You CAN Tremolo Pick - Tremolo Picking Troubleshooting

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[@manosassassin]

Thank you so much for this video Simon. You really helped me out a lot. A whole lot actually. I've been playing for 3 years, but my trem technique was non existent. That's a pretty big handicap for a Black/Death metal fan. It's been 2 months since I tried the tips in this video, and I feel like I am a completely new guitar player. You have no idea how much this affects my mental health, in a very good way. I am so happy that I can finally play some songs from my favorite bands. Hell I even started recording some material of my own. It's all thanks to you. You've helped and inspired me so much. I cannot thank you enough. I am having so much fun. As soon as I finally get that 7-string Jackson I've been eyeballing, I'm definitely buying your guitar course. You've helped me so much, it's the least I can do. Thanks again. You're the best.

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

That's awesome man!! So glad my tips helped!!

[@genzeuronymous7787]

BlAcK dEaTh MeTaL, are you a black metal fan or not? Obviously not because no black metal fan would say what you’re saying

[@randomdude93-93]

@@genzeuronymous7787 He clearly put a "/" there to indicate he's a fan of both. Don't be a tool, guy.

[@SaladPizzaRestaurant]

@@genzeuronymous7787 are you prone to strokes or something?

[@StoneBuzzard]

@@genzeuronymous7787 AHHHHH! SELF DEFENSE

[@AstronomyDomine]

This is not working. I need a new guitar

[@TheBaconWizard]

Probly need a new amp as well, tbh

[@maxwelch3791]

Get the new placebo pedal. It's done wonders for my playing.

[@akreates8100]

Nice profile picture

[@theFriendlyGhst]

Maybe one with more strings...

[@dbombaable]

haha

[@metal_monocle7334]

I'm a lousy, lazy and uninspired guitarist. Yet for some reason, one of the few tricks I have "mastered" is tremolo. For some reason, that part always came easy to me. So yes, if I can learn it: so can YOU!

[@farhangemamifar9190]

keep up the good work. I love tremolo but I tried to spend time more on speed picking after I learned the tremolo.

[@devinrowe5537]

That's because its literally just picking but faster.

[@TheCultofshiva]

Lol lazy and lousy, uninspired too. The fact that you managed to learn to play the guitar means that you have put in the work and trem picking also means practicing a lot to get a decent sounding riff. A lot of people stop learning guitar because it doesn't come easy in the beginning. So no guitar player is lazy or uninspired, and lousy we all are time to time. And say you can't do crazy solos but you have some tremolo picking techniques and riff skills unique to yourself, you rockstar !!!

[@farhangemamifar9190]

@@devinrowe5537 It's not faster. I mean the picking hand in tremolo is faster than the speed picking. In speed pucking you hit every note once but in tremolo you can hit every not few times. So your right hand picks faster while playing tremolo. But in speed picking your left hand must be so quick.

[@devinrowe5537]

@@farhangemamifar9190 yeah the hand that picks....picks faster....its picking but faster.

[@besnardowski5912]

One of the best guitar channels in my opinion!

[@josh_fisher]

Next to Ola, I agree.

[@downfallofmankind]

Simon's is definitely a go-to channel for black metal while Ola's is one for more general heavy metal/thrash metal imo

[@triggerdigga5682]

Yes and yes.....

[@Nergal_Slayer]

Definitely

[@The_Metal_Heritic]

Hail Satan 😂🤘⛧

[@Jaiwho]

thank you for being our "black metal guitar tutorial" youtuber !!!

[@johnperry9082]

This lesson is GOLD! As I'm a wannabe surf guitar player your tips are really working for me. Also using the amps drive a little is something I hadn't realized helps a lot too.

[@apuapustaja3503]

Thank you Simon, every time im playing and my arm gets tired I remember "barely touching the strings" Helped me a lot

[@AdamAdam-wj2mg]

If you dont have a soldering iron like me just take a fork and heat the tip with a lighter. Worked for me.

[@MaximumJoy]

Good advice!

[@gabziu3161]

Instructions unclear, my dog is torturing me with that fork. S O S

[@bullfrogboss8008]

Or you just buy a textured pick, those are widely available in many versions

[@TheEpicSceptic]

@@bullfrogboss8008 not kvlt enough. What you really want to do is get a nice sharpened wooden stake, set it on fire and carve the holes in that way.

[@fouter81]

@@TheEpicSceptic In the shape of an inverted cross I assume?

