#261 - Picking Hand Riff Workout
Added 2023-02-17 15:30:01 +0000 UTCLet's test your rhythm guitar skills today! With this workout, I want to challenge your downstrokes, alternate picking technique, and timing capabilities :)
It looks easier than it is - you won't need your fretting hand and the workout is starting really slow. But the main challenge is all about playing in time (not rushing/dragging at slow tempos), mastering the 'awkward' tempo phase in the middle (where you transition between your slow and fast picking motion), and the high-speed downstrokes and alternate picking at the end of the workout.
Here are your practice files for this week (play-along video, tabs, guitar pro file, backing track): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10sGTBLiaCdoBqxIKwM4qyKdV3ReYJvTe?usp=share_link
This is a great warm-up for your picking hand and I think it will improve your timing drastically - have fun and enjoy the weekend :)
P.S.: Here's a Dropbox link in case Google Drive doesn't work for you: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/pa6qtlje8c37ozcsy38k7/h?dl=0&rlkey=j975kk6jfzwy0kfk2mzveuuy1
Comments
How do you count out the last two bars in this exercise?
Shaun Gray
2023-12-19 04:10:42 +0000 UTCHow heavy should I rest my hand for palm muting? As ive been playing along I noticed I may be putting a little too much pressure as the sound was a lot shorter ring especially at the slower tempos.
Alejandro Gracia
2023-07-03 00:20:15 +0000 UTChello friends, love this particular lesson. Are there any other lessons that have more of the funky patterns?
Kenneth N Sundaresan
2023-03-07 21:42:18 +0000 UTCExcellent lesson as always!
Dylan Moquin
2023-03-05 12:16:14 +0000 UTCYeah man - love this work out !!! Metal !!!
Ty Styck
2023-03-01 13:19:53 +0000 UTCReally useful for warming up your picking hand and learning how to control your movement.
Vlad Iordănescu
2023-02-25 18:44:58 +0000 UTCHi Bernth, Everyone, Really awesome workout, I'm struggling with the 16th note triplets and my right shoulder often gets painful while playing it. I try to relax but it's not really improving, has anyone experienced sthg similar and/or has suggestions to adress it?
Soubaboy
2023-02-24 18:01:37 +0000 UTCThat was an AWESOME warmup!
Christian Rivera
2023-02-23 22:48:20 +0000 UTCYour warmups are so great Bernth, and I just want to say, keep it up. We love you and you are the best YouTube guitar channel by far.
Stone
2023-02-23 02:49:20 +0000 UTCI just joined the Bernth community. I'm so glad I made this decision, and I'm ready to start improving my guitar skills.
Stone
2023-02-23 02:33:59 +0000 UTCThis workout was bomb-diggity-tastic! The transition though from "aw this isn't that awkward" to "What in the drunken hell is going on with my hand!?!?!" Super fun and I had a great time with it! Also shoutout to GP8 for upping the RSE on the drums 😍
ShoPaRo
2023-02-22 03:15:45 +0000 UTCCasey’s method has definitely been how I have been working though not necessarily on purpose. Any hints on overcoming tension?
Paul Moquin
2023-02-21 05:31:22 +0000 UTCThis is so many levels of wrong I don't even know where to begin. Any tension whatsoever is bad.
Teijo
2023-02-21 05:13:48 +0000 UTCVery nice! A great right hand warmup indeed. :D
Robert Bjärmyr
2023-02-20 09:55:04 +0000 UTCmy new favorite workout!!! that was so fun
Zacharia Fouda
2023-02-20 01:01:50 +0000 UTCExactly what I’ve been looking for. Great workout this. Cheers Bernth. 🤘🏻🎸
Mark
2023-02-18 22:10:09 +0000 UTCgot thisall th way through 120 is where i start rushing and dragging although it will improve , changing to the different not values is coming along , its the crazy tripplets that get me
jaz
2023-02-18 07:13:15 +0000 UTCThis is excellent! As an extreme newbie (three months into my guitar journey) this is going to help my timing and overall picking technique tremendously. I'm only on level three and those triplets are kicking my butt! You have a gift being able to create exercises that help me improve without boring me to death. Keep up the great work Bernth, I really appreciate it!
Zach Ohmie
2023-02-18 02:00:58 +0000 UTCim feeling this
jaz
2023-02-18 01:29:29 +0000 UTCI know I'm not the resident expert here, but figured I'd share my experience as I'm overcoming this issue too. In order to increase speed, there has to be some tension or fatigue at first. It's part of developing the muscles for playing at high tempos. So while playing at slower tempos can help you refine your technique, you'll want to push yourself at higher tempos and work through that tension and fatigue while applying the aforementioned technique. It's sort of like lifting weights. You start low to refine your form, but in order to keep adding plates and get stronger, there's going to be a struggle and you'll get tired (while still maintaining good form). With this allegory in mind, you can also approach practice regiments in this way--you could even consider implementing repeated sets or exercises with rest in between. Eventually, you'll be able to play looser at higher speeds because your muscles are developing. What you don't want is PAIN. If there is noticeable pain in the tendons or ligaments in your arm or wrist, then it's worth stopping, slowing it down, and reassessing your technique. In short, tension or fatigue is good, pain is bad. Definitely curious to what Bernth has to say, especially if I'm off base and giving bad advice lol
cslay
2023-02-17 18:09:08 +0000 UTCThanks for this- my biggest issue with this and all picking hand workouts is the tension in that right hand and arm as tempos increase. Do you have any tips on how to increase speed while staying loose? Thanks!
Paul Moquin
2023-02-17 16:30:24 +0000 UTCYou always know what I need! 🤟🏻☕️ Thanks for this Bernth!
Eric Bailey
2023-02-17 16:11:19 +0000 UTC
