"good" strumming picking form

Possibly a worthless post, but it's all relative. If you're playing power chords (generally the lowest strings) you won't have too much wrist action. If you're playing a full chord (say G open) you'll likely have a greater wrist (and elbow) motion.

Also asasmith, to clarify the post, how long have you been playing and what type of music to you play. That will provide info to better help you in your goal.

not sure why its "worthless"?? but maybe you could elaborate why its worthless question to ask

He didn't think it was. He was speaking of his own post, his reply to yours.

Peace

I play around with form once in a while just to hear the different sounds an effects you can come up with. I know my own personal form is not proper. I understand that I'm supposed to balance the heal of my right hand on the bridge slightly, but I never have liked it. Never comfortable due to most likely a poor sitting posture for guitar. Maybe not. I do find it really hard to put any personality into anything from doing that.

I'm trying to think of an example in a song that calls for it and cannot, but If I need or want to have a totally even and exagerated ringing out of a chord, I will lock my wrist to exagerate that effect. Sounds neat enough. Otherwise, I do personally use a lot of wrist movement, especially on songs like Bob Seger's "Night Moves".

Oh, and +1 on what David said.

Naturally, you would want to have as little hand/wrist/finger movement as possible when you are playing. This is just a matter of efficiency. Obviously, depending on what and how you are playing, it will require more or less movement of the hands. The thing is to eliminate unnecessary hand movement.

So if you are strumming on a downstroke, for instance, you don't need your hand to go way below the strings before reversing direction and coming back up, and vice versa. if you are picking, do it in a way that is most efficient in therms of the upstrokes and downstrokes. Strict alternate picking may or may not be the most efficient depending on wwhat you are doing. It will take practrice and repetition, but I believe it helps your technique to keep in mind efficiency of movement.

Perhaps when you watch a pro like Neil Young, whose hand seems to be harldy moving, this is what you are seeing. The pros will know how to play efficiently, without waste of hand movement.

It's just something to keep in mind while you are practicing. Observe the motions of your hand and ask yourself "Am I making any movements that aren't really necessary or are more exaggerated than they need to be?"

Or, you could watch Keith Richards and not do anything he does and you'll be right where you should be. :lol: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAJUt1C923Q