alternative picking

fenderrules

fenderrules

New member
hi all! im still on my quest to learn speedmetal but i need to get my alternate picking up to par first

right now im practicing a chop from paul gilbert for alternative picking:

e-----------13-----------13-----------13----13---------------------
B-13-14-16----16-14-13----13-14-16----16----16------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------

so, at which part should i pluck up or down?? i have been plucking in this pattern: down up down up all the way. am i doing it correctly??
 
Yes. As per the name of the technique suggests... up down up down, strictly alternate all the way.

Whether you start on an up stroke or a down stroke, does not matter... the thing is you have to be adept at starting with either one.
 
If you are a beginner .... i suggest that you practice alternate picking on one string. The TAB that you displayed is a practice for changing strings.

Maybe you can try picking only the first three notes first .. start slow.

When you can comfortably play it steadily (no missing notes, no muting, no miscues), progress to a faster speed.

When you can achieve that, move on to the next string. Before you progress, make sure you are able to play it steadily on a given tempo.

Question: Can you alternate pick comfortably when playing Chords for a song? If your question is no, then that is something you must work on. Before you play lead, you must have a very strong foundation on rhythm.
Or playing lead will be like a 3000HP car with a mad driver ... totally no direction.

Malmsteen is a terribly fantastic rhythm player. His chord progressions are very well planned and theorectically sound. It's only when you recognise the right chords and progression that you know what to play as a lead guitarist.

Go go go! :)
 
what do u mean by alternate picking of chord? as in hold down chords and start with 6th string down up down up until 1st string?
 
try of sins and shadows by symphony x, intro only or the x japan ballade solos, got my alt picking playing these
 
IMO there isn't really a "fix" way to like up then down then up then down.

I feel that as long as you are comfortable with it.

Some parts you can do alternate picking, and some just do the normal way.

Maybe, down up down down up down down down up etc.
 
theres alternate picking, theres alternative picking and theres tapping...

like michael angelo says: "well, basically I'm not prejudiced... I like'em'll..."

lol
 
MadWereWolfBoy ..... what i meant by alternate picking a chord is just like plucking a 4 chord progression pop song.

When playing an electric, picking sounds better than plucking when playing rhythm. Unless you are are talking about some finger style players who uses their fingers on the electric .. it's hard to master and it's an expection. 99.99% of electric Rhythm guitarists picks using a pick ... (ah duh .. haha) :)

When playing electric guit may it be rhythm or lead ... alternate picking is a very useful technic. It's faster and more steady than single direction picking. Imagine a lead guitarist who can't play rhythm properly .... whats the point of playing lead? :)
 
how bout songs like "behind blue eyes"?

its not a smart idea to use alternate picking on that song cuz the strings to be picked are quite weird right?

i think alternate picking would be good for basic improvision and certain chops but still... some chops are meant for other styles/patterns of picking...

=)
 
If you are a beginner .... i suggest that you practice alternate picking on one string. The TAB that you displayed is a practice for changing strings.

Maybe you can try picking only the first three notes first .. start slow.

When you can comfortably play it steadily (no missing notes, no muting, no miscues), progress to a faster speed.

When you can achieve that, move on to the next string. Before you progress, make sure you are able to play it steadily on a given tempo.

Question: Can you alternate pick comfortably when playing Chords for a song? If your question is no, then that is something you must work on. Before you play lead, you must have a very strong foundation on rhythm.
Or playing lead will be like a 3000HP car with a mad driver ... totally no direction.

Malmsteen is a terribly fantastic rhythm player. His chord progressions are very well planned and theorectically sound. It's only when you recognise the right chords and progression that you know what to play as a lead guitarist.

Go go go!
Click to expand...

okay then, so any chops you have in mind that i can practice alternative picking?? didnt know that tab was for changing strings. i got that tab off guitarworld by the way. it's a chop that mark tremonti of alter bridge uses for alternative picking practices. [/quote]
 
Fender rules:

Try playing just 3 notes on one string first ....

MadWereWolfBoy:

Even if the song is plucked straight from 1st string to last string ... it will still be faster and smoother with alternate picking .... just ry it.
 
ok i'm gona try it soon... find it hard cuz i'm to used to the "direction of next string" picking style of behind blue eyes...

but alternate picking can never be as fast as "strumming" what? so...
 
Never be as fast as strumming? I don't understand.. with alternate picking, you can shred as fast as Malmsteem, Petrucci, Jason Becker and Zack Wydle.

Anyway, I could never get used to alternate picking, prob because I've been an economy picker / legato user most of my guitar life. So yeah, some things are harder to do with alternate picking... trying to overcome that by figuring out how to use tapping. DOn't know if it will work though.
 
MadWereWolfBoy

If you meant Strumming as in strmming chords and playing a song .... yes noone else can ever replace that.

If you meant "strmming" as in a mono-directional upward or downward motion used in Sweep picking .... yes ... it is faster than alternate picking.

Every form of picking has it's uses ... Sweep picking can never allow you to run a scale as effective as Alternative picking. The exact reverse for arppeggios.
 
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