hi everybody

I'm having problems playing pentatonic licks with 2 notes per string. 3 note per string licks I find easy because you start on an up stroke, when you ascend or descend to another string you are picking outside the string. My problem is when I pick upstroke on the string and then have to pick down on the string below, or vice versa. So when I go to downstroke the next string, sometimes I hit the one above it. The issue seems to be inside picking I guess. Is there away around it apart from starting with an upstroke or does anyone have any licks to practice to help me overcome this?
thx

I had the same issue too awhile back. The big problem here is that u dont want to be restricted in the way u play, i.e. up strokes so wut I did was learn finger independence I. This not only helped me with my finger independence but it helped with picking independence. U will face challenges as u said up down up shift down...and this lesson will help with the problem because it helped my picking problems as well.

That is the biggest issue when it comes to picking,no worries,
we all fight the same battle here.
With enough practice you'll overcome it.

All you have to do it to prepare you picking hand's muscles
for motions like that and here's an exercise you could try.
Play only 2 note,on different strings,on low E and A strings per example.
Start with note on A with downstroke and go for note on low E.
You'll face the issue right there,and again when you go back to note on A string.
Just loop the pattern and play it for a while,
muscles need time to adapt.
Take it easy,no need to rush,try to play it clean
with as much accuracy as possible.
Then try opposite thing,start with note on low E,play it it upstroke
and go for note on A string,again the same issue and
more reasons to loop the pattern over and over.

Speaking of 3nps and 2nps patterns,
you can avoid this problem only for 2nps pattern
and not for 3nps patterns,here's how.
Lets say you play 2nps Pentatonic,ascending lick.
Start with an upostroke and picking motion will
be just as wanted.
If you go for descending lick then start with a downstroke
and picking will be fine.
But as an exercise always try same thing on both ways,
to prepare yourself better for upcoming licks in the future.

As for 3nps,you said you have no troubles with it
cause you end with downstroke and next string you're aiming at is string bellow.
That is correct,but what about next one?
You'll end with an upstroke this time and next string will be below once again.
So it's like this,do not try to get away from this motion,
face it and make yourself comfortable with it.

That's actually the reason why I made the lesson Upstroke Focus,
check it out,perhaps it'll help a bit.

It is a very common problem, and with some focused practice you can overcome it of course. The main thing is that you realized what the problem is, and that is very good as well. Now you have to figure out a system of exercises to help you develop better control while changing the strings.

You can for example take a small sequence of notes and play it in AP, and construct the sequence in such a manner that you always go from up to down when transferring strings. This way you will practice just the thing that bugs you and with some focused practice in a week you will already start to feel more confident about it. Cheers