subject: 5 Steps for Mastering Your Alternate Picking Technique [print this page] 5 Steps for Mastering Your Alternate Picking Technique
The idea of this article came to me when a friend asked how come that I am able to pick so fast and clean. I honestly told him that I just practiced a lot, but this answer made think that in fact I can give a blueprint to my alternate picking technique if I stay and analyze the problem a bit.
So that is how I came up with these 5 steps of mastering the alternate picking technique
1. Focus on your right hand
In the beginning it is hard to focus on both hands and that is how most guitarists get into the habit of down stroking, as they focus on the fretting hand rather then the picking one. I remember that I muted the strings with my fretting hand and just practice various note values on the muted strings.
2. Use a metronome
When I practiced the above alternate picking exercises I used a metronome. This helped me with my technique as well as it helped me with improving my timing when playing. So it was a win-win situation. I selected a low bpm at the start and I gradually increased the spped.
3. Start slowly
I read a book once about memory muscle and it explained that it is crucial to start slow so you can be able to play relaxed. Practicing with tension will build up tension in your muscles and you will always play tensed.
4. Practice the licks you play starting with both up and down strokes
This concept will get you familiarized with many interesting situations when it comes to alternate picking. This exercise also has the benefit of letting you feel more relaxed when playing. You will also gain a lot of speed especially if you first practice with an upstroke, then with a down stroke.
5. Hold your pick at an angle of 45 degrees when tremolo picking
This technique will give many advantages, it will speed up your playing as well it will clean it a lot. If you are intro metal try learning some swedish death metal, metal core or death ore songs. Tremolo picking as well as high speeds are a trademark of these genres.
These are the major aspects that improved my playing a lot. I still practice the exercises that I recommended you in this alternate picking article. Although these exercises will seem very easy, emember one thing: "The only way to do complex things easyly you first must be able to do simple things perfectly".
With that said i wish you all the best with your alternate picking practice.
