After $10,000 Worth Of Private Lessons With World-Class Teachers Failed...
Neuroscience Reveals Everything You've Been Taught About Picking Is PROGRAMMING Your Brain To Stay Slow
Using Principles from Neuroscience, This 20-Minute Daily Routine Rewires Your Brain's 'Picking Pathways' — Helping Average Guitarists Finally Break through Speed Barriers that Have Held Them Back for Years...
After $10,000 of lessons with all of the world’s top guitar players and years of deep research into the science of fast picking…
I can tell you that almost everything you've been told about guitar speed is scientifically wrong.
In fact, just trying to "play faster" or doing “speed bursts” isn’t helping you.
It’s actively programming your brain to fail. This is NOT an exaggeration.
A groundbreaking study in movement neuroscience has finally revealed why some guitarists develop effortless speed... while others stay stuck for decades.
And this discovery is transforming players who were once trapped at the same plateau for years.
Here's the scientific truth about picking:
Neuroscience shows that when you command your body to “play fast”, your brain does exactly what it's designed to do:
It finds the fastest way to make that movement happen.
The problem?
Unless you get EXTREMELY LUCKY…
Your brain is literally MAKING UP a crappy picking movement out of thin air.
It's like throwing darts blindfolded.
Sure, your brain MIGHT get lucky and hit a bullseye once in a while...
Like those "natural" players seem to do... 🙄
But most people won’t.
This explains everything you've experienced:
Why you hit speed walls no matter how much you practice
Why your technique falls apart at even moderate speeds
Why tension and pain keep creeping in
Why you can play clean OR fast, but never both
Why every teacher gives different (and usually wrong) advice
Don't believe me?
If the "picking gurus" really knew what they were talking about…
They could replicate their results with their students.
But they don't.
Watch any of these "masters" teach and you'll notice two shocking things:
First, when they demonstrate techniques slowly... their movement completely changes when they speed up.
Second, look at their students. Every student develops totally different movement patterns.
Meanwhile, ALL of my students develop the exact same efficient movement pattern and get the same consistent results.)
The truth? Even these world-class players can't explain HOW they do what they do.
They can tell you WHAT they're doing... but not HOW they actually do it.
They just... do. 🤷♂️
The secret isn't in copying what fast players do.
Or following the usual advice:
"Just do more speed bursts!"
"You need to relax more!"
"Work on your pick slanting!"
"Practice with a metronome!'
The real solution comes from understanding something far more fundamental:
It's in understanding how your brain forms technique patterns — and then programming (or re-programming) it to choose the right ones.
This questioning led to a breakthrough discovery: A method so precise in its approach that it's helped players achieve in months what used to take years...
Even players who thought they were:
"Too old to develop speed"
"Not naturally talented enough"
"Too set in their current technique"
"Past their prime for learning"
But before I show you exactly how it works, let me ask you something...
Have you ever noticed those weird "gray zones" in your playing?
Those speeds where you can play cleanly slower OR faster... but that middle zone is impossible?
And then your top speed is fast… But sacrifices accuracy?
These problems aren't random. They're actually predictable symptoms of how your brain forms movement patterns.
And once you understand the science behind them...
You can finally break free from the speed limits that have held you back for years.
But first, who am I and why should you trust me?
My name is Matt Wright and I am the most detailed teacher of guitar technique you will ever find.
I know that sounds like a bold claim, but it's true.
My video “How to Hold a Guitar Pick” on YouTube is over 30 minutes long… And currently has over 268,000 views…
I’ve been extremely privileged to earn good money from my work and invest in the best guitar education money can buy.
And that’s important because I didn’t start playing guitar when I was 9 or 10…
I started at the ridiculously late age of 22 when my older brother gave me this beat-up electric guitar.
This also means that I have videos from literally the first day I played guitar through today.
Here’s me playing guitar on day one:
And then there’s me today.
Now, I wasn't completely new to music...
I'd spent years studying classical string bass and even graduated from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a degree in French horn because my parents forced me to do classical music.
(Even though guitar was really what I wanted to do all along.)
From the moment I first heard Dream Theater and Symphony X, I was obsessed.
The precision, the speed, the technical mastery — I knew that's what I wanted to do with my life.
One big difference between the classical world and the electric guitar world is that classical instruments have centuries of proven teaching methods. Clear paths. Established systems…
Guitar doesn’t.
And so…
Even though I had a strong musical background…
My picking hand was like watching a train wreck in slow motion... while another train crashed into it.
My first teacher said he had literally never seen anything worse when it came to my picking motion…
And looking back at old videos now, I have to agree with him.
What my hand did "naturally".
It was a disaster!
Just look at that disaster. I was using some bizarre combination of motions that made absolutely no sense.
But I had one thing going for me…
I was HELL BENT on becoming the best player I could be.
Before I started getting lessons, I did what any aspiring guitarist would do — I watched every YouTube video I could find...read every article… Tried every exercise.
I practiced 2-3 hours most days with a HEAVY focus on fundamentals just like at the music conservatory.
And while I learned a LOT from the teachers I took lessons with…
And they set the foundation for the musician I am today…
None of them could actually explain HOW to develop clean, reliable speed.
They just “had it”.
And I just didn’t…
When I’d hit walls and see different teachers, the advice was always the same:
“Just practice more"
“Try to relax more”
"Push through plateaus"
"Do what feels natural"
"It takes time"
"Everyone's different"
NOBODY that I talked to had a specific, repeatable method for developing speed.
