the meantime making us smile with your humour. Great guitarist and hands down the best guitar professor on the web. Greetings from Colombia 🇨🇴 God bless ✌🏼🎸

[@reilly1771]

Awesome video man! Pick slanting is a game changer. Really want to figure out the double escape, purely for those times when you need to switch round quickly. Maybe one day with these kinds of videos!

[@brandonlane294]

Best teacher ever!!!! Thank you so much!!! My guitar playing is improving tremendously from watching your youtube and patreon videos!!!! Thanks

[@hierrogm]

Super informative awesome

[@JenniferCamche]

OK that neck camera!!!! oh man, I need that for my teaching online!....such an awesome way to get a close view of the picking hand to show to students. Your videos rock Ben. Thank you for your dedicated work.

[@notaliberalfromcali6245]

You totally nailed me on the down escape player... started with metal 30 years ago.

[@VilleKuitunen6]

This is a great drill, thanks Ben! I also recommend Troy Grady to all players, not only the shredder-wannabes, they are very beneficial to just learn about technique and perhaps analyze your own stuff a bit.

[@JCJamezGamez]

After “Cracking the Code” and all the previous lesson THIS is the one that makes it all come together- Thanks Ben!!!!

[@TristanJCumpole]

Good call on Zakk Wylde having crazy USX (should that not be UWX?) style. His entire arm curls around under the bridge and back up under the strings. Crazy, but that's how it goes.

[@prefacciprian7728]

Im an economy picker , its more natural for me.A friend of mine make me on a 3D printer that tool to hang the phone to see what a hell Im doing with my right hand.I was blown away , I was using escape pick motion without known.That proves if you can t find a solution , the brain will find a way to bypass you and take you further into getting better. Pure Gold Ben!!! Thank you.

[@wolfgangvonharringa4414]

Thank you shredi master. I was pretty confused by some of Troy Grady's videos, so this is an excellent starting point for me.

[@RockCoversMusic]

Interesting video!!

[@yourguitarist]

sold! I've been watching your channel for a while but when I hear "shreddy kruger" i knew it was a sign that I needed to go to patreon and sign up NOW!

[@curtisprice9806]

Thanx 4 makin it easier to understand 👍 AN ABSOLUTE MUST TO UNDERSTAND/KNOW !!!...( TO NOT GET FUMBLED UP IN THE STRINGS WHEN SHREDDING!) I GET IT NOW THAT I, AND MY GUITAR SAT DOWN AND PUT YOUR LESSON TO WORK AND STUDY!!!

[@cjlemay852]

Wow...just wow on this one. PERFECT application of a new technique into a means of practice. Even Troy doesn't do this in a way that I believe is applicable. Granted, there are a lot of ways of applying what he has found in his research. Great job Uncle Ben!

[@RizoftheDead]

Oooo I would absolutely love that camera mount for the guitar. I’ve wanted to start making guitar videos again and I would love to have that angle.

[@Crf901]

Muito bom. Saudações do Brasil.

[@scott6151]

I really do hope I get more better at this, thanks good buddy 👍

[@LevitatorMusic]

after 24 years, cracking the code took me from intermediate level picking to advanced picking in like a week

[@Stringprodigy]

Don’t believe you

[@eddiejr540]

Yep. ...I’m definitely a downward escape picker...got to get to work on the upwards....thanks Uncle Ben for showing me my short comings!!!!

[@7thString84]

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE these kind of videos, Ben! Nothing new to me, but so much fun to watch and always worthy of revisting! These are those videos I'm searching for as a (I guess?!?!) slightly advanced player, instead of boooooring gear stuff and power chord song explanations. Please keep those technical, theoretical and visualizationaticle (haha!) stuff coming! And yes, I didn't look the word up on the translator on purpose! (Pourpus? Purpous? I'm out...) You get it. Thank you for being an inspiration and especially a motivation to play my ass off since at least 5 years or so (subscribed to your channel! Not playing guitar, of course! I play guitar since f***in 22 years already. But with disturbing interruptions. So... Not really comparable to others, who played 22 years like maniacs throughout! Why am I telling you this? I think, because I can. ;)) Cheers, man!

[@Lachy314]

Thank you so much for this video Ben. You made me realize I naturally have had near no pick slant in my playing. I can now use this to be so much more efficient. I’m really excited to maximize this.

[@jrsmoots]

This didn't make a lot of sense to me until about 15:00, and then suddenly I got it. Thanks for posting this vid!!

[@newmexicosaint]

Uncle Ben...your ability to articulate/communicate is off the charts in effectiveness. Your humor is the icing on the cake brother. Signing up for patreon right now.

[@toemasmeems]

Learned this sort of thing through trying to replicate the Faceless and Alluvial/Merrow songs wooooo

[@prajwalsrinivas5157]

This is the best demonstration of picking

[@ABC-cw7zv]

That is a great video.

[@ClassicPass_]

Turkey Time is the name of my 80s 2nd wave ska revival band!

[@jimmccall8030]

Great lesson. Downward Escape and upward pick slant UWPS tend to go together as do Upward Escape and downward pick slant DWPS. Starting on an up pick descending using UWPS is trickier for me. I’m working on having just enough escape to pass over the adjacent string.

[@bred9526]

i watched all if Troy’s videos BUT your tip of touching the strings with the base of thumb/little finger. Now I finally got how to change the slant in a comfortable way. It has changed everything

[@zaidanp7258]

Thank you, Uncle Ben.