[@D3struktor]

Tremolo picking is the first thing I was doing on guitar xD

[@flyingtowel807]

I've also been following your channel for some time and I've extracted what I consider really good tremolo picking exercises from your videos that I've applied to my own practice schedule. These are notably, the Satyricon mother north main riff, Enslaved vetrarnott riff, Darkthrone hans siste vinter riff, Emperor I am the black wizards riff, and a couple of other riffs from your string skipping exercise videos. Collectively I think they are wonderful riffs that cover all manner of tremolo picking and string skipping, and I've built it up to a consistent 150bpm so far by drilling them. I really appreciate all the invaluable content you've uploaded over the years! My main obstacle at this point is whenever the thickest string is briefly involved in a riff (mother north, vetrarnott), there's just something about it's tension and thickness that trips me up sometimes, specifically at the moment of returning to one of the thinner strings. Have you ever encountered this yourself? Also, I'm surprised you didn't go into detail about the type/shape of pick. Would you say it's not of primary importance? After practicing so long with dunlop flows and jazz III's, if I try to use a typical 351 type pick or even a flat tortex it just feels (and sounds) awful, and get's stuck in the strings more. Thanks again for supreme content.

[@cosminache96]

Thank you so much for this video, after trying countless techniques, you made me realise that I haven't been placing my forearm properly on my guitar. This really affected my tremolo picking accuracy and now I can do it so much more accurately!! Thank you once more!

[@JvG0]

Thanks for the exercise, I tried building up my speed by starting at 80 bpm 16th notes and gradually increasing it but I kept losing count at higher speeds and playing sloppy. Your exercise of playing 7 4th notes and 4 16th notes and increasing the amount of 16th notes made it way easier for me. It also helped me think of tremolo picking in groups of 4 which made counting way easier.

[@nickbrack9354]

Mr Simon is the man of teaching black metal. Following him i can tremolo picking quite well. Thanks man.

[@matthewlee7071]

I just started playing about a month ago and been real into black metal for the last couple years and this is hands down the best channel for learning, so thank you

[@soaringblackbird4431]

Simon is the most devoted tutor ever! And yeah, tremolo picking is matter of training and technique.

[@chikenman320]

I'm just a few weeks into guitar and feeling like i'm getting better super fast. Learned this today, pretty bad at it right now but i'm sure i just need to practice a bit. Thank you for your tutorials :))

[@panzerfaust7672]

This video made my tremolo picking so much better, you focus on the small but super importanted stuff. Thanks again!

[@JONWAMBO]

I really appreciate the time you took to break this technique down. I've been struggling to develop stronger metal rhythm and lead technique after years of half hearted blues and rock noodling. Great tip on the pick mod as well. I had been super gluing small disks of 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper but this looks like an effective, cheaper, and more durable solution.

[@neilmacdonald6637]

Simon, thank you! I have a solid grasp on a lot of metal riffing structures, but I never really got into playing black metal. Because of this my Tremolo picking has always been pretty shoddy. I've been really into black metal the past few years though, and I've been enjoying trying to develop it. Lots of good info in here

[@reay7224]

this is really useful! After trying a bunch of different ways of holding I've found the most comfortable for me, now I'm working on fretting and keeping my picking arm relaxed.

[@SilliestGuyToEverLiveTF]

when i first picked up classical guitar tremolo picking is one of the first things I picked up, anyone trying keep going! you can do it just gotta put in the practice and time :)

[@zachklepper6340]

Love this channel! Love the playing and tutorials! You're a black metal hero

[@mojofilter34]

I'm learning tremolo picking for some months now and I can see that there's progress already so imo you definitely can learn it if you really work on it. And btw a big thanks to you Simon, your lessons helped me a lot 🤘😈

[@noodle845]

Great detail in this video simon. This is what beginner/intermediate guitarists need. Thanks.

[@slavsterbater]

Such an underrated channel. Thanks for all your lessons!

[@THATDOOD420]

The soldering of the pick is the sickest idea and you are a genius sir

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Thanks 🤘

[@asmodeus.161]

That guitarr sounded crazyy 🔥🔥

[@jeremywynohradnyk4993]

Cool man been playing for about 20 years and found this very useful

[@edyrmishi]

I shred like a mofo on tremolo pickinig but i cant play simple chords 😅

[@DailyMotionBetter]

OPPOSITE!

[@Airtrooper719]

Im the complete opposite lol :(

[@fouter81]

I suck at both after 20 years of playing 😅

[@ilay829]

I feel ya buddy, It’s easy for me to arpeggio/shredding but I still struggles to switch from G major to D major.

