Want To Pick Faster? Stop Using Alternate Picking - Do This Instead

by Tom Hess

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There is a simple guitar technique that makes your playing 33% more efficient than alternate picking. It enables you to play guitar faster & cleaner, using less effort than ever before. 

The technique is called: directional picking. Here is how it works:

• Every time you move to a higher (in pitch) string, always play with a downstroke.
   
• Every time you move to a lower (in pitch) string, always play with an upstroke.

(When playing on the same string, keep using strict alternate picking.)

Here is the difference between alternate and directional picking when playing a scale. (The symbol means "downstroke" and means "upstroke")

Alternate Picking

 

Directional Picking

Why Directional Picking Makes It Easier To Pick Fast And Clean Compared To Alternate Picking:

1. When you use directional picking, your pick moves a lot less to play the same notes. This means playing guitar fast becomes much easier for you.
    
2. Your pick stays in the string trench (the space between strings) and doesn't travel in the opposite direction from its next note. This means you are less likely to make sloppy mistakes when you play.

With strict alternate picking, you often have to move in the opposite direction from the string you want to play. Your pick also has to move outside the string trench on string changes.

These extra motions make it harder to play fast and you are more likely to make mistakes at higher speeds.

Watch this video to see how much easier guitar playing becomes after you learn directional picking:
 

Note: there are times when directional picking and alternate picking are identical (for example: when playing guitar licks with 2 notes per string). That is ok. Continue using the principle of directional picking and you will be using the easiest and most efficient way to pick on guitar.

Switching from alternate to directional picking is hard for many guitarists, but doesn't have to be hard for you.

I can help you make this transition feel easy (even if you’ve struggled to pick fast for decades). This way your playing becomes faster & cleaner quickly. I can get you there by teaching you online.

To start transforming your guitar playing into something you can feel proud of, go to: https://tomhess.net/Guitar