Picking the right string

[Angelo M]

I am a beginner player. I seem to be Okay playing my chords. But when I move from chords to playing individual notes on different strings, I find myself hitting the wrong string. For example, if I want pluck the B string more likely to not, I’ll hit the G string instead, or D string instead of the G, etc.
Are there any practice lessons one can do to avoid missing the right string?

[charjo]

Hi Angelo,

I think just picking different arpeggiated patterns over a chord progression would be the exercise.
I find having one or two points of contact with the guitar helps me locate my hand in space such that I can pick fairly accurately without having to watch. I keep the heel of my palm in light contact with the the bridge and also my little finger lightly brushing the pick guard. The little finger moves with my hand, I don’t keep it in a fixed position.
Overall, I think it’s a skill that just comes with time and repetition.

John

[Michael Krailo]

The movements are very small when playing lead parts. If you watch Brian’s picking hand during any lead playing, he is hardly moving. There is a big difference between strumming chords and playing lead in that respect. The classic exercise is the spider walk through the chromatic scale or any scale. But if you are used to strumming chords only, this is a big change for you because of the smaller movements involved. Just accept the fact that, it takes little effort or motion with the picking hand during lead playing.

Go slow and practice correct technique, and your abilities will dramatically improve.

[sunjamr]

Try some of Brian’s bluegrass lessons. That style of playing is called “cross-picking” and it’s great for learning to pick individual strings. Start by playing them at super-slow speed, maybe half tempo or less.

Sunjamr Steve

[Michael L]

Hi Angelo, I think this is really a skill you acquire by doing it a lot. To make it musical, work through your major and minor pentatonic scales in each of the 5 positions. Also, the major scale in all 5 positions. Take it slow, don’t look at your picking hand. Let the mistakes happen and don’t worry too much. Just keep practicing and it will begin, eventually, to become much more second nature. And no one is perfect. Even players that have a lot of experience hit a wrong string now and then. They cover it pretty well and just keep going, so you hardly notice. Time and patience, and have fun.

[Angelo M]

Thanks to all!

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