The CORRECT Way To Use Your "Arm" To Pick Fast AF

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This picking hand tip is about a huge mistake guitarists make that makes it near impossible to build real speed.
But I'm not gonna split hairs over pick slanting, wrist angles or any other minutia, because…
… this tip is about a gross motor movement. And sooooo many people get it wrong, I can only wonder why EVERY guitar teacher isn’t screaming off the rooftops about it.
Meanwhile, I correct this in my students in a matter of minutes and make them play faster almost instantly.
Hint: if you follow the “use your wrist on a single string & your arm to change strings” mantra…
…you are in the “high-risk group” of guitarists affected by what I'm talking about.

[@exurosanctus]

Thanks, man, great advice. I've been playing for 26 years and have always used my bicep to shred and tremolo pick. Once I got really serious about practicing sweeps and was practicing around 2 hours a day for 2 months straight, I developed bicep tendonitis and now I haven't been able to play for a week. I went back to look at the hundreds of videos that I'm playing and you can see my shoulder moving in every one of them. I knew my technique was wrong for a long time but now I am forced to relearn this way or I won't be able to play at all. Thanks again, I thought my life was ruined...

[@Eskimogunslinger]

Awesome video mate, I feel more relaxed already 👍

[@DragonBiscuit]

If only KZbin existed when I was young… You would have saved me many years of frustration. Fantastic videos and instruction that is detailed in a way far beyond anything I have ever encountered over decades of searching for answers on this topic. Thank you so much for generously sharing your expertise

[@tmarti3207]

Thank you! Extremely useful

[@nickkapatais]

Hi Mike. Great tip. We need a video on how to find the right sitting position. I know how you hold the guitar in your videos but for most of us that causes the neck to be more vertical than horizontal so that might take some getting used to. Nevertheless, your tips on finding a good sitting position would be appreciated by most of us I think.

[@tgstk2]

Your video’s are extremely helpful, but the Edits are funny AF

[@belaci73]

Who the f is Edit?😁

[@r.p.7283]

Thank you!!!!!!!!!🎸😃😎

[@ezequieltheman2477]

I realize that the elbow picking technique works out for me much more than the wrist one

[@marioarodrigues3281]

awesome very nice

[@ourclarioncall]

I think your guitar tone sounds great doing fast sweep picking. You have fantastic sweeping technique 👍 Videos are great too, packed full of content

[@transparent6748]

Hi Mike.. I still feel my sitting position is somehow wrong for certain techniques like legato and then perfect for picking with a relaxed shoulder..maybe a dedicated video of this in the future..love your inspiring video 👍

[@ourclarioncall]

I’ve jumped back and forth between left and right legs and positions. I have found a position that I really like and is super comfortable by modifying my guitar bodies to work on a prototype Basically I just cut about 4 to 6 inches off the body with a saw ! It looks horrendous but it feels great once you get used to it . No need for a footstool. The neck is not sticking out too far to the left where you feel your overstretched or have to tilt the neck up in a more extreme angle to bring everything closer to you . Also my pick hand and forearm rests nicely on my leg or body . My shoulders are not being pulled anywhere, my neck and shoulders are very free and without tension. I am looking at getting custom guitars made and I feel a 3/4 size body with a full size neck which has been moved deeper into the body to make it look proportional and feel comfortable is the way to go I played one of my students Ibanez gio 3/4 size guitars on my left leg like in this video and it felt Fantastic. The neck was very good too , but not for adults . A full size Ibanez neck on a 3/4 Ibanez body on the left leg would be a dream to play

[@ewljr]

What I’ve noticed is to have the guitar strap setup so that it is same height whether sitting or standing. I use left leg (classical) sitting just bc it’s more comfortable to me and it mimics the height of my guitar standing as well

[@wdesamero]

Great and useful technique. What about the level of the guitar strap

[@NeinFeline]

New sub

[@erickvasquez1147]

Mike, I just want to give some props really quick. Never in my couple years of picking up the guitar as a 15 year old ( Now 18 ) have I seen a guitarist who is as well versed in his guitar playing as he is in his health. Whenever you see a guitarist you typically see a frail/overweight individual as if playing guitar somehow makes you lose interest in your own health. You defy that sir & give me inspiration to defy those odds too.

[@leeDs718]

as of now you have 66.6 subscribers 🤘

[@anushkumar4994]

Where should i rest my palm when picking top low strings .. because sometimes It seems like players resting their palm completely on the strings or is it the bridge?

[@user-lb3dl4iu6h]

I tried it and the back side of your shoulder is getting tired i dont get it

[@nicreven]

i've been switching strings with my wrist this whole time...

[@rmckee22]

No wonder its so hard to master guitar, there is so much conflicting information out there. I just watched a Tom Hess video where he shows a guy to do the exact opposite where he moves his arm to change stings and not the elbow

[@HowToPracticeGuitar]

Sign up for my (free) email newsletter and I'll write an email about this. Sign up here: practiceguitarnow.com/speed The email will go out Wednesday morning 1:05am EST.

[@Homie3794]

This video is just wrong. In the Guthrie clip specifically you can see he's lifting his arm. If you inspect his elbow you notice the angle doesn't change, but you can clearly see his arm going up and down. Same with this guys own example.

[@Homie3794]

Arm raising is practically required if you want to hit the low E string at an angle.

[@alldaylong7107]

jesus man... if you're going to have video clips, perhaps make an effort to match the volume?