[@oskartocha5127]

I found the Black Metal course in discount suddently and when i hit the button it changed into the full price but definitely looking forward to buy it as soon as possible cause every lesson i found here on YT and patreon was always really useful and well explained.

[@stefanansorg8220]

Great video!! You really explain how it can work, and the exercises help me very good to come along!

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Happy to help!

[@tomjackpaul8566]

Neat idea with the pick modification! Thanks for the video Simon

[@Abenjohar22]

Excellent lesson with great details

[@SickAsSieves]

I think you've unlocked something for me, even though I knew about all these different parameters I only tried changing on of them at a time. Thanks :)

[@cravenmoorehead3253]

This is quite helpful. Before KZbin, and getting zero advice, I decided to use the thinnest gauge pick to tremolo. A thin pick will not only help you learn the technique, but you can also graduate to thicker picks. …also, I tend to use one of the blunt ends of the pick. Just personal preference.

[@gmpsandw]

What you do to your picks is called stippling, we do it on polymer hand guns all the time. Great idea.

[@krypticviper1613]

Polymer you say Interesting…….

[@imlink7666]

The solution for me to tremolo picking was getting a thin pick like a Tortex .50mm or .60mm . Great tips about hand and forearm positioning .

[@boost219]

That’s funny. It was the opposite for me. I went from .60 to .88 and it felt way better

[@BlackPhillip666]

1.5mm JP Jazz III

[@TheRageCommenter]

I've been trying to play the tremolo part in Out of My Mind by Mayer and this tutorial helped a lot. Thanks!

[@AFXSnares]

Thanks a lot Simon, my main issue was the first one you addressed with the pick sliding. I'll give your latest trick a go.

[@zmike9831]

One of the best guitar vids out there

[@ChaosDC]

Best tutorial for this technique!! i just follow your approach and tried different positions and ways to hold the pick and guess what?? i don't know if this will work for everyone but i just changed the way i hold the pick, changed the index finger for the middle finger (the bad boy finger) like EVH used and for my surprise it worked absolutely perferct! Thanks so much for your teaching!

[@claytonbjork5687]

Thanks mate I'll check this stuff out..good video

[@heret1c385]

This helps me out with "Acrid Canon" by Archspire! I could get by with what I just naturally learned as tremolo picking, but for Acrid Canon I actually had to trouble shoot my technique. Thanks a lot!

[@sheevthewireless110]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@onutube6392]

I've got a sleeveless version of that exact maiden shirt

[@MrHajimeSaitou]

Perfect

[@wAVE1337]

I can tremolo pick yet i still watched the video Cuz i like the way he explains stuff

[@benislemenace473]

This video is fucking awesome, it's already having a positive effect on my playing (ironic when it's for black metal)

[@nachfullbarertrank5230]

I adjusted my technique to be like in this vid, basically I'm "semi-anchoring" to stay at one height and use pickslanting and arm lever motions to change strings. Works amazing, and the wrist motion is easier to do when my hand is slightly angled isn't entirely glued to the bridge. My only problem is that my hands are p smol, so I have to stretch when playing low E. Guess tremolo picking just doesn't work any other way, this is pretty similar to eddie van halen's tremolo lol

[@jyejye1077]

This was actually a wicked video man

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Cheers buddy

[@Asmogrim]

This was great! A nice followup would be tips on tremolo picking up and down across various strings. It's by far what I struggle with the most(for example, playing Jesus Tod)

[@Dirge4july]

Nice guitar 🤘🏻

[@brianzweizig1073]

Thanks again. After working on technique, it seemed easier if I didn't look down at the strings. Even doing up to 3 strings. And relaxing into it, hands, shoulders, etc.

[@infinidominion]

I love dunlop.73mm dark gray pics for the diamond plate grip 😁

[@NOWAYOUT441]

I usually use .88 Dunlop nylon, but for metal I lovvvveeee 1.0

[@mlugin8050]

Thanks that‘s helpful

[@radekderda4035]

This video is killer to similar technique videos. It shows that you must find your own way of playing

[@EmanatorofIX]

While in here. i train the tremolo picking for 7 years with an acoustic guitar without any pick.. but it still works.. never surrender is real

[@matheuzinog]

Here I am, in a video intended for black metal guitar, but I'm a bassist practicing to play Gojira

[@johnny5fingers0966]

As someone once said, "when I first started playing, I thought there was no way I could ever play tremolo. After years and years of discipline and countless hours of practice, and dedication, I can finally say without a doubt, I was 100% correct!!"

