Try different picks. Thicker/thinner. Different materials (ultex, tortex, bone, metal), different shapes.
I briefly checked out Troy Grady and pick slanting. His work, in my opinion is great to get you thinking about your picking technique. I believe that understanding why things are happening helps you to identify areas of opportunity and improve your technique.
The whole “exit“ angle and not getting stuck between strings is important. The pick slanting concepts that Troy teaches are a method to achieve that end, but...
I found that this pick slanting technique was something I had already organically picked up but with a modification. I also rotate the tip of my pick towards the bridge of the guitar. I am striking the string with the side of the pick right at the tip. I find this makes several enhancements:
The main downside that I have noticed to rotating the pick is a softer attack. This can be tuned by auditioning thicker picks of different materials until you find the pick attack you like.
- It virtually eliminates getting your pick “trapped” between the strings
- The shape of the pick gives mechanical advantage, easing the transition of the pick over the string and eliminating having the pick “hang up” on a string
- It makes getting a good ”exit angle” when hopping strings easier. The pick is shorter and the clearance needed is less.
- Requires less energy to pluck a string. This allows a more controlled and ”tighter” pick stroke which translates to increased pick speed and fluidity.
- Allows lighter grip on the pick while still maintaining a solid hold of the pick. Less tension when playing is a good thing IME.
I agree with earlier statements: there are multiple techniques to solve these problems. I do think Troy’s material is great because it gets you to focus on what you are doing and thinking about how to improve your technique.
Yes, it is a complex and idiosyncratic equation. I think the win is that you start consciously focusing on your picking technique and start making intentional adjustments to achieve your goals. A lot of ways to get to solid picking techniques and none of them are wrong if they allow you to play what you want to play.
It will be awkward at first. It took me several months to really get comfortable with the pick rotated. If you expect to make fundamental changes to your techniques and for it to immediately flow, then you have unrealistic expectations.
The whole thing about that one's picking technique should be constant is a myth. Things change at different tempos and during different phases of a passage. During a circular 4 note roll on 3 strings (like one note each on the d-g-b-g strings), all my strokes look and feel different, and require different slants, rotation, flexion/extension etc. And the technique is vastly different at 60 bpm vs at 150 bpm. There is also differences depending on which string group I'm on.
10 bucks on that he didn't even notice his technique changingHmmm.... for a while, I was taking lessons from an insanely good shredder who would disagree violently. No, really, and he could bench press me with one arm--so I wasn't going to argue too much.
Your point is well taken though.
It's exactly like that running isn't just walking fast. Or vice versa.When you say playing on top of the strings, do you mean that every stroke, regardless of direction, clears the adjacent strings?
Not interested in playing silly games with you. Peace out. Good luck with whatever it is you are trying to do here.