Zero. Zilch. Nada. You will not find it.
I have searched the damn globe. 🌎
It felt utterly futile...
Despite all of the training…
Despite getting to meet practically every guitar player I ever looked up to and grill their brain about speed…
Every time I'd try to play fast, my technique would completely fall apart.
I’d hit walls even after hours of “slow practice”.
My hand just wouldn’t go faster.
And it felt like my hand was fighting against me.
All of this came to a head when I pressed my teacher for answers in late October 2023.
I told him, “We HAVE to fix this.”
So he cracked his proverbial knuckles…
And gave me a new exercise.
This time for sure… My picking issues would be solved!!
I had the magic exercise!!
The alleged... Keys to the Ferrari... 😏
And I went back to the practice room and worked HARD.
When I came back to my lesson two weeks later…
“Too much rotation.”
(And my playing still sounded like trash.)
October 2023... My Breaking point. All the lessons and still sucking!
I was absolutely CRUSHED.
But they had no answers for me on how to actually get my hard to rotate less!
That’s when I snapped.
After that lesson… I quit listening to guitar teachers about speed.
NOBODY could effectively transfer their skill to me because they didn’t have a deep understanding of HOW they were doing what they were doing.
That’s when I started doing the OPPOSITE of what most guitar players do.
I didn’t “model the greats”.
I didn’t start religiously “chunking” things…
I didn’t work on pick slanting…
I swore off getting guitar lessons with any more teachers.
And I didn’t go into the practice room for 12 hour sessions. (You don’t need to.)
Nope. I didn’t do ANY of that.
I started completely from scratch.
Ignoring everything I had ever learned before…
And everything that the guitar community said was “true”...
I asked two simple questions:
1. What is the best possible movement to pick the guitar with extreme speed?
2. How do I quickly train my body to do THAT?
I didn’t “model the greats”.
I didn’t start religiously “chunking” things…
I didn’t work on pickslanting…
I swore off getting guitar lessons with any more teachers.
And I didn’t go into the practice room for 12 hour sessions. (You don’t need to.)
Nope. I didn’t do ANY of that.
Instead, to answer my questions...
I literally I hired a neuroscientist…
I dug into 200-year old pedagogy books for other instruments with more well-established technique…
And I started reading a LOT on how the body actually worked…
Here's the binder I started printing off and cataloging studies in...
I spent months analyzing slo-mo footage of my own technique evolution...
Dove deep into 200 years of classical pedagogy…
I became obsessed with understanding:
Movement pattern acquisition & optimization
Fine motor control
Machine learning and neural networks
Biomechanical efficiency
I obsessively read studies and heavy textbooks on:
Neurophysiology
Attentional focus
Neural pathway formation
Muscle speed and recruitment
Motor planning
Meditation and progressive relaxation
And that's when everything changed.
The moment I stopped listening to all the "bro science" from YouTube guitarists...
And started diving deep into the actual science of how the body moves and learns...
Everything snapped into focus.
Suddenly I could see exactly why I'd been stuck... why we'd ALL been stuck.
My research revealed three MAJOR problems:
First — The actual physical MOTION we were using to pick was inefficient and limiting our speed...
Second — The "speed burst" approach to building speed would always result in a dramatic change in motion that destroys accuracy and induces tension.
Third — Even when teachers claimed to have the answer, nobody could get their students to actually execute it. You could stare at your picking hand all day, but it simply wouldn't cooperate.
While other instruments had developed standardized teaching methods over centuries... guitar picking technique was still basically the wild west.
Let me explain what I mean...
Quick disclaimer: What I’m about to explain has never been covered by Cracking the Code.
Let me show you what's REALLY happening when you try to play fast…
And why advice like "just practice slower and build up speed" and “do speed bursts” keeps reinforcing the exact patterns that limit your speed.
When you tell your body to "pick fast", it's going to try to accomplish that goal in any way possible.
That means it’s going to pick from a grab bag of possible motions.
The motions are:
1. Pronation/Supination — Rotating your wrist like turning a doorknob
2. Arm movement — The "jerk off" motion. (It looks dumb AND it hurts!)
3. Flexion/Extension — Flap your hand up and down (which can’t really be used for guitar)
4. Finger motion — Which relies on small muscles that will quickly fatigue, changes the pick angle thereby affecting the sound, and not everybody can do it.
5. Adduction/Abduction — Moving side to side (best, but your brain probably won’t choose this)
(A.K.A. Radial and ulnar deviation. But I can’t be bothered with all the extra syllables.)
6. Or some sloppy combination of all of these.
The only 6 possible picking motions demoed Mid-Air and on Guitar.
Your brain doesn't care HOW it gets there.
It just wants to make the strings go "brrrrrrr" as fast as possible.
The problem is that the brain has no idea what “good technique” means…
All it knows is that “Master is happy when string go fast. Okay keep moving like this.”
So you go to town, practicing like a teenager with Wi-Fi and privacy — fast, furious, and totally convinced it’s mastery.
But there’s a catch.
Unless you’ve studied like me…
Your brain probably didn’t pick the correct technique…
Because it made it up out of f*cking thin air.
And then you're stuck in that frustrating loop:
Practice more... but with bad form
Get more frustrated... but keep pushing because that’s what they told you to do
Watch your speed plateau... but you can't break through
Finally give up... thinking it's YOUR fault
Your brain is literally making up the motion from a grab bag. It doesn’t care and has NO CLUE whether the motion is efficient or not.
