Relaxing your picking hand and arm

[@troygrady]

Overall, this is a great video in the sense that it gets players with a history of chronic over-exertion to consider how much muscular contraction is really necessary to perform guitar playing motions, and to experience what relaxation actually feels like. Just a couple of minor comments. Gravity is not actually responsible for downstrokes. Muscular contraction happens in both directions, which can be measured via EMG, which we've done. In fact, your muted picking on the low E string at 9:55 actually moves *away* from the body on downstrokes. We've coined the term "DSX", or "downstroke escape", to describe this type of motion. Given the form you're using, there is no way gravity can cause an escaped downstroke unless you were bending forward at the waist. Instead, it's just the wrist muscles contracting in both directions, along the "reverse dart thrower" axis, which is a particularly efficient axis of wrist operation. This is the real reason the motion is easy, not gravity. In fact, the specific type of wrist DSX picking motion you're making at 9:55 is super common, and you will notice that your form at this timestamp looks exactly like the form used by Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, and many other great players. The rotational forearm joint motion trained in the rest of the video is also efficient, again due to the muscles used in both directions, not gravity. Unlike your 9:55 technique, forearm motion is USX technique, in which upstrokes escape. You demonstrate when performing the rest stroke - the upstroke breaks free of the string plane and avoids hitting the surrounding strings. Because of this, USX motions require phrases to be organized such that the last pickstroke on every string is an upstroke when purely alternate picking. This is why Gypsy jazz, Eric Johnson, and George Benson lines are all structured this way - i.e. to facilitate clean string changes when purely alternate picking. You do actually make a point of mentioning that these are likely all different techniques, which is awesome - this is actually something that many great players never notice about their own playing. Finally, the staccato thing of pressing the pick against the string is entirely about constricting range of motion, and not really part of motion efficiency. When motions are efficient, they can be enormous depending on the joints being used, and still be very fast and easy, as in Gypsy Jazz strumming technique. So in that one respect, I would say this is not great advice, since unnecessary tension is required to stop the motion and press the pick against the string. Ok! All that being said, if you didn't know any of this, and simply approached this video having spent years as a massive ball of muscular contraction in the whole chain from fingers to neck, you'd be likely to see results. So the overall perspective here of seeking out easyness and getting someone to experience it is completely on target and I applaud this!

[@jz4901]

Hi Troy, thank you very much for the detailed feedback, and I think you're absolutely right. I hope that everyone seeing this video checks out your comment, and my follow-up notes here! As you mentioned, I was an absolute wreck for several years in my playing due to tension. I'm still working on some basic technique due to changing styles, now gypsy jazz, and I agree that playing relying solely on gravity is *not* the correct approach. With my own playing, decent picking feels much more "active" and "engaged", balanced and focused -- and, in fact, as you mentioned, it's not gravity as much as it is the natural motion of the wrist. Perhaps in retrospect I ought to have waited and let this bake into my own playing and thoughts before I released the vid, so as to avoid spreading misinformation ... but at least it gives some tips to people who are out of touch with their own bodies 🙂, so that they can strip away excess crap, and hone in on the things that they need. I hope that people reading your comments here will still take the time to work through these gentle exercises, and maybe get a new experience for themselves. Cheers and thank you again for these notes, and all of your great work! Jeff

[@rustammansurov8198]

@@jz4901 You shouldn't take for granted that what he says is la verite. e.g. I watched one of his vidz. and poited out, that his explanation is wrong. You watch the movement of the pick on the vid. and he describes it wrongly. and at least his first course Cracking .... is just meaningless bs. and there's one point that all these teachers miss. People who play fast just have better hands. all these new coined terms slant, release etc. are mostly meaningless. People with good hands are playing better.

[@mynameswouldntwork]

While there are definitely physical limitations, the average person should be able to play fast given enough proper training. It's so commonplace on other instruments that the questions need better answers when it comes to guitar. When it comes to the actual mechanics of playing the instrument, the guitar has taken a while to catch up in terms of understanding.

