https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 08:11:08 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/paged/2/#post-78733 Tue, 07 Dec 2004 21:14:34 +0000
Your examples hold up for me.

On the flip side, I posit that Al Dimeola is not a shredder, even though he has a lightning fast and super accurate tremolo picking technique. Nor was Johnny Ramone, despite his machine-gun-rapid-never-ending downstroke strumming.]]> Guitar Players Discussion gnease https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/paged/2/#post-78733 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/paged/2/#post-78731 Tue, 07 Dec 2004 21:04:28 +0000 D---------------------------------------2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
A-2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
E-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2-----------------------------------

repeated many times very fast.]]> Guitar Players Discussion RollnROCK89 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/paged/2/#post-78731 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/paged/2/#post-78715 Tue, 07 Dec 2004 20:11:16 +0000
I often see music store heros trying to shred by tremelo picking random notes or tremelo picking scales. You can see the tension there. True melodic shredding cannot be done with stiffness and tension. It's the lefthand / righthand mental connection that allows the speed to come. Look at every magazine, book, DVD, etc. and you always hear the instructor say things like "play this slow, to play it fast", "don't tense up, just relax and the speed will come", etc.]]> Guitar Players Discussion blutic1 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/paged/2/#post-78715 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/paged/2/#post-78687 Tue, 07 Dec 2004 17:40:58 +0000 just enough to provide the necessary pick resistance/compliance (static tension -- how hard the pick attack will be). Many players, myself included change the actual motion and direction and therefore the key muscles in use based on required speed, desired sound, number of strings struck and movement from string-to-string. There is no simple advice or formula that will work for everyone. But one thing we all learn is to avoid over-tensing the muscles in play, and to relax (relative term -- nothing is totally relaxed) the muscles that are secondary and tertiary. The player knows were extra effort is being applied, but the observer will think it all looks relaxed and easy.

As far as shredding goes, tremolo picking is not the only technique used, and often it is not the most important. The speed in single note shredding usually incorporates a lot of fluid sweep picking, HO's and PO's and, sometimes, tapping of various types. And yes, I be willing to bet several of the posters on this thread can actually shred, blutic. It's not really the most difficult aspect of playing guitar.]]> Guitar Players Discussion gnease https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/paged/2/#post-78687 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/paged/2/#post-78656 Tue, 07 Dec 2004 14:58:10 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion RollnROCK89 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/paged/2/#post-78656 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/paged/2/#post-78652 Tue, 07 Dec 2004 14:25:17 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion Alex_ https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/paged/2/#post-78652 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/paged/2/#post-78613 Tue, 07 Dec 2004 08:25:42 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion spacedog03 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/paged/2/#post-78613 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/#post-78606 Tue, 07 Dec 2004 07:44:43 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion RollnROCK89 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/#post-78606 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/#post-78605 Tue, 07 Dec 2004 07:44:30 +0000
when your tensed up you feel the music, your 'into' it, do you see a singer slouching, not bothered, all relax just singing, or do you see the energy, the passion, jumping around, veins in the neck going.

when you see a guitarist, is it someone shredding with a calm, bored face? or are they into it, can you see their effort and energy? they arent relaxing.

btw, i think "tensing" means too much a broad term for everyone here, my way of using it might be only a fraction of what someone else thinks. I think you're right; you and I mean different things by tension. When I think tension, I think of muscles locked, fighting each other. That's bad. I don't quite know what you mean by it. I agree about the importance of feeling the music. I can't sit still when I get into it. The thing we all need to do is let the muscles that need to move work seperately from the others nearby. When you go fast, you'll feel your muscles working, and that's not bad. The hazard is that your other muscles might tense up in response to that. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference. It takes some practice. It can also take practice to seperate the grimace on your face for tension in the rest of your body.]]> Guitar Players Discussion paul donnelly https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/#post-78605 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/#post-78602 Tue, 07 Dec 2004 07:37:32 +0000
I've never been hung up on how fast I play. I find I can play quickly enough to express whatever thought pops into my mind... it rarely seems 'fast' to me, but sometimes I'll hear comments about how quick my picking was. It's a subjective thing, I guess.]]> Guitar Players Discussion NoteBoat https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tensing-up-arm-when-shredding-bad/#post-78602