Alt Picking (Lesson 40)

Dominik Graeber said:

I haven't mastered alternate picking the slightest so I can't give you a good tip on the angle of your pick, but your technique looked good to me. You may want less motion in your picking hand when you speed it up but other than that it looked great to me!

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Ben newton said:

Good one! Your picking hand was absolutely fine - as was your fretting hand.

Now for some really "picky"comments! (Excuse the pun)

- With your picking hand, a little less motion as already stated above. If you think about it, all your pick has to do is make it from one side of the string to the other. Practice with just one note and really focus on that motion. It will help when you speed up! Also, use a little less pick and see how you get on with that! (Though how you hold a pick is quite personal).

- Fretting hand was honestly fine. And you tackled that finger role in the second exercise really well too. The bit I mean is the bit going from string 3 to string 2.

- Try playing in different areas of the fretboard. Currently you are starting on the 5th fret, try starting on the 1st!

- Resist that temptation to beat the metronome!

- Practice with a clean tone too!

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Anthony Peña said:

Thank you for always diving deep into your analysis. I love hearing the specifics on my playing and how I can improve. I guess my only question is, once I get a feel for smaller picking motion on one string, what happens when it goes onto two strings? Meaning, when I start using it with actual playing? Would I do the same thing, only moving as far as necessary to reach the next string and then back to the string before it? Does this essentially apply to all types of picking- Economy, Sweep picking, etc. ?
Also, I have a bad habit of rushing the metronome. Will go even slower and lock it in. I'll write down your tips and grind them out. Thank you man.

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Anthony Peña said:

Thank you for always diving deep into your analysis. I love hearing the specifics on my playing and how I can improve. I guess my only question is, once I get a feel for smaller picking motion on one string, what happens when it goes onto two strings? Meaning, when I start using it with actual playing? Would I do the same thing, only moving as far as necessary to reach the next string and then back to the string before it? Does this essentially apply to all types of picking- Economy, Sweep picking, etc. ?
Also, I have a bad habit of rushing uthe metronome. Will go even slower and lock it in. I'll write down your tips and grind them out. Thank you man.

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Ben newton said:

No probs!

Yeah apply the same idea to multiple strings. It is trickier, but it may really help. There's a lesson on this site regarding"inside picking" and "outside picking, have a watch and read and see how you get on with that!

Economy picking -Yes, until you apply the sweeping motion between strings.

Sweeping - No, the focus of sweeping is a well control rake with your picking hand. You just gotta be able to stop the raking motion at the right time! The inside/outside picking may help!

They basically have their own level of control.

Hope it helps!

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Calvin Phillips said:

If you're going faster then the metronome you probably gotta turn the volume up. You want the metronome to be an annoying reminder of your timing. Loud enough that it's in your head. But not so loud where it's all you hear.

Click to expand...

Ben newton said:

Good one! Your picking hand was absolutely fine - as was your fretting hand.

Now for some really "picky"comments! (Excuse the pun)

- With your picking hand, a little less motion as already stated above. If you think about it, all your pick has to do is make it from one side of the string to the other. Practice with just one note and really focus on that motion. It will help when you speed up! Also, use a little less pick and see how you get on with that! (Though how you hold a pick is quite personal).

- Fretting hand was honestly fine. And you tackled that finger role in the second exercise really well too. The bit I mean is the bit going from string 3 to string 2.

- Try playing in different areas of the fretboard. Currently you are starting on the 5th fret, try starting on the 1st!

- Resist that temptation to beat the metronome!

- Practice with a clean tone too!

Click to expand...