[@rustammansurov8198]

i don't think so.

[@gitarman666]

@@rustammansurov8198 Agree completely I’ve been playing for decades covering Vinnie Moore, Jason Becker, Malmsteen, MaCalpine, you just gotta put in the time and play daily Lately Beast in Black is fun, these are the players I learn from not some over analyzing salesman I’ve never seen him play a solo that was remotely musical or even that fast

[@golfpoetry]

This video is a game-changer for me. First time picking felt like effortless effort. Thanks so much for your series of exercises that show the way step by step.

[@jz4901]

Hey there, glad you found the video! It's been a few years since I made it and my thinking has (finally) evolved since then, but this is still foundational work that I keep returning to. For chronic tension sufferers like I used to be, these helped me break out of it. I hope to eventually post an update with the changes to my thinking, but I need to sort it out -- it's not tricky, it just needs refinement, you know? Essentially, it boils down to this: picking (and playing) requires a constant balance between muscle activation and relaxation, always alternating. It's always easier to teach muscle activation vs relaxation, so by getting the relaxed feeling in your bones, you'll be able to add the activation at the appropriately regulated level. Phew, lots of words -- cheers and best wishes!

[@wootks]

Whoa this is better than the like 5000 videos I watched from various heavy metal guys. Great job!

[@jz4901]

Cheers thanks wootks, I hope something here is useful for you.

[@liamwaynemedia]

Thank you so much for making this video!!!

[@jz4901]

Cheers, glad you found it!

[@liamwaynemedia]

@@jz4901 I've always had a tendency to tense up a bit too much whenever excitement or emotion kicks in, and maybe there'll always be a little there, but these exercises will definitely help me to send the excess energy elsewhere. Do you still practice these particular exercises or just practice more mindfully?

[@jz4901]

@@liamwaynemedia I actually revisit these exercises periodically. Tension has a way of creeping back in for me, just due to bad habit. e.g., I'm working on gypsy style picking, and find that my arm somehow tries to get involved, lifting my shoulder off of the guitar. A periodic scan seems to help a lot. When I pick well, there's definitely a feeling of "activation", but it's not something that builds up, and it's not a feeling of fighting myself.

[@udaykumarbr1231]

Really detailed. Thank you for the lesson.

[@jz4901]

Glad you found it helpful! Ping if you have any questions. It’s been very helpful for me as a starting point, avoiding tension is vital. Cheers! Z

[@brianw.6718]

I was the same as you. My technique wasn't the greatest because I have so much trouble fully relaxing my hands and arms. I have always been a decent rhythm player but getting into more technical playing has always been a struggle for me because as soon and I speed up my playing, I tense up. I've decided to play ONLY with the least amount of effort possible. Not just my picking hand. I've developed my own little exercises to help myself relax and develop some better muscle memory. I'm playing as slow as I have to to play something accurately and effortlessly. Speeding up a little as I go. The things I'm doing to sort of reinvent my playing are very similar to these exercises. Thanks for the tips!

[@jz4901]

Hey Brian, thanks for checking out the video. These ingrained habits are hard to shake, but with mindful work I believe it's possible. Troy Grady made some great comments (pinned a few months back), and I think everyone needs to find the right way for themselves. No magic key/secret, just continued searching and trying, pushing but not pushing. Best of luck with your playing and practicing. Cheers! jz

[@adkato77]

Wow! Thanks SO much for making this video. Ive been playing since I was 12, and a few years ago I was diagnosed with focal dystonia which had totally put a halt on my guitar playing pretty much altogether. Nothing but constant tension in my wrist and arm. These exercises have been teaching me how to relax my arm while playing and started giving me hope again! I appreciate it!

[@jz4901]

Hey there, it's always gratifying to receive a message like this, so thank you very much! I too had massive massive tension, and didn't even know it. It's not a silver bullet fix to any problems, but it certainly helps you become aware of what's going on. If you can find a hands-on teacher whose playing you *really admire*, that should help too. Best wishes!

