8,720
edits
Changes
m
fig. 5
fig. 6
eE-------------------------------------------0--1--3-- bB----------------------------------0--1--3----------- gG----------------------------0--2-------------------- dD-------------------0--2--3-------------------------- aA----------0--2--3----------------------------------- eE-0--1--3--------------------------------------------
eE-------------------------------------------0--1--3-- bB----------------------------------0--1--3----------- gG----------------------------0--2-------------------- dD-------------------0--2--3-------------------------- aA----------0--2--3----------------------------------- eE-0--1--3--------------------------------------------
fig. 8
aA----------0--2--3--2--3-|---------0--2--3--2--3-| eE-0--1--3----------------|0--1--3----------------|
fig. 9
fig. 10
→Alternate Picking
== Alternate Picking ==
The idea of acquainting yourself with the above scale is to get good enough so that you don't need stringent focus on your left-hand. We're about to start some alternate picking. All that means is we alternate from down stroke to up stroke for each note. Let's see what I mean:
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
''Notice the strict alternation.'' Count along to your playing.
d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d
E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G
=== Economy Picking ===
Be careful. Most Many beginner players get sucked into economy picking as follows: fig. 7
d u d d u d d u d d u d u d d u d
E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G
Notice this carries down-strokes over from one string to the next - you are using one pick stroke for 2 notes. Economy is generally good; however, if you start getting into this habit, your ''real'' alternate picking will suffer because you aren't practicing it. '''My advice is to focus on true alternate picking.''' If you later feel like you need more speed and want to develop economy picking, you can do so then. But alternate picking tends to be easier to keep consistent rhythm and dynamics and really strengthen the picking hand.
I fell into the economy picking trap on accident. After I realized I was always economy picking, I thought it was simpler and easier than true alternate picking. But after recording my playing and listening to how off my rhythm could be, I knew that I had to break the habit. It took a solid month to completely reverse all the bad habits I had unwittingly used for almost a year. But my rhythm and dynamic dynamics consistently improved quite a bit.
Also, alternate picking will tend to keep you on the beat better. Check out this example:
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
d u d d u d u d u d u d u d u d
E F G A B C B C E F G A B C B C
What about rests or notes with longer duration? In strict alternate picking, these do not change how the downstrokes and beats line up. It's like you are continuing to alternate pick, but you are simply not picking the string. Here's an example:
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
d u d (u) d u d (u) d u d (u) d u d
An unusual and off-putting issue arises with triplets:
1 2 3 4 1
d u d (u) d u d u d