Alternate Picking
Strict up/down for speed and accuracy
What is Alternate Picking?
Alternate picking means strictly alternating between downstrokes (↓) and upstrokes (↑) with no exceptions. Every note you play follows the pattern: down, up, down, up — regardless of string changes, position shifts, or rests.
This is the most efficient picking technique for speed and is the foundation used by virtually every fast, accurate guitarist. It eliminates the wasted motion of all-downstrokes and keeps your pick hand in constant, pendulum-like motion.
The Challenge: String Crossing
Alternate picking is easy on a single string. The challenge comes when crossing to a new string. If you're playing a downstroke on string 3 and the next note is on string 2 (above), your pick naturally moves away from string 2 on the downstroke. The upstroke that follows must cross over to reach string 2.
This "outside picking" feels awkward at first. The solution is practice — specifically, exercises that force string changes on both downstrokes and upstrokes until both feel natural.
Speed Building
Speed comes from tension elimination, not effort. The keys:
1. Start at a tempo where you can play perfectly — even if it's painfully slow
2. Use a metronome and increase by 4 BPM only when the current tempo is effortless
3. Keep your pick close to the strings — big motions waste time
4. Relax everything: wrist, forearm, shoulder, even your breathing
5. If tension creeps in, slow back down immediately
This is a marathon, not a sprint. Consistent daily practice of 10 minutes beats occasional 2-hour sessions.
Tab Examples
Alternate picking on one string
↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ e--5-8-5-8-5-8-5-8-5-8-5-8-5-8-5-8-- B------------------------------------- G------------------------------------- D------------------------------------- A------------------------------------- E-------------------------------------
Alternate picking across strings
↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ e--5-8--------------------5-8--- B--------5-8----------5-8------ G--------------5-7-5-7--------- D------------------------------- A------------------------------- E-------------------------------
Tips
- Start ridiculously slow and build up — 40 BPM is not too slow
- Keep the pick close to the strings — minimise motion
- Relax. If you feel tension in your forearm or shoulder, you're working too hard.
- Use the chromatic exercise (1-2-3-4) with strict alternate picking as a daily drill
Practice Exercises
- Play 1-2-3-4 on string 6 with strict alternate picking at 60 BPM — then each string
- Play the pentatonic scale Box 1 with strict alternate picking
- Practice the cross-string exercise — maintain the down-up pattern through string changes
- Track your max clean BPM weekly for the chromatic exercise