Alternate Picking Exercises
(Redirected from Alternate Picking)
For best practice, play each exercise with the annotated down/upstroke as well as its opposite. For instance, if the exercise says
d u d u
play it as stated the first time through,
d u d u
then play its opposite:
u d u d
Contents
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-|
Chromatic Scale
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 E------------------------------------------1-2-3-4- B----------------------------------2-3-4-6--------- G--------------------------2-3-4-5----------------- D------------------3-4-5-6------------------------- A----------4-5-6-7--------------------------------- E--5-6-7-8----------------------------------------- 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 E-/5-4-3-2------------------------------------------- B----------6-5-4-3----------------------------------- G------------------6-5-4-3--------------------------- D--------------------------7-6-5-4------------------- A----------------------------------8-7-6-5----------- E------------------------------------------9-8-7-6\5-
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3
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
E--------------------------------------------------4-5-6-7/8-
B----------------------------------------4-5-6-7/8-----------
G--------------------------------4-5-6-7---------------------
D----------------------4-5-6-7/8-----------------------------
A------------4-5-6-7/8---------------------------------------
E--4-5-6-7/8-------------------------------------------------
4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1
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
E--7-6-5\4-------------------------------------------------
B----------8-7-6-5\4---------------------------------------
G--------------------7-6-5-4-------------------------------
D----------------------------8-7-6-5\4---------------------
A--------------------------------------8-7-6-5\4-----------
E------------------------------------------------8-7-6-5\4-
C Major Scale in All Positions: 3nps
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 E--------------------------------1-3-5-3-1----------------------------- B--------------------------1-3-5-----------5-3-1----------------------- G--------------------0-2-4-----------------------4-2-0----------------- D--------------0-2-3-----------------------------------3-2-0----------- A--------0-2-3-----------------------------------------------3-2-0----- E--0-1-3-----------------------------------------------------------3-1-
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 E--------------------------------3-5-6-5-3----------------------------- B--------------------------3-5-6-----------6-5-3----------------------- G--------------------2-4-5-----------------------5-4-2----------------- D--------------2-3-5-----------------------------------5-3-2----------- A--------2-3-5-----------------------------------------------5-3-2----- E--1-3-5-----------------------------------------------------------5-3-
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 E--------------------------------5-7-8-7-5----------------------------- B--------------------------5-6-8-----------8-6-5----------------------- G--------------------4-5-7-----------------------7-5-4----------------- D--------------3-5-7-----------------------------------7-5-3----------- A--------3-5-7-----------------------------------------------7-5-3----- E--3-5-7-----------------------------------------------------------7-5-
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 E---------------------------------7-8-10-8-7------------------------------ B--------------------------6-8-10------------10-8-6----------------------- G--------------------5-7-9--------------------------9-7-5----------------- D--------------5-7-9--------------------------------------9-7-5----------- A--------5-7-8--------------------------------------------------8-7-5----- E--5-7-8--------------------------------------------------------------8-7-
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 E--------------------------------------8-10-12-10-8----------------------------------- B------------------------------8-10-12--------------12-10-8--------------------------- G-----------------------7-9-10------------------------------10-9-7-------------------- D----------------7-9-10--------------------------------------------10-9-7------------- A---------7-8-10----------------------------------------------------------10-8-7------ E--7-8-10------------------------------------------------------------------------10-8-
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 E-------------------------------------------10-12-13-12-10---------------------------------------- B----------------------------------10-12-13----------------13-12-10------------------------------- G--------------------------9-10-12----------------------------------12-10-9----------------------- D------------------9-10-12--------------------------------------------------12-10-9--------------- A----------8-10-12------------------------------------------------------------------12-10-8------- E--8-10-12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-10-
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 E-----------------------------------------------12-13-15-13-12------------------------------------------- B--------------------------------------12-13-15----------------15-13-12---------------------------------- G-----------------------------10-12-14----------------------------------14-12-10------------------------- D--------------------10-12-14----------------------------------------------------14-12-10---------------- A-----------10-12-14----------------------------------------------------------------------14-12-10------- E--10-12-13----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13-12-
A Minor Pentatonic Scale: 2nps
d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u E---------------------0-3-0------------------- B-----------------1-3-------3-1--------------- G-------------0-2---------------2-0----------- D---------0-2-----------------------2-0------- A-----0-3-------------------------------3-0--- E-0-3---------------------------------------3-
d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u E---------------------3-5-3------------------- B-----------------3-5-------5-3--------------- G-------------2-5---------------5-2----------- D---------2-5-----------------------5-2------- A-----3-5-------------------------------5-3--- E-3-5---------------------------------------5-
d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u E---------------------5-8-5------------------- B-----------------5-8-------8-5--------------- G-------------5-7---------------7-5----------- D---------5-7-----------------------7-5------- A-----5-7-------------------------------7-5--- E-5-8---------------------------------------8-
d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u E-------------------------8-10-8----------------------- B--------------------8-10--------10-8------------------ G----------------7-9------------------9-7-------------- D-----------7-10--------------------------10-7--------- A------7-10------------------------------------10-7---- E-8-10----------------------------------------------10-
d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u E------------------------------10-12-10--------------------------- B------------------------10-13----------13-10--------------------- G-------------------9-12----------------------9-10---------------- D-------------10-12--------------------------------12-10---------- A-------10-12--------------------------------------------12-10---- E-10-12--------------------------------------------------------12-
Crossing Strings
The exercises below are designed to help you with retaining strict alternate picking when changing strings. There are two kinds: inside and outside. Inside occurs when you use an upstroke on the lower (thicker) string and a downstroke on the upper (thinner) string, so that the edges of the pick touches the halves of the strings closest to the space inside of them. Outside is the opposite: downstroke on lower and upstroke on upper, so that the pick hits the outside halves of the strings.