Read that 10 times because it’s that important.
(And this is why speed bursts may make you faster, but will virtually NEVER result in good technique.)
Because when your brain is making up the motion... you get exactly what we see in the guitar community:
Thousands of guitarists. All with completely different picking techniques.
What’s the correct motion?
To cut a long story short, the most efficient motion is:
1. Pure adduction/abduction (side to side)
2. Use of supination/pronation only on string crossings
3. Moving the pick only only as far as we need.
...And the only motion to do that is pure wrist adduction/abduction.
It’s the only motion that…
Creates the shortest possible path between strings
Uses the most endurance-capable muscles
Eliminates unnecessary tension
Works the same at ALL speeds
Everybody can do (because not everybody's thumb hinges as far)
Now, you might be skeptical... But the proof is in the results.
Here's a clip of me using pure adduction/abduction to play 16th notes from 134 bpm up to ~178 bpm 16th-notes.
Which is from 536 npm (notes per minute) to 712 npm...
Or if you like notes-per-second, it's 8.9 nps to 11.86 nps.
NO GREY AREAS! NO ARM MOVEMENT REQUIRED.
And recorded on a day where I didn't even do my full warm up...
And a slo-mo video showing exactly how little movement is required — Even at 198 bpm:
But here’s the real problem…
Even if you understand the perfect motion…
How the heck are you supposed to get your freakin’ hand to actually DO it?
“I stare at my hand and it does all of this stupid stuff! And even if it does the right thing, it does it horribly slow and it feels weird!”
This is where neuroscience changes everything.
Your brain operates like a neural network - constantly processing countless variables to create the fastest possible output.
Those inputs include:
How your hand/arm moves
How you hold the pick
How hard you grip the pick
Pec / Lat / Traps activation
Where your arm sits on the guitar
What motion you use to pick
Much more…
But when most guitarists try to play fast, they focus on just ONE thing:
"Can I play it faster?"
They completely ignore (because they don't know):
Which specific motions they're using (and why)
Whether their technique will work for string crossing and skipping
If they're building up tension that will derail them later
Whether their technique can actually scale to higher speeds
And that's how guitarists unknowingly lock in technique flaws that become permanent speed barriers.
Trying to learn to pick fast while only focusing on speed is like trying to drive a race car by only looking at the speedometer.
You might go fast… But you’re bound to crash.
Instead, think about how a GPS works...
It needs to know EVERY possible road, turn, and connection point to calculate the most efficient route.
Your neural network works the same way.
If you don’t define any part of your technique, the brain will define it for you… And it usually does a bad job.
That's why you can play clean at slower speeds…
But the moment you try to speed up, everything falls apart.
Or you can play fast for a little bit… but then you tense up.
Your brain is flying blind - jerking muscles that don't need to move, tensing up at the wrong moments, and fighting against itself in a desperate attempt to keep up.
So you end up with speed that doesn't last... and doesn't work when you need it most.
And here's what makes this even more infuriating!
All those "gurus" telling you to build "fast twitch muscles" or "increase muscle speed" are full of sh*t.
It's complete pseudoscience nonsense.
Your muscles can ALREADY move as fast as the possibly can.
And I’m not just making claims up here…
This was proven over 100 years ago!
In 1929, physiologist and pianist Otto Ortman found that, “Electrical stimulation has shown that, muscularly and mechanically, the normal infant is as ready to play a rapid five-finger sequence as is the trained adult: the difference is in the ability to tell the fingers in advance what to do.”
That means that your muscles have the EXACT SAME potential for speed RIGHT NOW as they did when you were a baby... and will have when you're 95.
And 48 years before that, another electrophysiologist and piano teacher Du-Bois Reymond said that, “The motor activity of the human body depends on the proper interaction of the muscles more than upon the force of their contraction.” (1881)
That means you ALREADY have all the speed you need... you just can't ACCESS it yet.
Then, there was a virtuoso piano teacher named Oscar Raif who PROVED all of this was true...
Raif conducted a series of experiments and discovered that both pianists and non-pianists could make an average of 5 to 6 movements per second with the index and middle fingers, and 4-5 movements with each of the other fingers.
(A few non-pianists could even perform up to 7 movements!)
These measurements showed that pianists with training had no greater physical ability in making these movements than the average person…
In fact, sometimes trained musicians moved SLOWER.
But it goes deeper…
Raif then observed his students for several years and recorded student’s tempo limits playing various 5-finger exercises.
The speed at which the student could perform these exercises increased dramatically, however, he noted that the speed of their individual fingers did not.
From this, Raif correctly concluded that you CANNOT increase the speed of muscle contractions.
The only thing that you increase is the coordination between the movements.
You can't Increase "Muscle Speed".
You *CAN* Increase *COORDINATION*.
A.K.A: How fast your brain sends the signal.
The difference isn’t in “muscle speed”.
The difference is in COORDINATION.
More specifically, it was:
- How efficiently the brain commanded the muscles
- Which muscles were activated
- How unnecessary movements were eliminated
- How neural pathways were optimized
This means that right now, your body already has the raw potential for incredible speed.
The problem is that your brain is choosing inefficient movement patterns.
And when guitarists don't understand this crucial point...
They fall for the next big lie.
When Speed Doesn't Work... Everyone Falls For The 'Practice Slow' Lie
Back to the drawing board…
Playing fast didn't work.
