Speed Picking Tips You Need To Know | Alternate Picking | Guitar Lesson | Steve Stine | Tim Pierce

www.timpierce.com/masterclass...
For Steve’s Guitar Courses, visit: www.guitarzoom.com
Steve Stine and I met briefly at the Sweetwater Gearfest earlier this summer and we decided to collaborate.
He set up the split screen technology and we did an online lesson where he coached me on a number of strategies to improve my right hand alternate picking.
I knew Steve would be great but he was beyond great and offered an incredible amount of helpful tips and training...
Thanks again to all of you who keep signing up for the Masterclass, we are going strong..
Thanks so much for all your support!
Tim
Thanks so much for all your support
www.timpierce.com
/ timpierceguitar
/ timpierceguitar

[@bitario723]

As a physical therapist, when I want someone to relax a certain body part, I have them tense up as much as they can, and then relax. Then, most people can really feel the difference. The same would apply to guitar picking. I hope that helps someone.

[@EddieHazel87]

As a player and teacher I’m definitely going to start using this.

[@SlightlyTechnical]

This helps me thank you have a injury to my left fretting hand after 20 years of playing on and off relearning now to play being aware of the tension in my body and practicing putting the tension on my bicep

[@ferrinbonn]

This says everything you need to know about becoming a great player. Tim has already had an incredible career and he's still identifying his weakest areas and looking for ways to improve. Awesome!

[@BeavistheLizard]

Defo, Never give up, every day is a school day ;) I remember seeing a Malmsteen instructional Video before and he was still warp speed even in the slow parts but he did show the rotation form the elbow for his picking technique (i remember his bracelets jangling about) But it is so hard to go back and try to pick like that... its painfully slow when you can already kinda rip a little! But I will try!

[@imadumas2]

Oh to be as accomplished as Tim and still be so humble...sign of true greatness1

[@ianforsyth6513]

Thankyou Tim your helping me lots with my playing , after 50 years of playing I finally feel like I’m getting somewhere 🤣keep up the awesome videos buddy Cheers

[@luisvillarreal5262]

What an honor it is for Steve Stine to be asked for help on alternate picking by the master guitarist Tim Pierce. Tim you are the man and by asking for instruction on a particular guitar technique on the level you are, is only human, no matter how great you may be. Other great players may be too prideful and not want to show any weakness they may have. Thank you for sharing this with us viewers. Keep up the great work Tim.

[@GuitarFuel]

I found Steve in 2013, and I have not stopped following his less... he is a master at teaching

[@Producelikeapro]

Tim! You are a true inspiration! If someone like you is still pushing themselves to improve then that really inspires me to get better and better! Thank you ever so much!!

[@benher973]

It's really really cool to see these guys together teaching us.

[@dudleydevine8264]

A really great lesson. You two have got to be some of my favourite guys. Thank you so much. Dudley, England

[@dusty3913]

For a real pro like Tim to expose a weakness for everyone to see is a great lesson in what it means to be down-to-earth. This concept of one pro helping another is very cool and inspiring.

[@gbainsy384]

Humble & Humility join forces. My two favourite KZbin guitar teachers! Good stuff Gents!

[@jeffgarrison7056]

Agreed! I love these 2 guys! I'm actually surprised that with how Tim Pierce has the wherewithal and willingness to admit that with how insanely amazing he is and all of his professional experience. No one would ever call him out on it, but he was willing to be upfront and honest with himself and us about the areas in his playing. I have been guilty of the same exact thing. I knew that I should have been using a metronome for years, but I was content with being able to Shred even though it was a little sloppy from time to time. Now I feel compelled to put the work in and do it right. Thanks fellas!!!

[@davidvigna5139]

Wow, my two online teachers together. What a great Saturday treat. Thanks guys!

[@StealthParrot]

I find Steve Stine is a really inspiring teacher. He makes everything sound so simple when you break things down properly. Really great video!

