John Mayer Acoustic Pick Strumming Pattern (NOT FINGER PICKING)

Hey All,

I've been a lurker here for a while and I decided to finally bite the bullet and register today.

Yes, I know there are tons of OMG JM posts. But I haven't come across this question.

My question is regarding how JM strums so quickly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHyOfqiW5C0 (3.15)
and pretty much this whole video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAS4YnWewG8

if you watch, his hand is swaying so smoothly. when i play, my hand seems much more stiff. I've been playing for around 9 years now. The only thing I can think of is that I hold the pick rather peculiarly, with my index, ring finger (for support), and thumb. I realize this decreases my accuracy but I can get a funky groove going with this position. However, when it comes to going double, or triple time like in those videos, I cannot do this.

So what is exactly going on and are there any sorts of exercises I can start working on?

He's using his wrist, not exactly his hand or arm, to move his hand to the strumming pattern.

Your pick holding, with 3 fingers if I read correctly, could be holding you back, but might not even be a issue, there are many super players who do not hold a pick 'correctly', but a more conventional pick positioning could help.

for exercises - get a metronome or just plain tap your feet to a steady constant beat, mute your strings with your fretting hand hit the strings with your picking hand to the beat. A stroke, either up or down up to you, a beat, as long as you go opposite direction on the next beat.

Then start squeezing in two strums on the first beat, 1 on the 2nd beat, two on the 3rd and one on the last beat. Then do 3. then do any variation you want. Remember to be in time always. Start as slow, slow slow slow, sloooowww as you need.

Think of a dead fish nailed to the door hinge that is your wrist .