Now you're gonna try to play slowwwwwww.
Right on cue, here comes that classic advice:
“If you can't play it slow, you can't play it fast.”
WRONG.
Here's what nobody tells you about how your brain actually works:
When you practice slowly, your brain creates a long, winding path to get each note out.
Think. Process. Adjust. Play. Think. Process. Adjust. Play.
But when you need to play fast, that slow path is useless. Your brain needs a direct route:
See the note. Play the note. Done.
This is why players who ONLY practice slowly hit massive plateaus. They've literally trained their brain to take the long way around.
It's like your brain taking the scenic route - walking six blocks around the entire neighborhood just to visit your next-door neighbor.
Sure, you'll eventually get there... but why take the long way when you could just walk straight next door?"
The Cruel, Hidden Cost of 'Just Keep Practicing'...
Look, I get it.
You've probably spent YEARS banging your head against the wall…
Watching countless YouTube tutorials that all say different things…
Dropping hundreds (maybe thousands) on lessons and courses that didn't deliver…
Practicing until your hands ache, only to wake up the next day and feel like you've made ZERO progress...
And the worst part?
That nagging voice in the back of your head wondering if maybe you just don't have what it takes.
If maybe you're just not "gifted" enough.
If maybe you should just give up and accept that you'll never play at the level you dream about.
I know that feeling because I lived it.
Listen carefully, because this next part determines whether you waste the next 5 years of practice:
Your brain is going to create SOME kind of picking motion whether you like it or not. That's just how it works.
And here's the scary part...
If you leave this page right now and go back to practicing like before, your brain is still going to develop a picking motion. It has to.
But it's going to be the WRONG motion.
Wrong pathways.
Wrong habits.
And every hour you spend practicing will just cement the wrong habits deeper and deeper into your muscle memory.
But here's the good news…
TRUE speed can be explained by this simple formula.
Knowing how to optimize your movement patterns
+
Teaching the brain to send electrical signals to the muscles faster
(Most teachers don’t know how to teach the first part… And they don’t even know the second part exists!)
After just 2 weeks of developing these exercises based on my research…
I was playing lines that were previously IMPOSSIBLE for me.
And in a few more months…
Despite playing guitar for less than half the time of many virtuosos, I was nearly matching their speeds — and with more efficient, precise movement.
All while having started guitar 10 years later than they did.
These clips are just 6 months apart... And the improvement is EXPLOSIVE.
36% improvement.
But here's what really matters:
What I created for myself wasn’t just a bunch of meaningless exercises...
I had found out how to interrupt the brain’s motor planning circuits and actively control how my brain was developing picking technique!
I figured out a way to FORCE my brain to execute this motion perfectly.
And systematically rewire my neural pathways to send signals faster…
While maintaining the exact same technique I was using at slower speeds.
I was getting all of the benefits with NONE of the drawbacks.
And suddenly…
There was no more hoping I would accidentally discover good technique.
No more wondering if I was practicing the right way.
No more watching my technique fall apart at higher speeds.
No more wondering if I was doing it "right."
No more feeling stuck.
I had successfully broken down every millimeter of every movement to surgical precision.
And knew exactly what to do if something wasn't working.
Because this was based on proven neuroscience — not baseless "guitar bro" claims and senseless routines — I knew it could work for anyone.
And as I began sharing what I'd discovered with other guitarists...
The results were consistent. Predictable. Repeatable.
Every single person who followed these principles experienced the same breakthrough.
How to Force Your Brain to Pick the Right Way
The fastest picking motion isn't some mystical technique that only "naturals" can achieve...
It's a precise combination of biomechanical efficiency and neural optimization that ANY player can develop.
That's exactly why I created Perfect Picking.
Perfect Picking isn't another "play faster" course...
It's a complete neural reprogramming system.
One that combines neuroscience, physiology, and centuries of classical training into a simple method ANY guitarist can master.
It’s the only program to increase both neural speed signaling AND movement efficiency.
Instead of forcing yourself to "just relax", "try harder", or play endless (and useless) "magic exercises"...
Perfect Picking reprograms your neural pathways by:
First — Breaking down the Perfect Picking motion into its smallest components — Showing you exactly what to do without getting lost in useless technical jargon or anatomy lessons
Second — It installs these precise movements using just 20 minutes of specifically designed exercises that FORCE your brain to choose the right patterns
Third — It systematically introduces speed ONLY after your motion is perfect — So you're not just playing faster… You're playing better.
And it works FAST.
Most of my students see their first major breakthrough within days.
Now look, I'll be straight with you — This isn't some 'overnight miracle.'
While the initial transformation usually takes about 2 weeks, it requires focus and deliberate practice...
Compare that to the YEARS most guitarists stay stuck. Frustrated. Limited. In pain.
When you see how quickly your picking transforms... how tension melts away... and how speed starts feeling effortless...
You'll understand why my students say these two weeks changed everything.
Let me show you the kind of results that eliminate any doubt...
Meet Peter — An adult student who discovered Perfect Picking just 15 months into learning guitar.
No prior music experience.
No natural advantages.
Here's what happened in just 6 weeks...
🎯 Single-string comfortable speed:
FROM: 120 bpm
TO: 155 bpm
IMPROVEMENT: 29% faster in just 6 weeks
🎯 "Push to the limit" speed:
FROM: 150 bpm
TO: 180 bpm
IMPROVEMENT: 20% faster
Most impressive?
