help for someone just starting

[maxman]

Hi, im new to picking and have bought a few unbranded locks to practice with, they're 5 pin and i can pick them easily enough with 4 pins in, but when i replace the last one i find it hard to tell when the pins are setting and they seem to get pretty tough to move even with really light tension, any tips? Also any advice for picking in general would be appreciated.
Thanks!

[nostromo]

Check out the tutorials here http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10715, and also search for "the LSI Guide to Lockpicking" and "the MIT Guide to Lockpicking". The latter have excellent presentations on setting pins.

[lock2006]

Check out this one too

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=48206

[pjzstones]

when you put the 5th pin in are you picking that pin first? if so you're probably over-setting that pin, or it may not need to be set at all. pictures would help give advice also.