[@patrickfoster4586]

Steve was born to be a great guitar teacher! He has incredible skills and the ability to get concepts across to even novice players all while being so encouraging. Add in Tim's unreal abilities and instinctively perfect commentary and you have a truly great collaboration. Hope to see more of these soon!

[@BurnleyNuts]

Shows as guitarists, we never ever stop learning.

[@james99118]

Experts learning from experts ! This is awesome

[@awittypilot8961]

Some food for thought....I'm 67 and have the best teacher I've ever known right now. My fingers will never go the speeds that Steve and Tim have but sometimes fast sounds like spaghetti to me. Tim is one of the most melodic players I have ever seen. Roger Fischer, Spider Davis....many players hardly ever play fast. But they damn sure have the melodic licks. THAT is my main goal. Maybe pick up a little speed but shredding is not and never will be for me. Right hand left hand coordination comes hard..... But it is good to see lessons like this. Rock on

[@johnnyfreedom4117]

Lot's of great nuance nuggets gentlemen! Been a Stine fan for a long time, and Steve, you should let your personality out more, because it's awesome. Have some fun and be more direct and intentional like this video. Thank you both.

[@DH-zw6vz]

I've been listening to Tim for years. Pick up his Guitar Land record. Amazing! Everything he plays is incredible. Probably the most adaptable guitar player on the planet. My brother is friends with Tim and works with him on occasion. He said that not only is Tim one of the finest musicians anywhere, he is a wonderful person. Tim, thanks for your musicianship and all the great music over the years. You are one of a kind!

[@jeffgarrison7056]

I love these 2 guys! I'm actually surprised that with how Tim Pierce has the wherewithal and willingness to admit that with how insanely amazing he is and all of his professional experience. No one would ever call him out on it, but he was willing to be upfront and honest with himself and us about the areas in his playing. I have been guilty of the same exact thing. I knew that I should have been using a metronome for years, but I was content with being able to Shred even though it was a little sloppy from time to time. Now I feel compelled to put the work in and do it right. Thanks fellas!!!

[@arthurmee]

Totally agree. I admire and respect Tim for that.

[@chrisjelley6899]

Great video. Aside from the super helpful dive into the mechanics of picking, hearing such great guitar players say "I need to work on..." is sooo inspiring. Thanks to you both, ( and Paul Davids) for all the love you share.

[@ineluki79]

Some important points mentioned here, but let me tell you my own story: i've struggled with crossing the strings for more than 20 years of playing until i saw Troy Grady's videos where he analyzes what the great shredders do: pick slanting is the secret! Without that you will probably not be able to cross the strings really fast. After i started involving it things worked out REALLY well really soon. Just to mention a missing important technique. So i would recommend everyone to watch Troy's series: it is the holy grail of learning how to pick fast in my opinion.

[@THEtimguitartaylor]

At 10.44, he describes it slightly differently, but the concept he is covering IS pick slanting.

[@RockHardRiffs]

Being relaxed is basically the key to most anything. Aaaand.....don’t forget to breathe! Enjoyed the video!

[@KJT3000]

I'm a Guitarist...and I've known of Steve Stine for years, but I've been watching him a lot lately. And it's SO weird how we both approach the guitar in the same way. Our approach to technique and priority in learning I even used the Petrucci picks, and now I use "Flow". If I could teach I would probably sound like Stine, lol

[@kitano0]

My screen is freezing up from the magnificent coolness of Steve and Tim...

[@babetteleblanc7620]

Yes, please do it again with Steve. This is excellent.

[@creeker90]

What a great and humble teacher!

[@doyleallen3762]

That was great! Tim, I love how you play your part when others are teaching to help others focus on the little but just as important things. Excellent!

[@brianorion505]

Such a blessing to watch these great guitarist that have such humble attitudes. Thanks guys! 😁

[@tonyspada2744]

Years ago Steve Morse gave me some of his picks which were 1mm and loved them. When I signed with Ernie Ball they made me picks like Steve's signature picks which allow me to play very fast and clean.I never never use a metronome with students😵‍💫 🎸🎶

[@Gene_Cali]

Stuff like this is really where focused students of guitar separate themselves from everyone else. I Thank both of you for sharing your time and talent.