[@MACHETE_KILMISTER]

Thanks!!!!!

[@errriss]

Great lesson. Thank you! I’ll try to do it, my problem seems to be the angle of the pick and my forearm position. I try to change but my hand always goes back to the wrong position that makes it harder for me to play. Also the skin of my thumb touches the strings when I pick. I don’t seem to be able to fix that. I will also try thick plectrum because I heard that it helps to fix bad hand posture.

[@horseofunreason]

This was awesome, I have a acoustic but can't play for shit, but this video made me order an electric haha

[@savusukeltaja]

2:58 :D

[@genzeuronymous7787]

Ive found that "the fan" is usually better for playing single notes while "the fist" is better for chords. Im used to the fist and ive never ever had a problem tremolo picking chords, even 3 note chords where i have to strum 3 strings, just single notes. Ive also noticed that farvann does the fist more than the fan and he also does chords more often while you seem to be better at single notes and favor the fan. Ive always been fascinated by how you can tremolo pick single notes with such precision, even when you’re skipping strings, I’ll keep practicing, hopefully, i get better..

[@childrenoftheabzu]

Trem picking was one of the first things I learned. Not bragging just saying i got lucky i guess cause it came very easy to me with very little practice. Pinch harmonics were the same where i was doing them within minutes after learning the technique. Its all about how you hold the pick. This just came natural but after thinking about it the technique that he calls the circle with thumb on top and the bottom of the pick resting between your first two joints on your index finger is the way to go while resting your wrist on the bridge weather youre muting or not. Just tighten up on everything if that makes sense. i use this same set up for galloping. I began with "extreme" metal so I used this stuff A LOT Edit: tight circle, fan, wrist on bridge, slight tilt to the pick and no slant and tighten up on everything

[@gustavofring6176]

Thanks Heisenberg.

[@geashd777]

3 years of practice and still fully incapable of tremolo picking lol

[@lo3572]

What about palm muted tremolo picking? That’s what I find the most difficult part of metal guitar; fast 16th notes consistent palm muted tremolo picking at 180 bpm & above

[@chris_sndw]

Can't do much on the guitar. But tremolo picking is something that is rather easy. I guess I have to join a BM band now :)

[@user-mg8fn1bq9d]

Your name would be an issue. But there's always a precedent...Christian "Anti-Chrisitian" Svendsen used to play drums in Tsjuder lol 🤪

[@anurajlepcha7359]

Please make more videos on this topic

[@ByteRoster]

Thanks a bunch! Discussing angles really helped me figure out what was comfortable and repeatable for me.

[@TheCromulentMan]

A riff that I think is a good learning tremelo riff is the tremelo riff at the end of mourning palace by dimmu. Sick riff and it's not too hard. It's mid paced and helps string swapping a bit. Back when I was learning, I'd play that riff over and over again.

[@EvergrowingInfinity]

I didn't really even learn tremolo picking, I just tried it and I could do it already. Of course I was only able to play like one string or maybe two at that time but my point is that it wasn't as hard as I tought.

[@deadman5594]

This is not so easy to get perfect requires a lot of training

[@Wheresthepepsibismol]

Black Metal dudes can do it

[@generalrodcocker1018]

smaller picks helped me a lot. i use the dunlop ultra grip 3 and the 3.2mm chicken pick. still figuring out, which is better

[@tunelowplayslow8101]

Simon I have been following your work for a while and I find it really informative and an excellent channel,I have been playing guitar for a number of years and am what I say beginner/intermediate,I mostly play doom and tune very low so it never really is an issue,but I love to play Black metal thrash and death metal also,however one area I have always struggled with is tremelo picking notes on the thickest string,i have tried numerous pick thicknesses and exercises,i mainly use jazz 3s and the stubby pettruci 2.0 picks but I simply can't get it tight enough to consistently record anything worth while,do you have any tips or insight you could share on this particular issue?

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

I reckon you may be over thinking it. Try a lighter grip on your pick, set the metronome and just play the bottom string for ten minutes. Tremolo pick one bar then three bars not tremolo picked. Build up to two bars tremolo picked, then three, then all four...

[@tunelowplayslow8101]

@@SimonSmithGuitar i really appreciate the reply man,i can tremelo pretty tight an consistently on all other strings just that top string im really hit or miss with,ill try the tips in the video and your suggestions on pick grip,thanks again for the awesome content over the years.

[@sergeymeshkov283]

Now that’s the cheating I’ve been missing! Thanks a lot!

