How do you effectively pick locks in Elder Scrolls Oblivion for the 360?

Question

I need the basics.

Answer 1

For 360, you use the analogue stick to move left and right between tumblers. Push up on the analogue stick to lift a tumbler the tip of the lockpick is under, and press the A button as soon as the end of the tumbler hits the top. Time it right, and the tumbler will stay in place. Then just carry on with the rest in the same way.

It is possible to unlock even the hardest of locks with a low Security skill. Push the tumblers up a few times, but don't press A to lock them in place. Get a feel for how they move. Some fall faster than others, and I've found a tumbler will fall slower if you tap it and let it fall a few times. With practice you should get to know the right time to lock a tumbler in place.

One book within the game mentions holding a torch to the lock, stating that this causes the tumblers to fall at a similar rate to each other. I tried this, and it does seem to make the tumbler fall more smoothly. Try equipping a torch before attempting to pick a lock. Just make sure that using a torch won't draw unwanted attention from nearby characters!

Answer 2

I have Oblivion for PC. You press a button(I'm not sure which one since it is for 360) to stop the tumblers when they reach the top of the lock in order to keep them in place. This is done one by one and if you mess one up, others will fall back into position.
This is for the PC version, so I'm not sure if it the same.