[@hendrikbisschoff]

this a great!! thank you Tim and Steve!

[@dickdastardly2560]

This is what makes Tim a great player, even as good as he is he's always trying to improve and he has no ego or problem seeking out help from other players. Steve brought up a great point which is for the first 15-30 minutes (depending on your skill level and ability) of picking up the guitar you're actually Pre-Warming up before you actually start practicing, and that statement is coming from Pro- Level players, for the beginner -intermediate players it may take longer to get in sync and loose. I always laugh when I see ads "Claiming" that you can learn how to play guitar in "Just 30 Minutes a Day", which is possible if you want to spend the next 2-3 years, you only get out what you put into something. Just about every great guitar player started as a teenager and they spent hours and hours every day just practicing and playing, as an adult you really don't have that kind of time to dedicate, just remember the more you practice the faster you'll learn and better you'll get. So PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.

[@stevehall3410]

Watching steve lukather inspired me to improve my picking technique. The Toto song “stop loving you” has a fantastic riff in it by Luke which is great practice for the right hand.

[@andrewfetterley1933]

A fantastic and extremely articulated lesson guys! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and time!

[@pcaudio]

WOWOWOW!!! This was just absolutely incredible! Steve and Tim... you are both amazing. Thanks so much!

[@damonreynolds6775]

So much here it's mind blowing. Makes it clear why great standout players tend to have one type of setup, strings, even one instrument/type etc for long periods of time. They build muscle memory and skill that doesn't transfer on the fly to multiple instruments.

[@superchicken5000]

Great video! It makes me feel kind of good to know that even a great player like Tim struggles sometimes. Gives me hope in a way... Thanks Steve and Tim!

[@brucelittle3958]

Tim thanks for having Steve explain---he is tremendous like yourself!

[@danp6346]

Evolution of your Channel is a blooming flower

[@dapperdanman1956]

Very cool lessons to learn thanks Tim Pierce, and steve

[@sunburntaquaticape6694]

great video, It is undoubtedly the stripping down to the foundations and focusing on the mechanical basics and changing postures previously developed by habit that we can tweak and make great improvements in the full execution of our playing. thanks for making me aware of this, looking forward to seeing you hook up with Steve again in the future. best wishes.

[@markknoop777]

This is the most comprehensive lesson I've seen on alternate picking speed. Wish I'd seen this 2 years ago!

[@JBDebtFree]

Love your tone and skill Tim! Cool that you have Steve sharing. He has taught me so much! Thanks for your dedication to this channel. Love it!

[@iskanderboulila4453]

I just love Tim's guitar playing...fells honnest and kind of innocent but gets pretty badass at some turnovers!! most musical, melodic and humble guitar player i know.

[@joseph-ow1hf]

wow, what a treat to find 2 of my favorite guitar/music teachers together in one vid. I 2nd previous comments that it says a lot about a person when a seasoned pro like Tim feels like there is room for improvement. I've commented on Steve's site that I think he's great at explaining things as he is doing here. Thanks guys!

[@lafforsigh]

These were the best tips and considerations on alternate picking I've seen. I actually gained more finesse in my picking technique while watching this video! I highly recommend the Masterclass and checking out Steve's courses....they've both enhanced my playing skills greatly thanks to both of them!

[@bosco5469]

Do you realize how helpful you both are in this video...amazing advice from pro's...you are helping me tremendously...thank u so much

[@67foxcharlie]

Excellent video. Very informative!!!! Thanks.

[@vicpnut1]

Tim you’ve just reinvigorated me to,practice these ....I’m a long time subscriber to Steve Stine’s lessons and being relatively new with guitar ...and honestly at times very lazy with practice...... I’ve seen these exercises from steve before, but not spent near enough time with it .seeing you going through the exercises and possibly still finding a way to still improve is inspirational ,for me . If it can help you and you think it’s worth your energy , as great as you are , I definitely need to get going on it

[@scottgrzych7986]

This tutorial answered a lot of questions for me, thank you!