His multi-string playing speed increased by over 33%...
And remember — This is someone who'd only been playing guitar for 15 months total. He wasn't some seasoned veteran with years of experience.
He was basically starting from scratch.
Yet in just 6 weeks, he made the kind of progress that takes most guitarists YEARS to achieve...
While only practicing the core exercises in Module 2.
He hasn't even touched the advanced material yet (which covers string crossing).
In just 6 weeks, Peter experienced:
Elimination of all awkwardness in his picking motion
Large decrease in unnecessary tension
Massively more accurate picking with much greater ease
Smooth 16th notes (no more choppy/swung sound) at higher tempos
A general feeling of comfort with picking - something that had “always felt slightly awkward” before
This wasn't just subjective improvement...
The numbers prove it!
In his exact words:
"As much as I would like to provide some constructive criticism, I cannot find anything I've seen so far from the course to level it at. It's unusual to find something that suits you 100%, but I think Perfect Picking is as close to perfect for me as possible."
Here’s his original email for proof.
And the best part?
He's still improving every single day.
Like dozens of other guitarists who've discovered this system...
And remember - Peter achieved all this with:
No prior music experience
Just 6 weeks of practice
Only the basic exercises
Zero "natural talent" advantages
If these results are possible for someone just 15 months into their guitar journey...
Imagine what's possible for YOU.
I've already battle-tested this system on dozens of players:
Players faster than me
Complete beginners
Players as young as 13 and older than 60
30-year veterans
Professional musicians
The result?
EVERY SINGLE PLAYER developed the exact same efficient movement pattern.
EVERY SINGLE PLAYER increased their speed.
EVERY SINGLE PLAYER eliminated tension.
Like Jared, a working family man with 3 kids:
"Even though I've been playing guitar 3x longer than Matt, Perfect Picking made the licks and runs I've been playing for decades faster, cleaner, and more efficient in basically 10 days of working on it...
And I'm not even having to 'think' about 'doing it right'. It just happens automatically."
Or Zach Seif, a full-time musician who studied at Berklee:
"I've been playing guitar for 16 years... Matt pointed out that I had been holding some unnecessary tension and showed me how to resolve it.
I highly recommend Perfect Picking to anyone who wants to take their technique, specifically speed and accuracy to the next level."
Why does Perfect Picking work SO consistently?
Because it's built on rock-solid scientific principles:
Progressive Relaxation that literally rewires your brain to eliminate tension before it starts
Advanced Practice Neuroscience that buries the "slow practice vs. fast practice" MYTH forever
Reinforcement Learning that rewards good picking patterns while eliminating unnecessary movements
Applied Physiology that explains which movement patterns are optimal and why
Time-Tested Pedagogy drawing from 200 years of the world's most effective music training
When you combine all these elements into one focused system...
The results are inevitable.
And the long-term potential?
Well… Here’s a clip of me playing up to 220 bpm. (880 notes per minute)
WITH NO ARM MOVEMENT.*
*Some arm movement does come in, but it comes in as a compensatory motion to the string being released, not because the motion is initiated by the arm. I explain in the program.
Typical Timeline: What Our Students Experience
Now, let me be completely transparent about what happens next…
Perfect Picking is great, but like with most things in life…
You get in what you put out.
That means that your results will depend on how consistently you practice.
(Just 20 minutes, 4-5 days a week is enough to correct your MOTION... But building serious speed takes longer.)
But when you follow our suggested path...
Here's what we typically see:
By the end of Week 1...
That initial tension release starts becoming virtually permanent.
Students who practice just 20 minutes per day report:
Lasting elimination of tension
Cleaner picking motion
First glimpses of real speed potential
Growing confidence in their technique
Around Week 2...
This is where dedicated students experience their first major breakthrough.
Your brain starts automatically executing the new technique...
And if you've been consistent with your practice...
You'll likely see speeds climbing to 130-140 bpm 16th notes - typically about a 5-10% improvement from where you're currently at.
Not through force or tension...
But through pure efficiency of movement.
By Week 4...
Mastery of the picking movement allows you to graduate to working on speed.
And you’ll be surprised how fast you can increase your speed from that mid tempo 140-150 bpm range…
To where you’re really cookin’ around 180 bpm 16th notes.
And by Week 8...
Those who've stayed committed to the process report:
Significant accuracy improvements with multi-string playing
Continuing speed gains
Total confidence in their playing
How Much Time It Really Takes To Build Speed
Remember: Perfect Picking is not magic.
It's neuroscience applied to guitar technique.
Which means the system works...
IF you work the system.
Ideally, you’ll practice every day, but you can still make mind-blowing progress practicing just ~4-
5 days per week.
This is because the brain relies more on consistency than raw hours.
(And if I'm being honest, I don't think I've ever done this stuff 7 days in a row! which is a further testament to just how well it works!)
Spaced repetition strengthens neural pathways and skill retention more effectively than occasional long sessions.
So, you’ll start with just 20 minutes per day in the first two weeks...
That's all you need to do to help your brain rebuild it's movement patterns.
Once you’ve perfect your picking movement, you can choose to expand to 40-60 minute sessions like I do...
Or maintain shorter, focused practice periods...
Spending some days working on motion...
And some days jumping in and working on raw speed.
Like I said, the key is consistency, not marathon sessions.
And what’s so cool about this, even if you just do those short sessions is that all of that stuff you “got rusty" on...
