Michaels Picking Instresting

[VooDooChildxi158]

All throughout his Jam With Angelo video I swear he never uses his wrist or arm to pick.He holds his pick with his thumb and pointer and I belive and uses those only to move the pick up and down how the hell can he move his two fingers up and down quick enough to match picking by wrist or arm!?

[VooDooChildxi158]

PS is Michael Reads this I loved your last guitar you used.

[Nash]

Michael has a very unique picking technique, which I believe explains alot about his style, sound, rapid fire picking and accuracy. It's only when playing slow that Michael use more of the finger movements, playing quickly his technique adapts with the speed (as does everyone).

As far as I can tell he uses more of an up/down motion with the wrist juxtaposed to the common side to side wrist motion, the up/down motion is far more natural and therefore is less stressfull on the picking arm/hand etc. Also Michael's hand doesn't rest near the bridge like most players, he anchors his fingers instead. I liken it to the way a classical guitarist plays (sans anchoring), note how the hand floats above the body ... put a plectrum there and you get a rough idea of Michael's technique ... this is of course just my observations, correct me if I'm wrong Mr. Batio

I've heard people argue that "anchoring" is poor technique because having some fingers curled and others extended causes the flexor and extensor muscle to be in use simultaneously ... combine with repetitive motion and wait for various sprains and strains to occur. However Michael said at a clinic last year that he has never had a guitar related hand/arm etc injury, so I doubt the credence of that theory.

[Mr.Tepes]

I usually find myself anchoring my pinkie finger, but no other fingers. Resting my palm on the bridge just feels awkward, and I pick a lot faster anchoring rather than just "floating" above the strings. But I'm a n00b. It seems this post should be posted under "questions for MAB", but that thread is getting rediculously big now. Ever thought about archiving some old, outdated posts/threads and cleaning up the forum a little bit? It's a big job, but Luke doesn't seem to have anything better to do. J/K Luke.

[Luke]

Mr.Tepes said:

I usually find myself anchoring my pinkie finger, but no other fingers. Resting my palm on the bridge just feels awkward, and I pick a lot faster anchoring rather than just "floating" above the strings. But I'm a n00b. It seems this post should be posted under "questions for MAB", but that thread is getting rediculously big now. Ever thought about archiving some old, outdated posts/threads and cleaning up the forum a little bit? It's a big job, but Luke doesn't seem to have anything better to do. J/K Luke.

I have you know that all the time that i'm online my guitar is around my neck an i'm usualy practicing and posting at the same time

[Mr.Tepes]

At least, that's what you always say.