Picking technique for triplets, 32nd/64th notes, etc.

[xvertirx]

I'm trying to learn fast songs like Slayer and some death metal songs. Most of these songs are very fast. I'm playing with a pick. does anyone have any advice on how I should practice so that I could play these songs up to speed? Is the rhythm all in the wrist? I seem to only be able to do triplets half the time--does anyone have advice on how to practice and build my skills in this area? thanks.

[Sarbecue Boss]

A few death metal pointers
- its all in the wrist
-your grip on th pick must be relaxed
- to become proficient at death metal, you have to practice with a metronome loads
-set up metronome speeds, and practice whole notes then halves the triplets the quarters

I listed a couple of the excersises I use in the thread 'veteran fingerstyle player needs pick skills' if your focus is solely death metal, i suggest you play each note twice, to more rapidly build up right hand pick speed.


P.s.
what guage pick do you use? For me big stubbys or wegen picks work best

[lemur821]

Good advice. Also group the notes in your mind. You can play 16th notes individually, but when you go faster you need to pair them up at least in order to keep track of your speed.

[xvertirx]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll check out the other thread as well.

Picks I use--I've been experimenting with Dunlop .60mm .88mm and 1.14mm I can't make up my mind.

What gauge of big stubbies and wegen picks do you like best?

[meev991]

Originally Posted by xvertirx

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll check out the other thread as well.

Picks I use--I've been experimenting with Dunlop .60mm .88mm and 1.14mm I can't make up my mind.

What gauge of big stubbies and wegen picks do you like best?

I play with .5

they break all the time, but i have a box of 500

[Sarbecue Boss]

1mm for the big stubbys
I don't know the guage of the wegen picks, all theones I ve plyed were thesame though

My pick taste is based on tone. To me, the bigger picks are a little harder to control, but the tapered edge of the stubbys and wegens give the right tone

[Niff]

i love my 2mm dunlops. the black ones with the gator on them. perfect mix between that bright thin pick sound and the control of a larger pick.

[TeeMartin]

Yeah I use those 2mm gators too.

This won't make your life any better, but a lot of metal bassists (including Tom Araya I think) use only downstrokes.

[meev991]

Originally Posted by TeeMartin

Yeah I use those 2mm gators too.

This won't make your life any better, but a lot of metal bassists (including Tom Araya I think) use only downstrokes.

I used to do that...

it gave me terrible, burning cramps

[EADG mx]

I recommend practicing picking, straight alternating. you'll want speed yes, but endurance is really important too. Just keep at it, play at all speeds.

Also, experiment with different pick sizes. I use a .85 (I think?) and it works for me.

[da axeman]

This is the ultimate way to increase playing speed.
1. Get metronome
2. pick an excercise (i recomend 8-7-5-7..10-8-7-8..12-10-8.)
3. start at the slowest setting do 1 note per click
4. gradually increase speed (+1 one click per day)
5. When maximum speed is reached, go back to beggining and do 2 notes per click (then triplets, quarter notes, 8th notes...)
6. Try doing it with both alternate picking and just downstrokes.
7. Do it on all strings

Do this for 10 years and you will end up as fast as herman li (or some other fast guy)

And .70-.80 mm picks are the best (plastic), thick but not thick enough to snap with heavy playing, they will just get blunt

[JimmyM]

Anyone playing with anything less than heavies is asking for huge trouble down the road with hand pain. Lighter picks make you work too hard with your hand to make a sound. All your hand energy gets dissipated by the pick, whereas if you use a heavy, you can use less hand effort to get the same volume and tone.

Many people think I'm full of crap when I say this stuff about light picks. Suit yourself. Just don't ask me to help pay for your surgery in 10 years.

[shrimphead]

I play thrash and death mostly with a little stubby (2mm normally) I find that the smaller pick held really close to the point really helps for fast playing and triplets,

I'm still experimenting to find the best type of pick tho, I've heard some nice things about Claytons

[meev991]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Anyone playing with anything less than heavies is asking for huge trouble down the road with hand pain. Lighter picks make you work too hard with your hand to make a sound. All your hand energy gets dissipated by the pick, whereas if you use a heavy, you can use less hand effort to get the same volume and tone.

I use to figure the same thing until i tried the thinnies. I find that if you keep things loosy-goosy, things will be just fine

[Sarbecue Boss]

Originally Posted by shrimphead

I play thrash and death mostly with a little stubby (2mm normally) I find that the smaller pick held really close to the point really helps for fast playing and triplets,

I'm still experimenting to find the best type of pick tho, I've heard some nice things about Claytons

I used to play with little stubbys but they would slowly spin in my hand, so in the middle of a song I would be playing with the side of the pick.

You should try finding a wegen pick, there kind of expensive, but they are amazing

[EADG mx]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Anyone playing with anything less than heavies is asking for huge trouble down the road with hand pain. Lighter picks make you work too hard with your hand to make a sound. All your hand energy gets dissipated by the pick, whereas if you use a heavy, you can use less hand effort to get the same volume and tone.

Many people think I'm full of crap when I say this stuff about light picks. Suit yourself. Just don't ask me to help pay for your surgery in 10 years.

What do you consider to be "light" and "heavy"

[JimmyM]

Anything lighter than a Fender heavy is light or medium.