Exercises that you used to struggle with...
Even songs you haven’t touched in months...
Suddenly become smoother, cleaner, and faster.
Without specifically practicing them.
(Remember Jared's story?)
This happens because Perfect Picking doesn't just improve what you're working on...
It optimizes the fundamental mechanical efficiency of EVERYTHING you play.
When your picking motion becomes truly efficient...
All your playing reaps the benefits.
And you're never alone on this journey...
Inside our private Perfect Picking community…
You'll connect with other guitarists on the same path...
Share your victories...
Get direct feedback from me personally...
And celebrate each other's breakthroughs.
This is why Perfect Picking students consistently achieve what other guitarists think is impossible...
Because they're following a proven neural pathway to speed...
With a supportive community behind them...
And expert guidance every step of the way.
Now, you might be thinking...
"This sounds amazing, but..."
Let me address the exact concerns you probably have right now:
"But what if I have years of bad technique and bad habits?"
Here's something fascinating about habit change:
The LENGTH of a habit doesn't matter.
What matters is the INTENSITY of mental focus you bring to practice.
If your current movement is very different from wrist deviation, it might take longer to fix.
But if it's CLOSE?
The transformation happens surprisingly fast.
Perfect Picking works because it's based on universal principles of neuroscience and biomechanics - which is why it works for ANY player at ANY level.
The course is incredibly detailed, yet surprisingly simple:
No video longer than 10 minutes (except for a few explainer vids)
Clear, step-by-step progression
Dedicated A-Z learning path
Full community support
This beats randomly searching YouTube videos hoping to piece together a solution.
"Will this work for my style of playing?"
Jazz, country, metal, etc...
Perfect Picking is laser-focused on ONE thing: mastering alternate picking technique.
Whether you play jazz on a hollow body...
Shred on an electric...
Or even mandolin...
The principles work universally because you'll understand exactly WHY your hand does what it does.
(Quick note: This won't help with funk strumming — that uses a completely different motion called pronation/supination. But it WILL help you nail those precise single-note lines that every style demands. That's why it's called Perfect Picking not Perfect Strumming.)
We focus exclusively on alternate picking because it's your "home base" technique.
Master this, and every other technique becomes vastly easier.
Why?
Because Perfect Picking doesn't just increase speed...
It creates an extremely high level of awareness and "programmability" in your hand.
This lets you switch techniques on the fly — Like changing gears in a car.
"But what if I've tried other courses and failed?"
Here's the brutal truth about most guitar courses:
They don't understand where picking technique breaks down neurologically or biomechanically.
Instead, they give you useless advice like:
"Play this exercise over and over"
"Use your wrist" (with no further instruction)
"Do speed bursts"
"Just try to play faster"
"Relax!"
"Slow practice until it's perfect"
But NONE of them can help you FORCE your body to execute properly…
And do it repeatedly without thinking about it.
Perfect Picking is different.
We've already developed ALL the exercises you need to fix ANY picking problem.
And if we somehow missed something?
I'll personally meet with you and ADD new exercises to the course.
That's right — The course keeps getting better because of student feedback.
Time is Working Against Your Technique
Look, I know exactly how it feels...
Spending countless hours practicing...
Only to watch your dreams of becoming the player you KNOW you could be... slowly slip away.
Meeting every hero you ever dreamed of, only to hear them talk about the tricks they use to AVOID mastering alternate picking…
Or just get the same advice from teacher after teacher…
The worst part?
It's not just the wasted time that hurts...
It's the confusion. The frustration. The self-doubt.
Because when you can't figure out WHY you're not improving...
Your brain starts whispering those toxic thoughts...
But here's the truth:
It was NEVER your fault.
You didn't fail because you lacked talent...
You didn't fail because you didn't practice enough...
You failed because traditional teaching literally PROGRAMMED your brain the wrong way.
Every day you practice with incorrect technique...
You're literally strengthening the WRONG neural pathways.
Making it HARDER to ever play the way you want.
Look, I hate watching guitarists struggle with this.
Because I know exactly how it feels to practice for hours, doing your absolute best... Only to be literally rewiring your brain for SLOWER playing.
I HAVE LIVED IT!!
That's why I'm so passionate about getting this system into the hands of every serious player.
Because Perfect Picking does something revolutionary:
It literally rewires your brain for speed.
And the sooner you start that rewiring process...
The faster you'll finally become the player you were meant to be.
Just imagine...
6 months from now, you could be:
Playing faster than ever
Finally hitting your speed goals
Knowing you're practicing the RIGHT way
Making up for all that lost time <--
Or...
You could be in exactly the same place you are now.
Frustrated, confused, and wondering "what if?"
The choice is yours.
But you must decide now.
Because those neural highways?
They're being reinforced every single time you ever touch the guitar…
Here's Everything You Need (And Nothing You Don't)
“It is not the quantity of knowledge that matters, but the quality. Some knowledge can change people’s lives, while more information can overwhelm and confuse.”
— Socrates
Let me show you exactly what you get when you enroll in Perfect Picking today…
While most courses are focused on “how much value” they offer you, Perfect Picking is intentionally short, including only the most essential information you need.
There are no “upsells” unless you want to do lessons with me.
You will get everything you need to accomplish your picking goals. 👏
Further, Perfect Picking focuses EXCLUSIVELY on alternate picking. We don’t touch hybrid, economy, selective, etc. These will only serve to confuse your hand during the reprogramming process.
