#235 - Picking Control & Endurance Workout Packages

Hi All! starting some days ago! nice material!

Ibsen Torres

Are there any lessons about the very beginning of picking technique? Because i couldn't find one and my technique sucks a lot

Uladzimir Shytsik

Hey Oscar, welcome to this community! :) Team Bernth

Bernd Brodträger

Hello Bernth, new patreon here! Starting with this one today.

Oscar Muñoz Barboza

I saw this today (1.2.2024) and i'm very excited as descending picking motions were always kinda my weak point. I can already feel some difference though, this is great stuff. Little Update: Starting out a week ago i hardly got to 60 bpm, now i'm already at almost 100. This is so much fun :)

Leon Sunu

I DM him all the time without any trouble, might try there.

David Roecker

This is really helping me out. I've first tought my fretting hand was blocking me from shredding fast. To isolate the problem, I was like: Why not trying the same lick using Legato! Then my fretting hand was capable of going much faster than my picking hand. So, I've concluded that my issue is the picking hand control and endurance and it shows. I am only able to achieve 70 BPM while I can achieve an easy 140 BPM with Legato. Thank you very much for those exercises. I am practicing those with the addition of the Alternate Picking video #204.

Frederic Bergeron

If you’ll take a moment to read through the replies, you’ll find that he does respond.

Jeremiah Griffee

ThePoorMusician

Hello David, I had a similar problem but also my guitars don't have the extra frets as Bernth's does. I just shifted to doing 15 17 and 19 and changed the key of the backing track (moved it down via capo-2 software) and it works great! The emphasis of these exercises is on alternate picking, I don't know about you but my pinky always needs work !!!!

I Denou

Hi Bernth, on that first exercise on frets 17-19-21 I noticed you utilize your 1st, 2nd, and 4th fingers and it looks like your 3rd isn't that crammed. I have sausages for fingers and my 3rd really gets in the way of my 4th landing on 21. Is it OK to switch to 1-2-3 fingering for this or am a setting myself up for limitations in the future? I have overall big hands. At work in surgery I wear the biggest gloves they offer and only a few of us go that big.

David Elliott

My pinky has a hard time reaching and causing hand cramps. That low down on the fret board seems kind of hard to grip with no tension/pain.

Nate Kirkpaatrick

Me too man. I'm experimenting with forearm and elbow placement to see if I can fix this

Tyler Anderson

Hey man, do you use your picking hand to mute the strings between mid-lick transitions? I find that if I don't mute with my right hand then I get string noise (especially past 80bpm) when my fingers leave the strings.

Phil Kon

I agree. This exercises are a good base to create own licks with different modes or on different scales 🤝

Stefan Halbritter

I feel with u. I have this workout already in my daily routine for 2 months now. Sometimes I can play this speed bursts control with even 150 bpm triplets, sometimes not even 100bpm. And the endurance part… today got caught at 110 🙈

Stefan Halbritter

Hey, thank you. I can find just this 10 LEVELS OF METAL GUITAR SOLOS - https://youtu.be/5PHrDSe2fkU. New to theory as well.

Elkhan

I have also found that when you search that topic, there are a lot of other videos

Keith Lesniak

Go to youtube and find his video 10 levels of shred and guage where you are on there. From there I would start with this video we're on now and the exercises in there. How is your theory knowledge?

Keith Lesniak

Same problem, I will try to increase tempo by +1 every day.

Saeed Iqbal

I’m new here, super beginner level and I have a general question. Where I need to start for picking technique? From the very first posts or the latest posts. Some of the posts repeat themselves in terms of content, probably because it’s more up to date and better? Thank you!

Elkhan

Im getting stuck on 80bpm could it be since I’m a left handed playing righty my hand has reached its speed limit

mark Craig

Hey there, I can't really give feedback without seeing any footage of your actual playing and technique - in case you'd like to share videos with me and the community, you're always welcome to join our VIP Club! We have a secret Facebook group where I can give detailed feedback on questions like this. Have an awesome weekend!

Bernd Brodträger

Enthusiast I

Hi everyone, I just joined this shred community and love it already! I've been working on these control exercises, as descending 6's has always been difficult for me. I'm currently working on shifting my picking angle as described in the video, which is a new concept for me. I'm currently getting hung up between 90-100bpm. I'm gonna keep at it (only 2 day in so far), but does anyone have any other tips?

