| Alternate picking is a guitar playing technique, used only by pick users, that employs strictly alternating downward and upward picking strokes in a continuous run, and is the most common method of plectrum playing. If this technique is performed on a single note at a high speed, then it may also be referred to as tremolo picking. 'Good' alternate picking involves a continuous down-up or up-down motion of the picking hand, even when not picking a note (except when the gap lasts longer than one full up-down motion). In this manner, an up-beat (such as an even-numbered eighth note or, at faster tempos, sixteenth note) will always be played with an upward picking stroke, while the down-beats are always played with downward picking strokes. This allows for fluid incorporation of legato-based notes such as hammer-ons and/or pull-offs in the middle of picked phrases. Alternate picking can be heard in almost all styles of picked guitar music, from jazz, bluegrass, to heavy metal. It is also very often used in a subgenre of heavy metal, thrash metal. |
Alternate Picking Guitar Lesson Intro to Alternate Picking - Bryce Fitzsimons Alternate Picking (Part 1) - Paul Gilbert Alternate Picking (Part 2) - Paul Gilbert Prev Top Next |
