Applying the theory to actual musical phrases like "Techno-Rocker". Go to product viewer dialog for this item. Speed Picking - Frank Gambale Book/Online Audio
E|------15-12---------------------------------| B|------------15-12---------------------------| G|------------------14-12---------------------| D|------------------------14-12---------------| A|------------------------------14-12---------| E|------------------------------------15-12---| Pick: U D U *U* D U *U* D U *U* D U ^ ^ ^ (Upward Sweep Transitions) Use code with caution. Tips to Achieve Top Speed and Fluidity
The immediate advantage is that the amount of right-hand work is reduced by 1/3. It's a lot less effort to play the same number of notes, allowing for incredible speed and "flawless accuracy while being completely relaxed". This is the revolutionary idea at the heart of every Frank Gambale speed picking PDF top resource you may find. He even gives examples of how this technique applies to three-notes-per-string scale patterns, a staple for fast runs.
In this article, we will explore what makes the resources so effective, why the Monster Licks and Speed Picking methods remain unmatched, and how to use these PDFs to break through your plateau.
By treating string transitions as a single fluid sweep rather than separate, individual picks, you eliminate unnecessary wrist motion and instantly increase your speed ceiling. 2. Essential Mechanics of the System frank gambale speed picking pdf top
Before Gambale, playing a 6-string arpeggio was a nightmare of hammer-ons and pull-offs. Speed Picking demonstrates how to play full major, minor, and 7th arpeggios as a singular, fluid sweeping motion, turning the guitar into a piano-like instrument for chord tones.
Pull the pick through the strings in one sweeping motion, ensuring each note speaks clearly before moving to the next. Decoding the Gambale Scale Frameworks
, a technique he pioneered to achieve the fluid, high-speed lines usually reserved for saxophonists or pianists. Released in 1985, this method revolutionized the guitar world by moving away from traditional alternate picking toward a more efficient "sweep" across strings. frankgambale.com Core Concepts of the Method Gambale’s system is built on the principle of economy of motion . Key pillars include: Amazon.com The "Sweep" Stroke
To understand Gambale, you must first understand what he rejects: strict alternate picking. Applying the theory to actual musical phrases like
Many guitarists download a PDF and immediately try to play along with a YouTube cover. For the first week, do not plug into an amp. Use the PDF to practice the physical motion unplugged. You want to hear the acoustic click of the pick striking the string. If you hear scraping or scratching, your angle is wrong.
You cannot execute this technique with a flat pick angle. Gambale utilizes a slight downward pick slant when ascending and an upward pick slant when descending. The pick must slide through the string and rest on the adjacent string (a rest stroke), preparing it to immediately fire the next note. Total Synchronization
While diagrams are visual, understanding the stroke directions is the mental key. Here is the universal formula for a standard 3-note-per-string run across three strings:
Down (Swept from the previous downstroke), Up, Down String 3: Down (Swept again), Up, Down 2. The Upward Sweep (Descending Scales) Tips to Achieve Top Speed and Fluidity The
Instead of jumping over a string to execute an alternate stroke, your pick pushes through the current string and rests on the next one in a single, fluid motion. Why Choose Economy Picking Over Alternate Picking? Alternate Picking Economy Picking (Gambale Style) Physical Effort High (Requires constant wrist rotation) Low (Uses natural gravity and momentum) Speed Ceiling Limited by muscle twitch speed Highly scalable due to fewer motions Tone Percussive and aggressive Fluid, legato-like, and smooth Learning Curve Intuitive but physically demanding Mentally challenging at first, physically easier Core Mechanics: How to Practice Speed Picking
Reverse the logic when descending. Your pick should follow an pattern, pulling upward through the strings.
Play an arpeggio, but skip a note in the middle, then return, creating a "shred" pattern that involves both skipping and sweeping.
. Because your pick is now below the string and moving downward, you simply push through to the next string with another This sequence becomes: