Alternate Picking

The fundamental technique of alternating downstrokes and upstrokes for speed, accuracy, and tone consistency.

beginnerPicking TechniqueLead guitar solos • Fast chord progressions

Why Learn This Technique?

  • •Increased speed and fluidity
  • •Better tone consistency
  • •Reduced hand fatigue
  • •Foundation for advanced techniques
  • •Improved timing and rhythm

Applications

Lead guitar solosFast chord progressionsArpeggios and scalesClassical guitar piecesMetal and rock riffs

Prerequisites

  • •Basic pick holding

Common Mistakes

  • •Gripping the pick too tightly
  • •Using too much pick motion
  • •Inconsistent pick angle
  • •Neglecting upstroke tone
  • •Practicing too fast too soon

Step-by-Step Guide

1

Step 1

Hold the pick with thumb and index finger, keeping wrist relaxed

💡 Tip:

Only show about 1-2mm of pick tip past your fingers

⚠️ Common Mistake:

Gripping too tightly causes tension

2

Step 2

Practice single string downstrokes at slow tempo

💡 Tip:

Focus on consistent tone and pick angle

⚠️ Common Mistake:

Moving the whole arm instead of just the wrist

3

Step 3

Add upstrokes, maintaining same tone and volume

💡 Tip:

Upstrokes should sound identical to downstrokes

⚠️ Common Mistake:

Upstrokes being weaker or thinner sounding

4

Step 4

Practice strict down-up-down-up pattern on scales

💡 Tip:

Use a metronome and start at 60 BPM

⚠️ Common Mistake:

Rushing or slowing down during the pattern

5

Step 5

Apply to chord progressions and riffs

💡 Tip:

Master the technique on simple material first

⚠️ Common Mistake:

Attempting complex material too early

Practice Exercises

Single String Alternate Picking

beginner60-120 BPM

Practice alternate picking on one string to develop consistency

Steps:

  1. 1.Choose the G string (3rd string)
  2. 2.Play quarter notes: down-up-down-up
  3. 3.Keep tempo steady with metronome
  4. 4.Focus on equal volume and tone
  5. 5.Gradually increase tempo

Practice Goals:

  • •Consistent tone between down and up strokes
  • •Relaxed wrist motion
  • •Clean string contact

Scale Runs

intermediate80-140 BPM

Apply alternate picking to scale patterns

Steps:

  1. 1.Choose a simple scale (C major or A minor pentatonic)
  2. 2.Play ascending: down-up-down-up
  3. 3.Play descending: maintain the pattern
  4. 4.Focus on smooth transitions between strings
  5. 5.Practice different scale patterns

Practice Goals:

  • •Smooth string crossing
  • •Maintained tempo throughout
  • •Clean fret hand coordination

Chromatic Exercises

intermediate60-100 BPM

Build finger independence and picking precision

Steps:

  1. 1.Play frets 1-2-3-4 on each string
  2. 2.Use strict alternate picking
  3. 3.Keep fingers close to fretboard
  4. 4.Move to next string and repeat
  5. 5.Practice ascending and descending

Practice Goals:

  • •Finger independence
  • •Precise picking coordination
  • •Smooth position shifts

Troubleshooting

❌ Problem: Upstrokes sound weak or thin

✅ Solution:

Practice upstrokes in isolation, ensure pick angle stays consistent

❌ Problem: Hand gets tired quickly

✅ Solution:

Relax grip, use smaller pick motions, take frequent breaks

❌ Problem: Can't maintain tempo

✅ Solution:

Practice with metronome at slower speeds, focus on consistency over speed

Daily Practice Routine

Routine Structure

🔥 Warm-Up (5 mins)

  • •5 minutes single string alternate picking
  • •Simple down-up patterns on open strings
  • •Wrist flexibility exercises

💪 Main Practice (15 mins)

  • •Scale patterns with alternate picking
  • •Chord progression strumming
  • •Speed building exercises
  • •Song applications

🎯 Cool Down (5 mins)

  • •Slow, relaxed picking
  • •Hand stretches
  • •Review any tension points

Daily Goals

1
Maintain consistent tone
2
Increase tempo gradually
3
Apply to musical contexts

Famous Uses

"Master of Puppets"

by Metallica

Aggressive alternate picking in the main riff

"Classical Gas"

by Mason Williams

Precise alternate picking for classical-style runs

"Eruption"

by Van Halen

Fast alternate picked scales and arpeggios

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