Picking Advice For A newbie

[colchar]

I am learning to play guitar and am having one major problem - I cannot seem to consistently pick the correct strings. This isn't a problem when playing open chords but when playing just a couple of strings (such as when trying to play the opening riff to either Smoke on the Water or Photograph) or a power chord I often find myself missing one of the strings with my pick or plunking them badly.

Does anyone here have any advice on how to improve my picking?

[gasman]

On power chords, you could always mute any strings that you don't want to sound out. The guy in this link explains it pretty good: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qve0O9CKBwk

As for riffs, concentrate on your picking hand. Look at it as you try your riff, and don't worry about your fretting hand at this point. Get the pattern of what you're trying to do with your picking hand, and then you can make sure you are fretting correctly. It won't sound pretty, but you have to get your picking hand going in the pattern that you need for that riff. I'd go as far as saying, pick the riff pattern with your picking hand without fretting anything until you get it down. Check out Mojo's videos on finger picking. Even if you use a pick, they will help.