Alternate picking

Welcome to our lesson on alternate picking technique. Alternate picking is one of the most rewarding but difficult things for a guitarist to master. It is simply a method of picking a string with alternating up and down strokes. If you've ever tried playing fast using only down strokes then you will quickly realise how strenuous and inefficient it is. Using up and down strokes together we can achieve a really impressive and fluid picking motion. Always remember that you never repeat a picking stroke twice with this technique.

Perhaps the best way to get a feel for the technique is to begin practicing on a single string using an up stroke followed by a down stroke over and over again. The most difficult part of the alternate picking technique is definitely in crossing strings so using a single string is a great way to build up speed and coordination.

Exercise 1

Exercise 1 is a simple exercise using open strings. Start slowly and try to build up speed. You can play this exercise on all six strings.

The ability to pick super fast is the result of an efficient, disciplined and logical approach. Players like Al Di Melola, Shawn Lane, John Petrucci and Paul Gilbert are all excellent examples of players who really have a great picking technique.

Okay so let's look at the finer details of the alternate picking technique. Although everyone will have their own way of holding the pick using a slight tilt will help you get more speed and cross strings more easily. Try tilting the pick slightly so that it is not quite perpendicular to the string. Always make sure you use a thick plectrum for fast picking. Those flimsy plectrums used for strumming are useless for anybody who is serious about improving their technique. It is important that the pick does not bend when it comes in contact with the string as that inexorably leads to a huge amount of wasted motion. Anything over 1mm thickness should be okay depending on personal preference but in general the thicker the better.

Chromatic exercises like the ones below are a great way to develop speed and accuracy.

Exercise 2

You can loop chromatics on one string to really build up speed. Make sure you play every note clearly and try to build up to 160+bpm

Exercise 3

Experiment and think about how you place your hand on the guitar. Always look at guitar players with great technique and see how they rest their hands and try and adapt this to suit your own playing. You can learn a great deal by watching how other players pick. The closer you pick to the bridge the more brightness and treble there is in the sound. Try picking closer to the neck to get a warmer sound

Paul Gilbert (above) is a great alternate picker

Start off slowly on a single string and use a metronome to keep time. You can find a metronome at any local music store and they are one of the best things you can have to improve your technique as they force you to play in time and in a controlled way. Start off playing sixteenth notes at a slow tempo of around 80 beats per minute and gradually build up your speed as you get more proficient. You should ultimately be aiming for speeds of anywhere between 160 and 200 bpm.

Exercise 5

One of the most important things to be aware of regarding good technique is that all picking should come from the wrist and not the elbow. This is very important. Make sure you keep your arm relaxed and wrist loose. Your wrist should be the only thing that moves when alternate picking. If you watch great players you will see how easy it looks for them to play fast and that's simply because it is. In order to play fast you want to be moving your arm as little as possible. The faster you get the less time there is in between strokes for excess movement. Players with a fast picking technique understand the principles of economy in movement. Your arm should be as relaxed so as to avoid any tension. The last thing you want is an injury from tensing up your hands. Alternate picking should be a natural and relaxed movement.

Exercise 4

Once you are comfortable picking on a single string, start using small scale fragments to practice crossing strings. Using very small fragments crossing only one or two strings is the best way to practice your picking technique

Exercise 6

Thats it for this lesson. Take it slowly, build up speed gradually and make sure you are picking every note clearly. Have fun.