See this lesson for more info.
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--
Cross String: Mix
These are the same as above but combine inside and outside picking into a single exercise. Notice the last 3 notes - you have to use the same finger on two different strings. To do this, you would play the bass note as usual, then flatten the finger to fret the treble 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-----4---4|5-4---4-5---4--|4-5-7-5--------|4-5-----4-5-7--|----5-4-------4|--- -5-7---5-7---7--|----7-----7---7|--------4-5-7-7|----7-5-------4|5-7-----7-5-4--|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-----4---4|6-4---4-6---4--|4-6-7-6--------|4-6-----4-6-7--|----6-4-------4|--- -5-7---5-7---7--|----7-----7---7|--------4-5-7-7|----7-5-------4|5-7-----7-5-4--|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-----4---4|6-4---4-6---4--|4-6-7-6--------|4-6-----4-6-7--|----6-4-------4|--- -6-7---6-7---7--|----7-----7---7|--------4-6-7-7|----7-6-------4|6-7-----7-6-4--|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-----4---4|6-4---4-6---4--|4-6-8-6--------|4-6-----4-6-8--|----6-4-------4|--- -6-8---6-8---8--|----8-----8---8|--------4-6-8-8|----8-6-------4|6-8-----8-6-4--|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-----4---4|6-4---4-6---4--|4-6-8-6--------|4-6-----4-6-8--|----6-4-------4|--- -6-7---6-7---7--|----7-----7---7|--------4-6-7-7|----7-6-------4|7-8-----7-6-4--|8--
This one's a bit nasty - I threw some arpeggios and other non-neighboring jumps in there to make sure your left hand wasn't getting lazy.
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 -----5-----5---4|5-4---7-4---4--|7-5-4-6--------|4-5-----4-5-7--|----5-4-------5|--- -4-7---4-7---7--|----7-----5---5|--------7-5-4-5|----4-5-------4|5-7-----7-5-4--|5--
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 -----6-----6---4|6-4---7-4---4--|7-6-4-6--------|4-6-----4-6-7--|----6-4-------5|--- -4-7---4-7---7--|----7-----5---5|--------7-5-4-5|----4-5-------4|5-7-----7-5-4--|5--
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 -----6-----6---4|6-4---8-4---4--|8-6-4-6--------|4-6-----4-6-8--|----6-4-------6|--- -4-8---4-8---8--|----8-----6---6|--------8-6-4-6|----4-6-------4|6-8-----8-6-4--|6--
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 -----6-----6---4|6-4---8-4---4--|8-6-4-6--------|4-6-----4-6-8--|----6-4-------5|--- -4-7---4-7---7--|----7-----6---6|--------7-6-4-6|----4-6-------4|6-7-----7-6-4--|6--
Adding Difficulty
These exercises can be made more difficult by doing the following:
- Adding accents on the notes that fall on the beats
- Add an unplayed string between the two you are playing (string skipping)
- Shift positions up two frets every measure
- Change the pair of played strings every measure
Technical Strength
This exercise uses different numbers of consecutive down or up strokes. This exercise requires moving your picking hand as though you are alternate picking, but you have to avoid hitting the string basically every other stroke. You also have to transition between down and up strokes in an "off" fashion - enhancing your versatility to adapt different rhythms while using various forms of alternate picking.
1 2 3 4 d d d d u u u u d d u u d u d u E--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0-- u u u u d d d d u u d d u d u d E--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--
Arpeggios
Also try to retain strict alternate picking when practicing arpeggios - see this exercise for examples.