Ok so I'm trying to build up my speed on power chord riffing as it's pathetic right now and I have some technique questions. First of all, should I draw my thumb and <other finger don't know its name lol> closer like I do when I tremolo pick or should I just hold it out like normal? How much, if any, should I angle my pick (I angle it slightly for everything pretty much)? How much of the pick should I be letting strike the strings (i.e. a tiny bit like in tremolo, or a normal amount like when I'm just playing scales or whatever)?

actualy this all realy depends... if you feel comfortable playing a certain way, then play like that, their are NO strikt rules, i say, find out what you prefer, wich way works out for you the best.

also, these things usualy come with practice, if sumtin doesnt work out, try doing it another way.

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Could some people please post pics of how they hold their pick when doing fast power chord riffing?

like i always do, but i just play at a faster rate. theres no trick really, just practice. its really easy.

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One thing I learned from Michael Angelo Batio is if you want to get any good with your picking technique, whether it's alternate/economy/downpicking/whatever is you have to hold the pick the EXACT same way everytime for each technique. This should be whatever feels the best to you and gives you the most stability. Don't alter the way you hold your pick from doing tremelo to downpicking to whatever, it'll just give your right hand skill more hangups to deal with.
As for practicing each skill, there is no better excersise than taking a piece of music you want to learn and go for it at a slow pace with a metronome. For example, one thing I practice for rapid downpicking of power chords is The Berzerker's 'Massacre' riff [the same totally crazy all downpicked one that Sam does on the DVD.]

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If you listen to them, Nightwish's song "Beauty and the beast" (not "Beauty OF the beast, they have that too... confusing douchebags) pretty much consists of varied power chord exercises, plus a short and nice solo, ideal as a starter for beginners, or warm-up for the seasoned.

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Here's a tip

Hang your guitar a bit lower, it'll increase the mobility for the mechanics of doing neat downpicks etc. Start by practicing them in groups of two, then three, then four etc, to a semi-structured increasing tempo.

Do some shite like this as well, in order to get used to clean downstrokes that involve changes in the fretting hand:

A-3-2-2--3-3-2--2-2-3--etc
E-1-0-0--1-1-0--0-0-1--etc

But I've been in the same situation... A thirsty mind always has optimism that there's better ways to learning than just through perseverence. Chances are however, that it's just one of those things that will feel unnatural and vile for a few days, then one morning it'll feel smooth to play. You can achieve this quickly just through playing to a tempo, say to 90bpm, then work it up to 110bpm. Repeat it later on and you'll probably stop to think 90 seems too slow etc...

A catalyst for learning dull things =

Go listen to and play stuff from Aus Rotten(crust punk, very thrashy), early Nuclear Assualt, or my favorite: TERRORIZER(grind/death)). Lots of fast powerchording/sliding, not hard for any normal player but it'll most certainly help you loads. The riffs and arrangements are simple, and the songs are pretty short and easy to learn

There's no right way to hold a pick, some ways are more efficient than others for shredding. But then here and there someone appears with an apperently dumb picking technique but manages to outshred most people. So don't get too caught up in that.

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Haha totally. Just look at Marty Friedman and Steve Morse! I dunno how Marty does not get carpal tunnel syndrome from the way he positions his right hand on the guitar...

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When I play slow PCs, then I play with a normal amount of the pick. If I play speed-up PCs, then I play like I am playing tremolos. Else my pick sticks behind the second string, after which it MOTT falls out of my hand. So that does not work for me. It might be thesame for you.

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it isn't how you hold your pick it is just how fast u pick for me i hold my pick the way i alway's do whatever is comfortable is what i do

Hell yeah

Word up, he's the same person I was thinking of when I typed that. Chuck Schuldiner too also bent his wrists like hell when shredding on the upper registers, it's kind of a bad habit of mine too.

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ive found mental limitation is what holds most peeps back. i mean, do you wish you could play fast or are you going to play fast? remember, you get what you want.

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Play as you feel comfortable...for example I always put my right hand's pinkey (or however that finger is called) on the body while playing fast licks and solos. its al about how comfortable you feel while playing

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upstroking is nice and all but actually most its not so important beeing able to do it from 85-100 bpm is pretty much enough for any guitarrist.For powerchords and stuff at fast speeds you should use alternate picking style as some songs are like virtous to play downpicked but very easy again played this way.Also you should try making use of the circular picking method if you havent yet as most (bad) guitarrists tend to use wrist picking which reduces their musiciality in clean playing,pattern melodies and speed aswell.

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upstrokes are important. if youre quick with your upstrokes you will be a lot quicker with your downstrokes. common sense. accuracy is improved also. you mention circle picking, which is a technique used in shredding ie. playing ultrafast, but you discount upstrokes?

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Yep, this is why it's a benefit to do warmups and excercises starting with upstrokes, to make them as strong or close to the strength of the downstrokes.

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