[@dulla8469]

im 10 minutes in, and while ive been practicing everything he said while watching the video, i can seriously play a major scale faster than i ever could but also accurately and not sloppy

[@vishyoutubevideos]

i love it. Tim, one of the best guitarists out there, playing the role of beginner level student!

[@bosco5469]

Tim and Steve ..this was just great...please do more on technique...just loved it..fan of both of you..!❤

[@Zolbat]

What an inspiring video! Here sits Tim, having been on countless great records, with virtuosity and skill, and still he learns with the joy of a beginner, things a beginner should and can learn too. I've been hard on myself the past couple of days for not improving or even doing worse, but now it all makes much more sense (forgot to warm up). Some of these tips I knew, but some are new and I'm grateful.

[@thestereoclub6735]

I love the format. The give and take works well.

[@wjniemi]

Great video. Thank you for mentioning FOCUS, the biggest time leak in many musicians' practice routine.

[@jayguitar]

Hi Tim, this was so amazing! Such an inspiration! 😊 playing for me has been a constant state of awareness, learning, evolving, improving and moving forward - I try to impart that on my students as well. I check myself every few months to make sure I am moving forward and doing something new and adding to my playing/videos/songwriting, etc. In 3 months time I want to be doing something new! I want it to make me smile and feel that I have evolved as a musician. And its so inspiring to see a player of your calibre and standing doing that! I feel that It is a great lesson for every musician out there! Doesn't matter how experienced or good we get at what we do, how many years we have played for... there is always something new to learn and add to our playing 😊 Its a fantastic, endless journey 🙏 Thanks for sharing the video and have an amazing day man!

[@3RingRaiders]

this is awesome 2 of my most favorite guitar masters in one lesson thanks guys cant wait to get home and practice this.

[@hesekie1]

Steve is a great and intense teacher

[@stevelarsen4526]

Steve and Tim..Thx guys. Really good video/advice.👍

[@kevinmorris7722]

Love watching Tim. I'm new at it. Been watching Steve for quite awhile. Simply due to what I was searching. Steve IS a wonderful teacher and player. Glad to see you work together. Tim is my song writer player hero. We'll maybe Steve, we'll maybe Tim. .. Best video. Even top level pros look for advice. No wonder they're so so good at it.

[@everybodyplayguitar]

Great video. Considering the remarkable career you’ve had Tim, this really reflects the character & humility it requires to be successful. Thanks for being a great example & inspiration.

[@McphersonStompboxes]

Great lesson, loved the pre-practice concept, really helpful, thanks Tim!

[@lkb3rd]

Steve is a great teacher and Tim you are a humble good student! We all picked up some great tips.

[@gorimus]

Tim you are one of the best guitarists on KZbin interms of your melodic phrasing and versatility of styles you can play. And you are pretty fast. I'd listen to you play anyday over the mindless shredders on KZbin, but like your spirit to keep pushing your boundaries. Very inspiring!

[@abfranklin8492]

Tim is a humble dude. Steve is a great teacher. Both smokin players.

[@mikemorrison3791]

This might be the best video simply because it’s amazing to see one of the best session guitarists, incredibly accomplished, working on exactly the same things I am working on now. It also tells me - there are other things I can and should be able to play smoothly, articulately and fluidly - without having my alternate picking at Paul Gilbert levels which is what I have been spending hours on. After all - we’ve all seen Tim play some incredible lines at high speeds. So now Tom - need to understand how to do just that for us mortals who still haven’t reached the levels of alternate picking we want.

[@MaynardOwns]

Also these videos are amazing for the mere fact, Tim whom most of us think is already a master is willing to sit and learn new things and improve.

[@MitchHaman]

Wow. What great video. Tim Pierce who is world recognized and has played with a lot of the top artist's man kind has ever known, even you try to get better. If this video is not an inspiration, nothing is. Thank you so much Mr. Pierce.👍 👍 👍 👍

[@evanward4303]

EVH's technique of tucking in the middle, ring and pinky and turning out the top of your wrist is my favourite. You can still palm mute effectively.

