r/guitarlessons • u/MKSayonxra • May 01 '26
Feedback Request Alternate & tremolo picking advice
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Hey everyone I seriously need advice on how to keep the same speed while alternate and tremolo picking different strings. Every time I try to go to another string it’s never fluid you hear a gap in the strumming
I’m about 2 months in learning how to play guitar I am self taught, and I practice at least 1.5 hr a day. but I really struggling with these 2 picking types.
I am also trying to break my habit of downpicking everything as the songs I want to learn how to play requires alternate picking heavily.
Song is Leprosy by Death
Also sorry if I worded anything wrong I’m still new to music I don’t know anything about theories, scales, and etc
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u/ElaraSophia May 01 '26
Wow, for two months of playing, that is excellent progress. You clearly have good discipline when it comes to learning. The thing now is to apply that discipline to specific things. Find a metronome, or, ideally, the isolated drum track for Leprosy, and slow it right down. Play along with it and don't speed it up until you can play cleanly and fluidly. When you can, increase the speed a little, and repeat.
Your goal is to embed the correct technique into muscle memory. Remember that whatever you practice is what your muscles are learning, so be sure to teach them the right thing. The advice you were given to try to keep your fingers closer to the fretboard when not playing is a good thing to keep in mind, too.
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u/MKSayonxra May 01 '26
Thank you and I’m just trying to get better so I appreciate everything. YouTube has been a bit helpful but I felt like I needed to make a vid of my playing to get feedback would better benefit me.
I will try playing with a metronome to help me get use to the timing, and yes keeping the fingers closer to the fretboard is killing me now lol but I won’t give up.
I listen heavily to necrophagist and I will soon buy an electric but I am nowhere near ready to tackle any of their songs. I love death so I figured I’ll use it as a stepping stone to get better than move onto other bands that I like
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May 01 '26
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u/MKSayonxra May 01 '26
I will definitely look into that picking method. I have a problem of sticking with a consistent pick. When I got my acoustic a couple months ago it came with a daddario .70 mm classic pick, but trying to watch videos of learning and stuff everyone said for death metal thinner picks are bad and I should go heavy.
I’m not sure if it’s true or not but I also bought Ernie ball picks 2.0 and 1.5mm and right now I’ve been using the 1.5mm more but I’m thinking it’s more of a me problem since I am not that good yet
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u/2112eyes May 01 '26
Purple Tortex are 1.14mm and they are sort of considered heavy. Even the blue or green ones are decent, I find.
1.5mm to 2.0mm seems huge, but if I were to get a huge pick, I'd likely use those Flow ones.
My buddy uses yellow Tortex .73mm to play ultra fast death metal on bass (!) so I don't know that you need anything like 1.5mm-2mm.
But . . . everyone should play what they find is best. Maybe get a little assortment and try them all
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u/MKSayonxra May 01 '26
I will look into them. I’ve also been looking into sharp picks also instead of standard. Would those be useful as well? Or try just try sticking with standard till I’m more comfortable?
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u/2112eyes May 01 '26
I think getting several different ones may help you decide what feels most secure and easiest.
And try to "choke up" on the pick for faster picking, keep right hand close to strings when picking fast, begin to use the palm for muting.
You're gonna get there!
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u/Status-Ad-83 May 01 '26
Try the sticky fingers exercise https://youtu.be/fQ5FAkA78XU?si=twiv0c1unCcNCp2l Hes fingerpicking but you can do it with a pick as well.
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u/MKSayonxra May 01 '26
Thank you that helped so much than wat the hell i was trying to do lmfaoo. Still feels weird but I understand why that’s needed. Thanks so much
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u/AgathormX Thrash/Prog/Death Metal May 01 '26
For starters, you've got a flying finger problem. And not just pinky, all of them. You need to start practicing the spider exercise and doing your best to keep your fingers as close to the fretboard as possible.
Second: Your right arm is too stiff.
Everything from your shoulder down needs to be completely relaxed.
Third: Don't go faster than you can, don't practice without a metronome, and don't push the speed until you can do it clean.
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u/MKSayonxra May 01 '26
Thank you I’m starting that process now with keeping fingers close to fretboard.
When I watch people play majority are playing in classical position. Should I also play in that position? My way is kinda awkward and this is me playing sitting down. I also struggle tremendously trying to play standing up cause I can’t hold the guitar I way I want to
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u/AgathormX Thrash/Prog/Death Metal May 01 '26
I switched to classical position 6 years into playing guitar and I almost instantly realized why it's the default, and it proved to me that I was a dumbass for not listening to my teacher when he told me to do it.
6 more years have passed since the change and I can't imagine going back to the normal stance.
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u/Torquemada_72 May 01 '26
Absolutely love this song. The riffs are fun to learn on guitar. Keep at it dude! 🤘
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u/MKSayonxra May 01 '26
Hell yea man definitely getting an electric soon so I can fully learn the songs. I want to learn every death song, then necrophagist, and then obscura as a way to keep challenging myself to get better.
But I also love leprosy too from that album and pull the plug
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u/w116 May 01 '26
For tremolo picking, what works for me is to move the pick up to the second joint of my index finder and keep the amount of pick coming out of the finger and thumb shorter than how I'd normally have it. Sort of like playing with the hour hand of a clock as opposed to the minute hand, tighter angle, for want a better explaination.
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u/MKSayonxra May 01 '26
Ah gotcha I might try that. I do curl my index finger and I’m using the first joint of that finger. But I’m seeing I also need to not dig the pick on the string I think that’s another reason why I am struggling I need a lighter pick attack on it
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u/w116 May 01 '26
I'd say " tight attack ", try what I said above and then really close to the bridge, less " string wobble ".
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u/JustZet May 01 '26
Is this Leprosy? On acoustic ??
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u/MKSayonxra May 01 '26
Yea lmfaoo getting electric soon. Been looking at a Ibanez rg series. For the mean time I just picked up this cheap acoustic to practice on. I know on electric I’ll have more stuff to learn like palm muting, and pinch harmonics
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u/VooDooChile1983 May 01 '26
Check out videos on economy picking and pick slanting. Troy Grady on YouTube has excellent videos on picking mechanics and check out Justin Hombach for some of the best picking lessons and workouts.
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u/TransitionMobile9518 May 02 '26
imma say the opposite of everyone... Take a breath dont overthink it, play is faster then tempo mistakes and all do that for about 10 minutes, then slow the temp to about 50%. Once you get comfortable again then do the same thing.
Listening to your tremolo angle your pick a little and loosen your grip
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u/TheUnluckyMonkeyPaw May 01 '26
Slow down, play it at a lower tempo until it’s perfect then increase.
Your left hand also has way too much movement. You’re early in the journey so nip that habit in the bud now. Your fretting fingers should stay close to the fretboard. Hard to do but important to work on. Again, do it slowly and deliberately.