Alternate Picking

[mpigott]

Hey all.....I'm new here, but im really working hard on alternate picking and im curious on how everyone else is doing things. How do you alternate pick things really fast...... everyones got a different technique....what's yours?........like Yngwie, Gilbert, Becker, Angelo......they all have such different styles.

[GodOfRhythm]

Re: Alternate Picking

I'm a mix between Lynch, Friedman and Hammett.

My fingers sometimes fan out Lynch-style, my wrist goes in one weird-ass way sometimes when really going fast Friedman-style and on some more easier licks I've got a really loose wrist and pick it as comfortable as possible, as Hammett used to do.

Of course there's some 'me' in there as well.

Best practice for alternate picking is chromatics for me.

[shredmonster]

Re: Alternate Picking

It's in the same realm as developing your own style and sound.

It will take some time and experimentation to find what is comfortable for you.

I agree with GOR on chromatic exercises. They work wonders. I do them every figgen day as a warm up for 1/2 an hour then do some picking exercises on top of that for another 5 or 10 minutes just to warm up. Then I will go on to something else but this gives me at least a good 35 minutes or so of nothing but picking exercises (as well as developing left hand finger strenth, dexterity and independence).

I would reccommend however holding the pick to somewhat of an angle to the string rather than completely flat or parallel to the string when you pick to get less friction in your technique.

I would also reccommend going with a thicker pick like a Dunlop Jazz III to develop more speed and accuracy.

[mpigott]

Re: Alternate Picking

Thanks.......ive got the basics down....the worst part is catching a new string on an upstroke.....i ussually practies alternating between two strings with cheesy annoying etudes like the one in the John Petrucci DVD. Its starting to come together.

[Newc]

Re: Alternate Picking

Here's one that I use that's really simple:

E||-----------------------------|--------------------------||
B||-----------------------------|--------------------------||
G||------10--9---------7--5-----|-----4--2--------4--5-----||
D||--12---------10--9--------7--|--5--------3--5--------7--||
A||-----------------------------|--------------------------||
E||-----------------------------|--------------------------||

Start at whatever tempo you like, then build it up to as fast and accurate as you can get it. I usually just use 3 fingers (Index, Mid, Ring) for the whole thing as it also improves your position changing (if you're the type that subconciously grips the neck too tight making quick jumps too slow, like me).
I need to work on incorporating my pinky into that.

You can also expand it to include other strings and do it more like a swept arpeggio, or alternate the whole thing.

The intro to Crazy Train is good for developing alternate picking, as well as the main rhythm to Master Of Puppets.

Don't forget the basics like Pipeline and Wipeout.

Also the intro to Sweet Child O Mine. That's great for string skipping, alternate picking, 4-finger fretting, AND "close combat" fretting if you do it on the 12th-15th frets and the 2-5 strings. Guitar magazine tabbed it out on the 1-4 strings and 9-12th frets.
If you've got the upper-fret access, try it on the 3rd-6th strings at the 17th-20th frets - it gets REALLY cramped up there [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Newc]

Re: Alternate Picking

And don't forget the solo to Sweating Bullets.

[GodOfRhythm]

Re: Alternate Picking

Hey hey hey! I gotta firmly object there! Play Master Of Puppets with downpicking! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[mpigott]

Re: Alternate Picking

agreeed

[Newc]

Re: Alternate Picking

But alternating it improves your alternate-picking speed and technique so that it SOUNDS like you're downpicking.

[11thDay]

Re: Alternate Picking

You can alternate pick "Master" as long as it's just an exercise... Gotta do the strict downpicking in the real world, though. There is a subtle yet noticeable difference! And sometimes it's not so subtle! [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Anyway, to answer your question mpigott, I pick totally opposite of the typical Paul Gilbert alt picking exercise ("outside" picking). I mainly do "inside" picking (ala Dimebag). If you are having trouble catching that new string on the upstroke, try a different approach and you might find something a little more natural to you. I've been trying to alternate pick "outside" like Gilbert for 10 years now and I still can' do it [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] so I've just decided to develop what I CAN do naturally.

.j.

[Newc]

Re: Alternate Picking

[ QUOTE ]
You can alternate pick "Master" as long as it's just an exercise... Gotta do the strict downpicking in the real world, though. There is a subtle yet noticeable difference! And sometimes it's not so subtle! [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

.j.

[/ QUOTE ]

*Only* when playing for the benefit of other guitarists - moshing fans don't care [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

[paulbag]

Re: Alternate Picking



Anyway, to answer your question mpigott, I pick totally opposite of the typical Paul Gilbert alt picking exercise ("outside" picking). I mainly do "inside" picking (ala Dimebag). If you are having trouble catching that new string on the upstroke, try a different approach and you might find something a little more natural to you. I've been trying to alternate pick "outside" like Gilbert for 10 years now and I still can' do it [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] so I've just decided to develop what I CAN do naturally..j.

[/ QUOTE ]

yup, inside picking was a great discovery for me! just so time saving and economical. i'm real concious about what i'm doing now and it helps alot.

[TTSNB]

Re: Alternate Picking

What's the difference between inside and outside picking?

[shredmonster]

Re: Alternate Picking

On inside picking you are picking in the space between the two strings - upstroking the string on top and downstroking the bottom string. Much faster than outside picking from a pure physics perspective.

Outside picking you pick down on the top string - hitting the string from the top as you pick down. Then you have to cross over on the bottom string and pick up on the bottom string. Hitting the bottom string on the bottom of it as you are picking upwards on it.
So you have to come back over to the top of the top string again and pick down for the next stroke. You are constantly crossing strings so your hand is moving physically the greatest distance compared to inside picking.

Inside picking takes a lot of practice to get accurate at - a lot of practice but it is more economical and technically faster.

[MBreinin]

Re: Alternate Picking

Hmmm, never tried inside picking, I only outside pick. Of course, I am not a speed demon and I have never done a picking excercise in my life! Hell I usually swing my whole hand when I pick, ala Stevie Ray. My old guitar teacher really tried to cure me of that one. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Mike