[@AlfarAwayMusic]

Thank you 👌

[@jz4901]

Cheers and best wishes!

[@AlfarAwayMusic]

​@@jz4901 💕

[@hammesl6557]

Hi just came across your channel. I woupd like to start by thanking you and congratulating you on the great video. More lessons on technique and theory like harmony, chord building ect would be amazing if that suits you of course. Thanks again!

[@LifestyleCoachingWithDonna]

Excellent video.

[@jz4901]

Thank you! I hope it gives you some ideas for your own playing. Cheers and best wishes!

[@rustammansurov8198]

It's a pity, that you stopped working on this subject. Absolutely brilliant idea of transferring methods from teaching piano. I read your article, enjoyed the development of ideas. Please, do more vids on this subject. I hope you have new ideas as two years have passed. Keep in mind, that when you simply introduce the ideas of relaxation and improving brain = fingers connection it requires a different level of awareness from a person who tries to use it. This is a stumbling block. People like tg never reach that level of awareness.

[@Knightgil]

This is a truly excelent lesson that should be taught to every aspiring guitar player. I've been playing for about 11 years now and picking arm tension is my biggest drawback. There have been small moments when I felt so relaxed I could do a really fast tremolo picking, but they have been so quick I never figured out how to do them. Turns out, with these exercices I'm starting to rediscover that very fleeting sensation. I will definitely work on these, I hope I manage to finally overcome this tension.

[@jz4901]

Hi Fernando, super you've found this. It's very gratifying to get these comments so thanks for taking the time. I hope it helps, it's been very useful for me -- and I had the same long battle with tension as well. It's an ongoing thing, until we get the "relaxation response" programmed right into our reflexes. Best wishes, and ping if you have any questions or thoughts on these. Cheers! jz

[@relaxationandmotivation8744]

Bravo. je suis la première. vraiment j’adore votre contenu et je vais appliquée votre infos et je serai toujours avec vous.

[@RobTackettCovers]

Hi man...thanks for this video...I've tried the suggestions you provide in it and i really good think it is going to really help me gain faster picking...tried the short increments with resting in between...I think working on "focus with minimal physical effort", yet keeping the pick in proper position is a think I need to find that balance as well...thanks for this video and hope you and yours are doing great!

[@jz4901]

Cheers Rob, I think this vid is a good starting point, and I keep coming back to these ideas, even if I keep changing them! Check out Troy Grady's comment below (or above) as well, he really really knows his stuff. Best wishes! jz

[@playintheblueswithnatmartin]

Hi there, Thanks so much for this video! I stumbled upon it recently and am trying to work regularly on these ideas... Like you, I've been playing for many years and have had a huge tension problem for most of that time (I think)! I hold a lot of tension in my forearm, upper arm, shoulder and shoulder blade and I think the knock effect of all of this makes it very hard for me to pick or strum effectively - my arm and wrist feel like they are fused into one big thing! Is it likely that these exercises can help me with the tension I'm experiencing at all? Many thanks and all the very best.

[@jz4901]

Hey there thanks for the note! You and I probably have the same tendency to “lock up” - perhaps thinking that means more control. Not sure. It’s a tough habit to break but it can be broken, just have to keep being mindful. It’s a matter of discovering the appropriate amount of engagement for everything. I think these ideas can help … takes patience and continual noticing and adjusting, and if you have a good teacher who can give you hands on guidance, all the better! Cheers and best wishes, jz

[@playintheblueswithnatmartin]

@@jz4901 Hi Jeff, thanks so much for your reply! I think your assessment of the situation is probably quite accurate! I will keep going - I have 'made it work' for playing faster passages for years but I always hit a brick wall at a certain tempo! If anything, I'd just like playing the guitar to be comfortable and not the opposite! Thanks for your advice and encouragement and all the best! Nat