Alternate picking - Any exercises

[Chan]

Does anyone have an exercise to really improve your alternate picking. I don't need help with the 1 string stuff, but the string switching is giving me trouble. Also I keep my hand anchored to the guitar when I'm playing, is this bad. I know Petrucci does it, but he spreads his fingers out, while I keep my hand in a fist and use the second knuckle of my pinkie as an anchor.

Thanks in advance.

[jem7vwh]

here's an exercise I use to warm up before doing serious alternate picking
[font=courier]
e-----------------------------------------------------
B-----------------------------------------------------
G-----------------------------------------------------
D-----------------------------------------------------
A---------------4------3-4----2-3-4---1-2-3-4
E-1-2-3-4-1-2-3---1-2-------1--------------------
[/font]

keep repeating that pattern up to e, then back down to E, move it up a fret and repeat. *Yes it's repetetive, but it will really work up your skills


(Edited by jem7vwh at 11:58 pm on April 11, 2001)

[GuyCool]

The Wild Stringdom book (lessons by JP from Guitar World) is full of good exercises. Comes with a cd too. Well worthwhile.

Guy

[Josh Blagg]

You're right...the hard part of alternate picking is changing strings. *So that is the part you need to practice. *One thing that has improved my speed is playing just one note per string...don't sweep though, use alternate picking. *You will develop a feel for how to move just the right distance to the next string.

Next, try practicing rhythms across the strings. *Do a triplet or sextuplet pattern using just one note on each string, concentrating on changing strings. *Then try doing an even number against the beat, like eighth or sixteenth notes. *Remember though, you are working on your right hand technique for now, not your left hand.

Also, do the same thing with one note per string, but skip strings. *You will get the feel for jumping over a string or two. *All of these things will help your alternate picking on more than one string.

At the end, you will want to coordinate your left and right hand technique, and see if you have made any progress. *Use the metronome if you want good results.

[yuza]

If you need to improve your string changes, you can just practice the motion on two strings. Petrucci does it in the "Rock discipline video". He takes a simple chords progression and play it on the d and g string. The notes on the g string form a little melody, while the ones on the d act like a pedal. Is very simple and you can write similar exercise yourself. Off course you have to use alternate picking. First down up, and then up down. Practice it to a metronome having care you are not using your arm to pick. About the right hand position...
Well i also use to anchor my hand to the guitar, but.... i also spread my fingers out, holding the pick with the tip of my index finger and thumb. I used to have a different picking position, holding the pick with the second knuckle and resting only the right side of my hand on the guitar, so that the wrist didn't touched the body. Then i saw Petrucci playing and i changed, trying to understand what he did and how he used his hand and pick. The "kinda-Petrucci position" works way better for me because it allows me not to move my arm at all. I think that precision and speed in picking depends very much from the fact that the motion comes only from the wirst. Off course this doesn't mean that you have to copy what someone else is doing. You have to try to understand what he does and "WHY" he does it. Then you will able to discover yourself why he used such position or techinque or whatever, and eventually adapt the thing to your hands.
By the way, back to the topic.
I fell great with my hand anchored to the guitar, but i also spread my finger out... *I don't know if this position feels good if you hold the pick with the second knuckle. If you have time and patience you can experiment and see what works better with you.
Good luck for your quest.....
By the way whatever position you are using the arpeggio exercises on two strings work great.

[rosskoss]

I've no problem crossing strings at all(sweeping or alternate) but when something involving "inside picking" comes I have to concentrate

eg. -------------------5-------------
* * *-----------5-6-8-----8-6-5----

I can fly through this with ease when starting with a downstroke.But when starting with an upstroke,I am forced to slow down and work my way through it.

Any good torture lessons for inside picking?

[Pablo]

For some reason I usually start with an upstroke. If I start on a down it's very slow.


Weird

[Coolstu]

I find with fast alternate picking the problems start when I think too much about it. If I relax and go for it then its a lot faster and smoother.

[rosskoss]

Quote: from Pablo on 6:08 pm on April 14, 2001
For some reason I usually start with an upstroke. If I start on a down it's very slow.


Weird

Okay,I am absolutely sure you're related to Shawn Lane.

[Josh Blagg]

One very important thing is that you warm up slowly and build yourself up to your speed when you start playing. *I have never been able to just sit down and start running through stuff at top speed, but if I work up to it (say, 15 minutes) then my playing is very noticeably better.

[Chan]

Thanks for the tips guys.

Rosskoss- I practice almost all the exercises I find *starting with up and downstrokes. Just look for some alternate picking exercises and practice starting on upstrokes. I'm having problems with inside picking too and this seems to help.

[MD]

One very important thing is to relax all your muscles, even face muscles - isometric excercises and meditation helps a lot. And use a metronome when practicing speed.

[Pablo]

Ross

Inside picking exercise (Nuno lick) Off first Extreme album

E-----------------12-15-12--------------12-15-12----
B---13-12-13--------------13-12-13-------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------


E-----------------13-16-13--------------13-16-13----
B---15-13-15--------------15-13-15-------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------


E-----------------15-18-15--------------15-18-15----
B---17-15-17--------------17-15-17-------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------


E-----------------17-20-17--------------17-20-17----
B---18-17-18--------------18-17-18-------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------


Another VERY cool one
E-------------------------------------------------------
B----------------9---------12-9-----9------------
G------12-10-12----12-10--------12----12-10----- *And keep on repeating
D--------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------


What's that about Shawn Lane I've never heard him? Does he start on upstrokes too?

[Chan]

Shawn Lane is an incredible guitarist with the most amazing picking technique I've ever heard. He starts on upstrokes most of the time. Even guys like Paul Gillbert and Buckethead are in awe of his technique. This isn't to say he is all technique, but I don't have the time to spend telling about all the other great things he can do.
About the alternate picking, I just found a book today that will help anyone with their alternate picking. The book is Mel Bay's "Building Right Hand Technique". It is full of etudes that work your right hand. The best part is ,it's focus is on crossing strings. Most of the exercises are 1 note per string alternate picking. I plan on using this with John Petrucci's video and "Speed Mechanics for Lead guitar", to get my picking chops in shape.

[rosskoss]

Hey Pablo thanks for the nice excercise.Its from Extreme -"Mutha,don't want to go....." right?

Actually I have no problem playing that at all.I am ok with this kind of inside picking.Its along the pattern of 2 notes per string and I am really comfortable with that.

eg. ------------------------10-12---------
* * *----------------10-12----------
* * *--------10-12-----------.

I usually start this with a downstroke and have no trouble.

But just playing this

-----------7----7----7-------
--------5----5----5----------

starting with an upstroke is quite hard.

Still the second is kinda hard.

Oh yeah,and Shawn lane could start anything with an upstroke,downstroke,backstroke,front stroke,side stroke......you get the picture.He can do anything.

He is the guitarist's version of total 4 way limb independence in drummers.

(Edited by rosskoss at 4:08 am on April 19, 2001)