Pickslanting EXPLAINED! Techniques, practice tips, and MORE

[@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! 😅

[@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!

[@BearSharkDude]

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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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!!!

[@karstenhammerhansen]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@Stringprodigy]

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

[@BenEller]

Agreed! Chris’ books are great.

[@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

[@rickfeith6372]

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

[@jonmckenzie6923]

Not gonna lie this has blown my mind

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@Arazmithin]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!!

[@BrianBadBass]

Dude you've literally revealed something that's been frustrating me for years! I'm a "flat" picker, and even after watching some of Troy's videos I still couldn't quite grasp why until now. Thank you!

[@JBGWAlain]

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

[@notoriusdrifter40]

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

[@adriancoppin977]

Ben, you are the guru to the gurus. What you teach is priceless. I’m most impressed and I’ve been around for 66 years…so far. Robert Fripp lives just down the road from me and I bet he’s very impressed with your skills.

[@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.

[@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!

[@thedavegoodman]

Troy Grady helped my playing mucho big time super fantastic hundred percent. I agree with you about the metal players; I naturally learned as an up-pick-slant player. It wasn’t intentional at all. Troy turned my world upside down with down-pick-slant. Combining both now (and being deliberate about picking direction) has made me a much cleaner and assertive player. High five ✋🏼

[@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

[@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.

[@justinburnett2173]

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

[@OCNmeticadpa]

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

[@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

[@lingaardsoul3654]

I also swithced from flat style to USX/DSX. Can u please explain how to mute string in this case? I really struggle with muting now (

[@RumzDizzle]

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

[@caseycarey5445]

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

[@thedonrizzguitar]

You’re the man uncle ben! 💪🏼

[@UdoU-k2b]

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!

[@drip_hajro]

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

[@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!!!

[@DrSuess360]

No way... This video just literally fixed the problem I've been having with my playing!! I'm self taught so it was never explained to me that you have to slant your pick slightly. I've been picking straight this whole god damn time and never realised why I kept getting caught on the strings any time I try to build speed. I've never seen anyone talk about this Thank you. You're the man!!!

[@BenEller]

Glad to help! Be sure to watch Troy Grady’s “cracking the code” series, it taught me sooooo much!

[@DrSuess360]

@@BenEller Will do. I saved it to my watch later list last night after your video for when I have some free time. Thanks again man!!

[@bred_2]

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

[@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!

[@ZRossi513]

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

[@brandonlane294]

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

[@justinburnett2173]

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

[@wagonet]

amazing explanation 🎉😊

[@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!

[@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.

[@skullkrusher4418]

If people still don't watch Troy Grady's channel, definitely go check it out. Easily the best and most comprehensive exploration on picking technique. Helped me improve my picking a TON. Not that Ben here isn't great! But he gets all this pickslanting knowledge from Troy's investigations.

[@israelr6636]

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

[@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!!!

[@d3customguitars254]

Watched this channel for the first time yesterday.. subscribed after 5min..this is now my go to lessons/teacher, thanks Ben keep it coming!!

[@BenEller]

Thanks, Don!!

[@FretLevelMidnight]

I saw Al DiMeola live at a free concert at a music store in about the year 2000, I had a 1980 Guitar Player he signed with John McLaughlin and Paco DeLucia on the cover, he loved it.

[@ArthurWM9]

Great lesson, Uncle Ben! A quick question, though: it seems like the downward pickslanting is more natural to the angle of the wrist and how we usually hold the pick (I hold it the "standard way", same as you I think). But when I try to switch to upward pickslanting, I just have to rotate the wrist to an unnatural angle, and I even lose the muting on the above string. Do you have any tips on how to get the angle of the upward pickslanting correctly? Thank you!

[@toemasmeems]

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

[@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.