[@EpicSmileyMan64]

I was trying to piece together why I stink at tromolo, other than the fact that I have never done it before. realized it's because I never downstroke, just started practicing downstroking today and it's like learning from scratch, my brain is screeching.

[@ki2976]

I use the james hetfield pick holding technique

[@azzyexelol]

i just kinda, did it when i first learned guitar? i dont know if im used to it because of something i did in life, or if it was just luck but it was much easier for me than for other people.

[@calebbean1384]

Just changing the part of my forearm resting on the guitar improved it so much wtf 😂

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

🤘😎🤘

[@christophergarnier4061]

greetings, great video, could you do a guitar lesson on Thy Antichrist’s "The great beast" or "Beloved Depression" of Lebenssucht, please

[@manwolf5218]

No need to use a soldering iron on your pick, Snarling Dog picks come with those grippers on them already.

[@c.stoddard313]

My main issue is in regards to switching strings smoothly and on time - is it just a matter of keeping the picking hand relaxed?

[@Linker337]

I wonder which was the first black metal song with tremolo picking. Does anyone have any idea? Great video Simon!

[@ThorsShadow]

Mate, just look up the history of the genre online. You'll find out, that many of the first bands where inspired by the Venom album "Black Metal" (which wasn't Black Metal itself, although it did include tremolo picking). It's quite a journey from there. I'm sure you'll find the first tremolo-picked this way and maybe some bands you don't know yet.

[@ThorsShadow]

@Antyla Yes, but it isn't in itself a Black Metal song. It's more of a...predecessor of the genre and insanely heavy influence.

[@KnutBluetooth]

Tremolo picking has been around for a long time. In early Metal it's often found at the end of a song or gig where they kind of go wild. Black Metal didn't come up with it, it merely uses it all the time.

[@alexanderiosava2148]

Darkthrone - transylvanian hunger

[@bullfrogboss8008]

I mean tremolo picking was long before anyone knew about black metal. In the 60s dick dale used this technique to play surf rock

[@Ebees_Map]

Hi Simon which acoustic guitars do you recommend for playing black metal,other than Tanglewood.

[@SimonSmithGuitar]

Whichever one you like the most

[@thecryptovillian803]

I can tremolo pick but on when I start on an up stroke 😂 not sure why but its more comfortable for me and I get some good high speeds and can string swap easily aswell

[@MichaelDespairs]

You're goddamn right I can tremolo pick.

[@himynameischrisAVA]

I will give these tips a try! Because they seem like good ideas NOT because you look like you’ll deliver a Stone Cold Stunner if I don’t agree with you

[@cobijing]

Please Make cover of Masacre - Exodo from Colombia... old school death metal.

[@Airtrooper719]

do you think its normal that I have to alternate between fan and fist for different techniques? Like for downpicking I find fan the best, more chunk etc. For tighter picking i tend to make a fist to help with upstrokes. (ps I still suck at tremolo picking :( ) thanks for the guide

[@brandonthaskater]

cool intro

[@adrianmartinez-lq5he]

Nice i can do it sitdown but i make a wierd position whe im up

[@Neednoreligion]

Hi, is every stroke counted when you play so fast? Or its played only with timing?

[@sammysicknessirl]

2:59 Howdy

[@patmillen9162]

Here cause my cover band wants to do creep lol 😆

[@mehabox]

Don’t mention Just to them

[@ousama248]

My problem with tremolo picking if i try to go from a string to string i play 3 & 5 & 7''s not 4 & 6 & 8 ..i'm too used to this motion that i cannot do 4 & 2 ..how do i troubleshoot tht? ..i've been trying your old exercices but i'm so like shit on 85 bpm only!!!

[@semiserioussam]

I can only tremolo single strings. My wrists just don't have the range to do it on multiple strings while keeping up the pace.

[@mlugin8050]

It will work for you if you keep practicing. I do blocks where i practice scales for 10 mins, then trem picking for st least 10 mins. Maybe some other technical thing for 20 mins. Then i just noodle around and see what happens. Use wrist and a little bit arm too, actually try keeping the wrist as loose as possible. Smsll arm motions and the wrist goes naturally. Repetition is key until you find muscle memory. Your wrist can do 6 sttings trem too, its maybe just too locked

[@andrewichigo]

My biggest issue with tremolo is alternating between the strings. No porblem trem picking on one, as soon as the next note is on a different one, the timing goes out the window and the note sounds like shit for the first to or three pick strums

[@DaveTheFuckingBrave]

I just hate it so much when I try to find a video about a new technique and I don’t even understand what the tequnique is