EXCERPT 2

You will find a plethora of different methods that guitarists use to pick each string. It is common to see the thumb, wrist, or elbow used to initiate movement. But the muscles in the thumb and upper arm are not able to keep up with the demands placed on them when trying to access more demanding techniques, and while the elbow can be used for strumming and sweep picking, is too big a muscle to control for complex picking patterns unless you really tense up your arm. Tension inevitably leads to trouble - from slow and inaccurate technique to tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome. Only the forearm (the area between the wrist and elbow) has a muscle big enough and subtle enough to supply the endurance and precision needed. Therefore the movement of the pick should come from your ...