Don Schulze

30 to 45 minutes is plenty for me right now just starting out.

Alan

Hey John, I think you're looking for this: https://www.patreon.com/posts/200-youre-using-58546504

Bernd Brodträger

Anyone can try answering this if you stick to the point and have an answer not a suggestion or anything else thats an empty useless reply/ hubris syndrome 😵 😱 💀... Where can i find a list of the best tune per album; with out lying/red herring/false path: gaslighting. bands albums sorted into their release years. If more than one good tune on album, just pick any good one ,and / or , a radio dj's written/text tracklist from the original year of release i.e if the track was played on a show in 1987 then the tracklist from that radio show in that year.underground/specialist radio show , not mainstream charts. 80's most important,secondly 90's. Genre: metal, include hard rock,thrash or whatever. Theres a list of albums in wikipedia ,example search term: metal albums 1987 .bet theres albums missing from both u.k and u.s releases. Anything i look for ,theres info missing when i cross-reference it with another source 😵 😱 💀

John Jones

Cant find ' string transition package' mentioned in youtube ''youre probably using the wrong picking angle' , counter number about 6: 01 . Thought i left comment here a couple weeks ago,must have been elsewhere.

John Jones

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll definitely add that to my practice sessions.

Archaon

I'd go for the legato package for some fretting hand gains as well: https://www.patreon.com/posts/184-ultimate-30-54171102 :)

Bernd Brodträger

Ive only been doing this for a week so far and have been spending about 45 - 60 minutes or so on the exercises. The ones I'm working on are the 5 best beginner shred exercise, downstroke workout, 30 day sweep picking, and then hand the synchronization course. Im probably going to add one or two more, any recommendations?

Archaon

I started yesterday with the control exercise and figured 90bpm is my current limit, I hope I can finish the exercise at full speed. BTW for how long do you guys grind these exercises in one sitting?

Sergi Ortiz

I've been doing this exercise for 2 weeks now and just can't get past 80 bpm. At anything above that my picking hand starts to lock...

Johannes

Haha, thanks! It's the left, picking hand. It got better the next day, though. Starting to build stamina. Plus, I've been wearing wrist braces.

Jodie Fitzgerald

Try not gripping your pick too tightly.

Mike Whitla

Its good... really hard for me with (like Bernth said )bad habbit of strumming up , almost always....Somehow , i need to reconfigure this....also it helps with my fingering speed .... gotta work on it🤟👍

Patrycjusz Wlodyka

great exercise, thank you very much Bernth

Sean Kebely

Dude, I love this I had to modify it for 8 string which hurts but thank you so much for the lessons you're the best

Zach H

Man, my hand craps out at about 60 BPM with those 16th note triplets

Jodie Fitzgerald

today...no progres :,(

pipe-kun

I loved the exercise but.... heres and idea for those that found it "easy". (FYI I did but)... move the positions across scale shapes... and strings. Extra credit... try harmonic minor and melodic minor. The exercises are really fun, but it really helps when you move stuff around.

Mathew Upchurch

today 95 bpm /\_/\ ____/ o o \ /~____ =ø= / (______)__m_m)

pipe-kun

This older but classic one is actually great (the pattern turns around with every string): https://www.patreon.com/posts/104-best-5-for-39665710

Bernd Brodträger

Thanks! Bernth, I've been working on #200, #217 and this one #235. Can you suggest other posts where you deal with this topic?

Mike Whitla

Thank you! Ill work on that

Toni Jääskeläinen

Yes Toni, you just have to analyze the patterns you're playing - down, up, down (1st string) up, down, up (2nd string) - that means your angle slightly changes after each transition

Bernd Brodträger

That sounds like a plan Mike, I think it definitely won't hurt your progress to take time and internalize this concept :) I think it will help you a lot!

Bernd Brodträger

How about when you play let's say major scale up or down with all strings and 3 notes per string, do you change your picking angle between those string changes? Thanks!

