Alternate Picking Exercises
Single String
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u -0--1--3--1--0--1--3--1-|1--3--4--3--1--3--4--3-|3--4--6--4--3--4--6--4-|4--6--8--6--4--6--8--6-|
Cross String: Inside
This one uses open strings to let you focus on strict alternate picking.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d -0-0-0-------0--|----0-0-0---0-0|0---0---0---0--|--------0---0--|0-0-0-0-0---0--|0-- -------0-0-0---0|0-0-------0----|--0---0---0---0|0-0-0-0---0---0|----------0---0|---
These are the exact same pattern just with different left-hand fingerings. It may seem tedious but it's all about getting perfect left-right hand synchronization.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d -4-5-4-------4--|----4-5-4---4-5|4---4---4---4--|--------4---4--|4-5-7-5-4---4--|4-- -------7-5-7---7|5-7-------7----|--7---7---7---7|5-4-5-7---7---7|----------7---7|---
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d -4-6-4-------4--|----4-6-4---4-6|4---4---4---4--|--------4---4--|4-6-7-6-4---4--|4-- -------7-5-7---7|5-7-------7----|--7---7---7---7|5-4-5-7---7---7|----------7---7|---
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d -4-6-4-------4--|----4-6-4---4-6|4---4---4---4--|--------4---4--|4-6-7-6-4---4--|4-- -------7-6-7---7|6-7-------7----|--7---7---7---7|6-4-6-7---7---7|----------7---7|---
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d -4-6-4-------4--|----4-6-4---4-6|4---4---4---4--|--------4---4--|4-6-8-6-4---4--|4-- -------8-6-8---8|6-8-------8----|--8---8---8---8|6-4-6-8---8---8|----------8---8|---
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d -4-5-4-------4--|----4-5-4---4-5|4---4---4---4--|--------4---4--|4-5-7-5-4---4--|4-- -------7-5-7---7|5-7-------7----|--7---7---7---7|5-3-5-7---7---7|----------7---7|---
Cross String: Outside
This is basically the same set of exercises as above for inside picking, but arranged for outside picking. Personally, I find outside picking a little easier. Because you are picking the string at the beginning of each down or up motion, you can more easily apply some muscle and get a solid response from the string.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d -------0-0-0---0|0-0-------0----|--0---0---0---0|0-0-0-0---0---0|----------0---0|--- -0-0-0-------0--|----0-0-0---0-0|0---0---0---0--|--------0---0--|0-0-0-0-0---0--|0-- 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d -------4-5-4---4|5-4-------4----|--4---4---4---4|5-7-5-4---4---4|----------4---4|--- -7-5-7-------7--|----7-5-7---7-5|7---7---7---7--|--------7---7--|7-5-4-5-7---7--|7--
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d -------4-6-4---4|6-4-------4----|--4---4---4---4|6-7-6-4---4---4|----------4---4|--- -7-5-7-------7--|----7-5-7---7-5|7---7---7---7--|--------7---7--|7-5-4-5-7---7--|7--
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d -------4-6-4---4|6-4-------4----|--4---4---4---4|6-7-6-4---4---4|----------4---4|--- -7-6-7-------7--|----7-6-7---7-6|7---7---7---7--|--------7---7--|7-6-4-6-7---7--|7--
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d -------4-6-4---4|6-4-------4----|--4---4---4---4|6-8-6-4---4---4|----------4---4|--- -8-6-8-------8--|----8-6-8---8-6|8---8---8---8--|--------8---8--|8-6-4-6-8---8--|8--
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d -------4-6-4---4|6-4-------4----|--4---4---4---4|6-8-6-4---4---4|----------4---4|--- -7-6-7-------7--|----7-6-7---7-6|7---7---7---7--|--------7---7--|7-6-4-6-7---7--|7--