Alternate Picking Or Economy Picking Options

[Staples]

I've seen this brought up in a lot of debates, and once or twice in posts in your 'ask an instructor' forum. Alternate Picking vs Economy Picking. I'm not here to ask which is better or worse. In my opinion, both useful tools. I use a bit of both. I never APed before I joined this forum, but now that I've practiced it, I find a lot of songs easier to play. At the same time, I found myself using economy picking before I even knew what it was.

Now, I find myself switching between the two, for some reason just certain things feel more natural in either fashion. Even within the same lessons. I guess that isn't a surprise since there isn't really any significant differences. For instance, on your Alternate Picking-Thirds lesson [Good lesson] I find that for the first part you tabbed out, my hands naturally find themselves economy picking. Down/Up/Down/Down/Up so on and so forth. Then the second part you tabbed out, my hands go into AP mode. Don't know why this is, but it happens, but it feels fluid. Is this something I should really worry about? Should I try to strictly adhere to one or the other?

topic title edited by Kris

This post has been edited by Kristofer Dahl: Feb 17 2008, 12:59 PM

[Muris Varajic]

Thanks for edit Kris,I noticed odd title as well.

So,alternate Vs. Economy once more.

It's really matter of taste and lick.
Alternate has more power while economy is more like "legato" picking,
staccato is pretty hard to get when you play economy btw.

Since Alternate Picking-Thirds lesson's title says all,
I would suggest to go with Alternate.
But it's good way to play few licks from it with Economy why not.

Use them both,but be wise.

[g-forcelover]

Muris is right. But make sure you learn to speedpick though. i started out with ecomomy, and now i have to go back and learn to pick everything, which i got extremely good with economy. but learn to sped pick, and you can do what ever you need to.

[Muris Varajic]

Now is time for me to ask a question.
Can you explain it to me,what is speed picking?

[Hammerfest]

Yeah that was something I was wondering about aswell?! What is speedpicking? If its not the same as AP?

[Muris Varajic]

Yeah that was something I was wondering about aswell?! What is speedpicking? If its not the same as AP?

I guess it's alternate picking,but speed version.

Guys,an explanation of what speed picking is?

[coffeeman]

Speed picking or economy picking is a technique where you combine alternate picking and sweeping , that means that when you are changing strings your going to use the stroke in that same direction. for example if you are in the A string and you are going to the d string you are going to use a downstroke , no matter if you just used a down stroke on the A string. Becuase of my bad english here is an example:




Hope it helps.

[USAMAN]

I guess it's alternate picking,but speed version.

Guys,an explanation of what speed picking is?

see extreme neo-classic lesson......you know .......in that one part when you went kinda fast................lol

[Muris Varajic]

Speed picking or economy picking is a technique where you combine alternate picking and sweeping , that means that when you are changing strings your going to use the stroke in that same direction. for example if you are in the A string and you are going to the d string you are going to use a downstroke , no matter if you just used a down stroke on the A string. Becuase of my bad english here is an example:




Hope it helps.

Hmm...so you say economy picking is speed picking?
I know Gambale has instructional DVD named "Speed Picking",he plays picking there,fast,economy indeed.
But I'm not 100% sure if economy is just another name for speed picking.

I thought it's picking playing fast,alternate mostly.
We know what speed is...we know what picking is.
I don't see the reason to connect is only to economy picking.

Maybe it's just terminology mixed up.

[coffeeman]

Hmm...so you say economy picking is speed picking?
I know Gambale has instructional DVD named "Speed Picking",he plays picking there,fast,economy indeed.
But I'm not 100% sure if economy is just another name for speed picking.

I thought it's picking playing fast,alternate mostly.
We know what speed is...we know what picking is.
I don't see the reason to connect is only to economy picking.

Maybe it's just terminology mixed up.

Yeap I took the term speed picking from the Frank Gambale DVD , you are right, what I explained is economy picking, speed picking is just picking fast.

[Muris Varajic]

Yeap I took the term speed picking from the Frank Gambale DVD , you are right, what I explained is economy picking, speed picking is just picking fast.

Ahh,ok,thanks for clearing it up!

[Nick Kellie]

well you need alternate to be able to do economy - I would say practice both.... They are both essential techniques for any modern guitarist IMO

nick

This post has been edited by Nick Kellie: Apr 3 2008, 12:20 PM

[Muris Varajic]

well you need alternate to be able to do economy - I would say practice both.... They are both essential techniques for any modern guitarist IMO

nick

Absolutely,you must practice both,thanks for input Nick.

We was just wondering what speed picking is in a first place,
think we've got it now tho.

[Ivan Milenkovic]

Practicing both equally well is very important indeed. It builds the sound and decreases the weak spots while playing. For example every possible combination played in with the picking hand playing both alternate and economy while transferring strings is essential.

[OrganisedConfusi...]

I do slowpicking and slowlos