[@chadpeplinski3552]

I think you nailed a point on metal players. I have found that my downward escape picking is significantly faster and smoother and more better especially on descending runs. I’ve basically been a metal guy for 30 yrs and that has always felt natural. My upwards is much less good. The fighting analogy is also 10000% accurate

[@noozzoo5152]

Ben, thanks! You're hitting on things I've been drilling for a while. I'm glad that there are resources like yours (and Troy's), and there's never any shortage of things to work on. ---- ** unimportant stuff ** I found a brutal one that uses both inside & outside picking. The pickslant changes every 3 notes :) It's the Yngwie 3-1-2 / 3-2-1, but on two strings. The first 3 are UWPS, the second 3 are DWPS: |----12----------12--------------| |---------9-10-------10--9-----|

[@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.

[@JCJamezGamez]

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

[@ewljr]

Thanks for all your videos! They’re always helpful

[@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!

[@nc1969]

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

[@Kriegter]

Having played solely metallica back when I was a beginner probably helped with my downward escape picking

[@opethmike]

I would like to hug this man.

[@skjones91199]

Another great video! Thanks, brother!

[@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!

[@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.

[@scott6151]

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

[@timalan1000]

Been working hard on both downward and outside pick slanting, works wonders.. after working on it, I discovered I was naturally an downward pick slanter..

[@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.

[@jz4901]

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

[@petemeyers5342]

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

[@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!

[@ClassicPass_]

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

[@robflores5172]

Think I’m gonna do some bigger movements! Could you do an updated video on crosspicking? I feel like so close I’m just missing something. Also, a video on how to do all of this stuff while also being free to mute would also be super helpful! Cheers!

[@prajwalsrinivas5157]

This is the best demonstration of picking

[@DoveSimon]

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

[@maxwellblakely7952]

Troy’s videos actually made me focus on my picking technique, made me decide to try to copy Al Di Meloa’s picking style.

[@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 ✌🏼🎸

[@bentwheel2063]

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

[@leebasey1786]

Have you made a video (or a segment in a video) on skipping strings with this method? Skipping as in playing a song all over the F. board I love the system. I know its for speed picking but some of it could be incorporated into playing any song. It has solved my biggest picking woe! Two days practice and starting to feel natural! Thank You.

[@vikingguitar]

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

[@marioarodrigues3281]

awesome very nice work bro congrats from Rio de Janeiro Brasil

[@waynewhiteguitar1]

This is AWESOME! I will start doing this today.

[@Kriegter]

Holy shit man, I just found a massive revealation. I thought I've been upward pickslanting this whole time (I was actually doing DSX with downward pickslanting) and today I tried exaggerating the upwards pickslanting. Now when I alternate pick, it doesn't matter how fast I'm going, it moves so smoothly I barely feel any resistance. Some licks that used to be impossible are now incredibly easy. I probably have to clean up some old habits now but DAMN. (I also finally realised how MAB can anchor his pinkie while playing so quickly. It actually does help with the picking and I'm starting to do it too)

[@ScottfromBaltimore]

MAB's two-note-per-string warm up works great with this. It's USX down, DSC up.

[@tgstk2]

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

[@tobiash04]

troy grady is great, i wish more people knew about him but most people write him off as overanalyzing and waste countless of hours on exercises

[@noozzoo5152]

If you're a professional musician, it just means you are ahead of the pack, and you've eliminated a large chunk of your competition.

[@noozzoo5152]

Agreed. I just decided to be me, and find the "feeling" of playing fast with pickslanting.The feeling happens where slow picking transitions to fast picking. Speed has to be there to even work on this stuff, and I have to slop through until I find the feeling.

[@bobgure]

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

[@gorz859]

Unk Ben is at it again

[@FlockofSmeagles]

Thanks, you save me 35 bucks. This is a perfect supplement to the series.

[@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!!!!

[@alexkendall9809]

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

[@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.

[@winstonsmith8240]

I don't know why I like you. Everytime I watch one of your videos you tell me my playing sucks. And you're usually right. 🤔 I've been trying to sell my soul, but I can't find any takers.

[@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!

[@KGFishyFingers]

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

[@manfreds86]

Excellent explanation, thank you very much for uploading!

[@ironjosip]

An amazing video!