Toni Jääskeläinen

Bernth is a guitar god

Jodie Fitzgerald

today 90 bmp new record for me. :)...but i will be back......

pipe-kun

Hi Bernth, I have a question about picking escape angles. I've been working on an number of your picking exercises for several months like #235 and #233 but have never really checked out the escape angles for string jumping. Now I've gone back and have been working on #200 which deals with some of these escape picking angles. Now I find when I do the my regular picking exercises I realize I am not doing them where applicable. Should I take a step back and focus on absorbing these escape angles and leave my other exercises and then return to them once these escape angles are more natural?? Since I have been playing many years it will take a while to absorb these ideas as up to now I've always kept my pick straight and just jumped over the strings.

Mike Whitla

I might of worded my question wrong, what I meant was: to use an example, if I play a lick, let's say on the G string 5-7-7-7-7-7-7-9 then use the upward escape motion to reach the B string. Is every stroke on the 7th fret in this example in the upward escape position, or is it only used on the last note before the string change?

Erick Kasecamp

Did you play 300bpm 16 triplets or 300bpm 8 triplets? Playing 16 120bpm triplets sounds and especially feels already like pure speed with this high notes. When changing the GP5 file to 150bpm and comparing it to your other YT video, it must be definitely 300bpm 16 triplets. Jesus... 🤯

Stefan Halbritter

He is using an upstroke for the 17th fret of the E string, then immediately back to an downstroke on the B string.

Tyler Anderson

Thanks for asking Erick, you get a great view of that in the slowed down close-up shots of the full video: https://youtu.be/PgkarPgnG3k

Bernd Brodträger

BERNTH, are always in either the upstroke or downstroke escape position, or is there a in between position for when your playing multiple notes on the same string? If your playing 15—-17—-19 on the B string, then escaping to 15—-17—-19 on the E string, when plucking the middle note (17th fret) what position are you in?

Erick Kasecamp

New exercise for me, falls apart at 70 bmp. Hey, that's after 20 min warm up. When I started with Bernth I would struggle on 40 bpm for week. Until tomorrow...

Steve Boyden

today only 80bmp...but i will be back 🧟

pipe-kun

So interesting Bernth that you practice such small detailed exercises so much. I was worried I was doing too much of that and now seeing that you are practicing even more minute detailed exercises at your level is making me dig in more!

Mike Whitla

Thanks for this great exercise

Gerhard Kucera

haha same

nersonangelo

Hello Steven, the notation is correct, the finger is just angled so that it touches the fret close to the end (it makes the stretching easier)

Bernd Brodträger

Welcome to our community, Kenton! This one is a great place to start when it comes to alternate picking, but you can also pick a different course suited to your present goals right here: https://www.patreon.com/bernth?filters[tag]=Patreon%20Online%20Courses

Bernd Brodträger

...no drama and simply numb at 60 and dead at 70 ;-) ...buuuuut at least honest :D

Balázs Takács

me playing sloppy at 120bpm: HA! I'm finally catching up with Bernth Bernth: actually plays this at 300 bpm

João Kamradt

Hey Bernth, new Patreon here, and have been playing for some years but all my techniques are bad and really just wanna start over and am looking for some guidance on where to start with your courses.

Kenton Tallman

Works now. Thanks.

Jacob Aagaard

Is this a total of two hours long this workout?

Anthony John Craddock

Hey friends, I just swapped the Dropbox link once again, hope it works for everyone now :)

Bernd Brodträger

Dropbox not working for me this week

Jacob Aagaard

Just finished the string transition exercise #200 this week and it feels amazing handling different picking angle switches now so naturally 🥰 This workout looks like a good learn control, but not sure if I can play faster than 150bpm triplets 🤯 let’s see when I actually reach 120bpm. Cu in 30 days where this will end 🤘

Stefan Halbritter

Amazing work and congrats on reaching your goal Bernth! Getting up at 4:30am isn't even the hardest part (I'm up at 5am daily too!), it's the discipline over keeping the practice routine so amazingly consistent. I'm finally starting to consistently put in 60-90 min/day around the same time in the evenings after work, no matter how I'm feeling. Your routine and discipline is inspiring! Now that I've started paying for lessons locally, well that helps eliminate any excuses I might have too 😉

Eric Bailey

Tab says 17, 19, 21, but it looks like you’re playing 18, 19, 21?

Steven DeLuca

Fantastic workouts! And congrats on beating your challenge, Bernth :)

Magnus Hasfjord

Looking forward to this one. I've been working on #226 - Phrasing Workout, which is a bit of a tongue twister, too.

Michael Latham