[@stephenpwilson1930]

This is great, thank you. I always thought my pick was slow but it's my left hand. Brilliant

[@FrancisRoy]

I love your humility. Inspiring. Thanks

[@johnroberts838]

Brilliant video, Thank you Tim, Thank you Steve.👍👍👍. Melbourne, Australia.

[@sorenahlback]

Great tech tips from two of my favorite KZbin guitarists. 🎸🎸

[@CesarAllGuitar]

Another great one, Tim.

[@kevinhaley5624]

You both are very inspirational instructors! great vid guys!

[@Kipperbob]

Just pointed the only pick I could find on a grinder, works a treat, Thanks!

[@Jazman342]

This made me go dig out the 'Solofire' DVD set I bought years ago. Have not looked at it in years but remember there were a lot of good hammer on and pull off exercises in it to strengthen the weaker left hand fingers (ring and pinkie). Sounds like a good combination of skills to work on.

[@joekyleboston]

My two great teachers together at last! So happy you are collaborating. Thank you. Now if you could bring in Rick Beato and Pebber Brown all the planets would be aligned. So thrilled you and Steve are doing these videos for us. We're out here, we are grateful.

[@kitano0]

Rick is a great guy, but damn, he's so smart...he's in his own league. Well, him and Adam Neely.

[@joeyride58]

Joseph Kyle ... ...Dito on Beato !!!

[@timpierceguitar]

Don't know pebber(i'll check him out) but Rick Beato is one of my favorites!!!

[@slowpoke7888]

Joseph Kyle I haven't heard of PB; I'll have to check him out. Brett Papa, Steve Stine and Tim Pierce are my main teachers. I like to learn general non-guitar-specific stuff from Rick Beato but sometimes he gives me a headache.

[@jewelsreumund3254]

Great video for remembering the basics which allot of us forget about

[@scottydog62]

Thank you Tim and Steve for the awesome lesson, it's refreshing to watch an accomplished guitarist like yourself Tim take a lesson, I heard Eric Johnson does that , every town he performs in he takes a lesson from a local guitar teacher, can you imagine giving Eric Johnson a guitar lesson? I guess that's why he is so good.

[@Skypie61]

Make practice fun, walk up & octaves...Brilliant. Steve & Tim, great combo...👍🎸🎸🎸

[@humblegeorge]

FREAK'IN AWESOME !!!!!! at 62 I was happy I did really well with my PRS West street LTD :>)

[@Michael_Dominic]

you're a godsend tim. thanks for everything.

[@rockandrollrabbit]

Awesome demo of technique exercises 🤙

[@josephvega3763]

This is freakin awesome!!!! Wow gents 👏 🙌!!!!

[@autocrow]

Great questions and observations from Tim. That really helps to understand what Steve is talking about. Two teachers are better than one. : )

[@ablacon64]

30 years ago a young guitar player called Paul Gilbert did a lesson exactly of that picking hand syncing exercise. The lick is still very largely used by every single modern guitar teacher today. 30 years fellas! Paul Gilbert was, and still is, amazing!

[@deepspacetheater]

Tim, this was a fun visit and a good topic, so I'd like to add my perspective: I'm primarily left-handed but play right-handed, so I've worked hard to develop speed. The pick is important, like Steve says, and my favorite is the Dunlop Ultex Sharp in the 2.0 (or the 1.4) thickness. However, while I agree with Steve that the minute rotation of the picking hand can produce a rapid movement, on its own it's best when applied to a single string. So, I'll suggest two additions: One should try to maintain the same relative geometry between the hand, the pick and the string for each string that's picked, whereby the hand (which is elevated instead of being wrist-anchored) moves from string to string and the picking motion remains unchanged. Also, we can incorporate sliding as a replacement for the picking of directly fingered notes within scale runs. I think it works very well because, for me, it produces the same volume. As for pentatonic licks of the kind you do so very well, don't worry about picking single notes. Alternatively, you can use a hybrid approach. Hybrid picking makes it easy to play ridiculously fast. Thanks again, Tim. You're a good guy, and great presenter and a fabulous guitar player.