CURRICULUM
“It is not the quantity of knowledge that matters, but the quality. Some knowledge can
change people’s lives, while more information can overwhelm and confuse.”
— Socrates
MODULE 1 - FOUNDATIONS
This module alone saves you MONTHS of confusion and frustration by revealing:
The full scientific expose behind why Perfect Picking works
How to train your brain for speed
The precise motion that unlocks everything
The scientific breakthrough that maximizes every minute of practice
Complete technical foundation reset (pick selection, grip, positioning)
Instead of spending 6-12 months trying random YouTube fixes…
ou'll know exactly what's holding you back in just 98 minutes.
13 videos
1 hour and 38 minutes
MODULE 2 - CORE EXERCISES
This is where everything changes. In just 8 videos (63 minutes), you'll:
Play along with me through the Perfect Picking Core Warmups that eliminate tension, pain and fatigue in the very first session.
Discover the "Plateau Breaker" exercises that demolish speed barriers in songs
Learn the exact neurological method that forces your body to use the most efficient picking motion
Get our "Swiss Army Knife" troubleshooting system that solves ANY picking problem
Discover how to optimize your muscle activation for longer, pain-free playing
These 8 videos replace YEARS of trial and error...
And transform your technique in just weeks.
8 videos
1 hour and 3 minutes
MODULE 3 - MULTI-STRING MASTERY
Most teachers only show you 2 string-crossing patterns. But there are actually 8 critical movements you need to master. This comprehensive module shows you how to:
Build "next level" speed using precise movement control
Develop complete command over ALL 8 string-crossing patterns (not just the basic 2)
Master the 3 Different Types of "Chunking" (Most teachers only know about ONE!)
Finally eliminate string 'swiping' and unwanted string noise
Carry your Perfect Picking motion smoothly across all string
Turn awkward position shifts into fluid, natural movements
Create the exact neural pathways needed for clean, controlled playing
The difference? Instead of practicing random licks and hoping your technique improves, you'll systematically master every movement needed for advanced playing.
9 videos
46 minutes
MODULE 4: SPEED PRACTICE STRATEGIES
This module gives you battle-tested tactics for mastering any challenging riff or lick:
How to properly transition from slow practice to fast practice
Why practicing “perfectly” is sabotaging your speed (and what to do instead)
The brain science of speed development
Practice protocols that actually work
2 videos
15 minutes
BONUS: The Speed Science Vault
This is where I put all of the bonus goodies that I feel you need to know, but aren't necessarily specific to speed and picking motion. Stuff like...
Down Picking Training
An EXCLUSIVE Interview on the Neuroscience of Practice (with Dr. Chris Lee)
Complete Scientific Reference Library (17 sources + counting)
The Most Important Decision You'll Make As a Guitarist...
Think about this...
Most guitarists spend:
Years fighting technical problems
Hundreds on random courses
Thousands on private lessons
Countless hours on YouTube
...still without solving their picking problems.
But today...
For less than the cost of 4 average guitar lessons...
You can get the complete Perfect Picking system for just $197.
Can't pay all at once?
No problem. 🙂
Choose our easy payment plan:
👉 Just 4 payments of $49
(Hey! You even save a buck if you do that...)
That's about the cost of ONE guitar lesson per month...
For a complete system that will transform your playing forever.
And remember my personal guarantee:
If you find ANY picking problem that isn't solved by the course...
I will personally meet with you to create new exercises!
And add them to the course for everyone's benefit.
That's how confident I am in this system.
Ready When You Are :-)
Think about where you are right now:
Frustrated with speed barriers
Fighting against tension
Struggling with accuracy
Wondering if you'll ever break through
Now imagine just 6 weeks from today:
Playing with perfect precision
Effortless speed
Complete technical control
Total confidence in your ability
The choice is yours.
You can keep struggling with the same technical problems...
Hoping something eventually "clicks"...
OR…
You can join Perfect Picking today and finally master the technique that's been holding you back.
Remember: Every day you wait is another day your brain reinforces those inefficient picking patterns.
Another day cementing bad habits deeper into your muscle memory.
Another day making it harder to ever break through.
For less than the price of ONE dinner out per month, you can finally solve the picking problems that have frustrated you for YEARS.
Click the button below now to enroll in Perfect Picking.
Choose your preferred payment option on the next page.
And in just minutes, you'll have complete access to the system that's already transformed dozens of guitarists just like you.
You've already waited long enough.
Click below to enroll in Perfect Picking.
More Love for Perfect Picking
"Matt has given more thought to picking in 5 years on the guitar than I’ve given it in 25 years.”
Chris Zoupa
Teramaze
"I really enjoyed working with Matthew! He was thorough and very thoughtful about his teaching and method of learning guitar! His knowledge of the learning process was very helpful while still being fun and educational.
I loved his attention to detail and emphasis on fundamentals! Matthew is an A+ teacher and I can’t recommend his teaching enough!”
David Cooper
Principal Horn of the L.A. Philharmonic
*Private guitar student who received Perfect Picking instruction during lessons
"Matt has not only discovered the extremely nuanced way of optimizing your picking technique for speed, articulation, tension-release, and string skipping applications but he’s amazing at honing in on all the little faults and areas of inefficiency that are keeping you from mastering this process and shredding like the beast you’ve always wanted to be!
I can’t recommend his program and teaching enough. When you realize the correct way to play at these blazing speeds, you’ll kick yourself for not getting there sooner!”