[@stevenmeldrum1944]

Tim, I’m a subscriber to your online lessons, from Scotland. One thing I’ve learned about the pursuit of speed on the guitar is this: how much speed do you think you need as a musician and why do you need it? For example, does the music you love and aspire to use speed? Some great genres of guitar never have anything faster than semiquavers at 120 bpm.

[@MusicTherapyLaz]

Steve Stine is a tireless awesome teacher man! Love that guy! Great video and so cool you sharing how even the best can learn to be better! :-)

[@gordonburns454]

You are the groove Man.

[@udamann88]

Hey Tim, I really appreciate you & all the help & inspiration you provide. I’ve heard your name for years & didn’t know much about you , but I’m a loyal follower. I found you thru Pete Thorn too!!! 👊🏼❌👍🏼

[@KingGrio]

Tim ! I'm developing my alternate picking from admiring people like Paul Gilbert, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci (...) and I'm having moderate success after 5 years of trying ! My most important finding is: everybody's hands are different and what muscles are the driving force for your fast playing may be entirely different than any of your heroes/instructors. The technique I found that works reliably for me has pretty much nothing to do with how all these shredders describe their hands work. More bad news: the right motion for me was not the most intuitive or obvious, it also does not match what my eyes think my hand should be doing when I look at it, and it also does not match what my "mind's eye" thinks it should feel like (I'm hinting at Steve telling you "it's not a handshake motion, but a twist"). So finding the right motion for you actually involves discarding what your eyes give you as feedback for what should be the right motion, and also telling your mind that "any type of muscle movement is an option on the table for getting results, not just the ones I think are the intuitive ones". To find your technique you must be very open minded to what movement is "right" or is "allowed" as you test and explore how your hand/arm works. Also, when doing these tremolo exercises you've been doing: accenting the first note of the bar is very important for you to identify the consistent motion that works for you, because it's easy to seize up and just have a spasm type motion that you cannot play in time and controlled with although it sounds fast. If you cannot consistently accent the first note of the bar: your technique is not reliable. While doing this, I found a technique for me that worked... only when I started on an upstroke ! I have taught myself to implement a kind of "curl your wrist inward" component of my picking stoke to enable myself to do these tremolo exercises while accenting with a downstroke. It was very awkward and unnatural for me, and it actually still is: I have more of a natural upstroke oriented picking hand. All that being said: fast picking is hard, it takes a long time to develop and requires learning to know yourself, more than imitating what people with different physiology than you achieve with technique that only work for their bodies. I think almost anybody can do it, but finding the technique that works for you is a long inner search. Finally: I love to hear you play ! I think you have some of the most exciting solos out there, including flashy fast things, and it inspires me greatly that you achieve all of it without having a machine gun style picking hand. It reminds me that fast picking stuff is not actually the most important thing, and helps me stay focused on what actually matters: good groove, good melodies, good improv instincts ! Peace !

[@avielkharrat5788]

Tim, you're awesome !

[@tubo777]

Great video, for this topic , Troy Grady´s channel has the most comprehensive explanations of all things picking, taken from the greatest players.

[@jammergreg]

Two guys I learned a lot from & and I've been playing 50 some years. I learned rather slow but once I get it, I got it!

[@nedim_guitar]

I saw a tip on how to sharpen your pick. I think it was in a video by Marty Schwartz. You just rub it a few times on a carpet, 3-5 times on each side of the point, and it'll be a lot sharper. Also, in a recent Tim Pierce video with Floyd Rose, I started thinking about the depth that the pick goes inbetween strings. It should really be just the tip, as shallow as possible. And do everything relaxed.

[@brettneuberger6466]

Two of the nicest guys on KZbin here.