Matt L.
Karmacode band
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I play (INSERT GENRE HERE). Will I benefit from this course?
Yes. The approach taught inside of Perfect Picking™ is universal.
Second, the approach taught inside of
Perfect Picking™ is not meant to be used in every music situation all of the time. That would be the same as trying to use a hammer to try to turn a nut. Perfect Picking solely and specifically addresses fast, constant, alternate picking.
Is there be a community?
Yes. For now, we are using Facebook. You will need a Facebook account to access the group. There, you can post videos and get help from me.
What if I have REALLY bad habits?
Yes. This will still work for you.
Because Perfect Picking™ is based on neuroscience, it will help you immediately know and correct when you are not performing the technique correctly. This is why most students see a dramatic change in their picking form within about 2 weeks.
Depending on where you are starting it may take a little longer, but with consistent practice, anything is possible!
I believe in you.
How long do I have access to the course for
You have access to the material forever!
And, if I ever decide to take the course offline for some reason, all paid-up members will be offered a direct download of the course.*
*Direct downloads of the course are not otherwise offered and are strictly forbidden.
More info can be found in our Terms of Use.
Do I need anything else? (Materials)
Yes, but it's not much.
1. You need a guitar (obviously).
2. And you need a capo.
3. A kitchen timer is highly recommended.
4. A small, freestanding hand mirror is also recommended, but a selfie cam on a phone works too.
5. A journal is also highly recommended so you can keep track of your progress and write down your own breakthroughs.
6. Guitar Pro is helpful for practicing music, but is not required at all for the course.
If you only got one thing off the list, get a capo.
FOCUS is paramount and the phone is generally a distraction which is why I recommend standalone tools.
How long is the course?
The entirety of the course material is under 3 hours long.
Most course videos are interactive, easy to absorb videos that run ~5-10 minutes.
The first part of the course is a 1-hour intro to the concepts that power Perfect Picking, split up into a few different sections.
The Core Warmups video is 20-minutes long and it's a play-along video.
You will not be left staring at your computer like a bored zombie absorbing technical information...
Instead, you'll be watching, and then playing along with me while I guide you through each exercise.
==================
Contrary to popular belief, more is NOT better. Teaching that is effective and well-thought-out should be concise. The student receives no benefits from me blathering on for X hours.
How long does it take to see results?
Most students see significant changes in their EFFICIENCY within 2 weeks of practice, for 20-minutes per day, 4-5 days per week.
You will see significant gains in your SPEED within 2-3 months of focused effort.
Efficiency = how you move
Speed = how fast you move
Together = Your full picking potential
20-minutes per day is sufficient to get the "easy wins" out of your picking technique.
After mastering the movement, I recommend expanding the practice routine to ~60 minutes to reach what I call your "breaking point" as often as you can.
How is this different than Troy Grady / Cracking the Code?
Troy has made a tremendous and positive impact to the guitar community and I certainly borrow some of his concepts in my teaching.
However, Troy encourages students to "do what's natural" and offers multiple learning paths to the student. This is a bad idea.
First — It necessarily assumes that whatever the student does naturally is the technique they have the most potential with. This is false. Imagine if we dropped a breaststroke swimmer in the water with the freestyle swimmers. The freestyle swimmers will win every race because they have a superior technique.
Second — It assumes that the student knows what's wrong and is able to troubleshoot their technique. However, by offering multiple learning paths, the student is left confused and overwhelmed.
Perfect Picking™ relies on teaching one, highly specific method that is built from the ground up to be as efficient as possible. That means that there is a static reference point from which to compare your technique.
This enables the student to troubleshoot effectively on their own.
Is there a guarantee? / What if I want a refund?
For subscriptions or payment plans, no refunds are given for the first month. If you’re billed for a second month and wish to cancel, you have 3 days to request a refund. No refunds are provided for forgetting to cancel. Otherwise, see the policy for full-payment purchases.
For full-payment purchases, we offer a conditional refund. Email me with your problem. I will give you a free session and if we find something that isn't covered in the course, we will add it to the course for all to benefit. If I can't solve your problem, then we will offer a refund.
EU and UK users can request a refund within 14 days, according to local laws. All other users follow the general policy above.
Contact info, the Facebook group, and an obvious link to the Self-Billing portal are provided on the "Home" page of the course.
Personal Note from Matt
If you're reading this — Thank you for coming to my proverbial picking soap box.
I'm not exaggerating when I say I've spent years studying this stuff. Taking little videos of myself. Playing them back. Reading. Taking notes. Re-reading... Re-reading my notes. Printing stuff out. Highlighting. Etc.
I'm sure some people will say this is just another "YouTuber cash grab". But it's not. I'm a freelance marketer and doing this music basically drains money from me.
(At least for now... Got some cool stuff in the works. 😉)
But... I have two beliefs:
Firstly — Sales is transformational. When someone has a product that can truly transform people, it's their duty to get out there and tell people about it!
Second — Why not make the product free?
Because when people pay, they pay attention.
I've given products away for free in the past and the course completion always sits on 0%.
So, I won't apologize for writing a hardcore, direct-response sales letter to get you to buy this when I KNOW for a fact it will change your life...
As long as you do your part. (Fair?) 👊
This is as close as I can get you to holding your hand and dragging your butt kicking and screaming through one of the hardest skills to develop on guitar.
Your guitar mentor,
Matt Wright
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