Yo gmc,

I wondering if I have picked up some bad picking habits. One of the first things I remembered from Kris' first DVDs and vids was something he said about always using some sort of consitent picking so, either do all down picking, or do all alrernate pick or whatever, I got the impression that hybrid picking was bad (controversial probably). Since then I tried use alternate picking for everything...

When playing runs pretty much anywhere on the fret board I naturally do strict alternate picking, at least for solo stuff I think this is a good thing. By alternate picking I mean that regardless of the rhythm and interval between notes, the sequence is always down up down up. But now the strange part, I recently realised I have been doing some weird things when it comes to single note rhythm playing up at the nut end of the neck. where there are other priorities like wanting always down pick the big E.

Example. A rhythm with alot of big E bass line, and then a few other note on the D and A strings. I tend to down pick all the Es, and then when there is a transitiion from the E string to another string I extend the down stroke of the last E so that my pick is past the next string (say the A string) and then the next A will be up-picked and then that stroke is continued up past the E so I can down pick the E again. There is something about this in technique that feels right and creates a fluid right hand motion. But this is surely wrong in some sense.

If we take for example Gabriel's rhythm work here https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/rhythm-gu...ani-style-rock/, he does I think strict down picking except when the rhythm double times and then it is strict alternate until it goes back to normal rhythm again. So in a sense the way the string is picked is mirroring the rhythm i.e. all normal notes are down picked but if there is a half note interval between 2 notes they are always alternate picked.

So, should I continue with strict alternate picking for solo/melody stuff and try to use something more like Gabriels technique for rythym? What are the downside to what I am doing and is it a habit I should get out of?

This post has been edited by buttmonk: Jan 22 2009, 03:36 PM

For rythm riffs you should vary your picking and listen to it, it sounds a bit different. Just try both and listen. While riffing you should mix all the picking technics.

I don't believe there is right or wrong, how does it sound, sounds good?, then it is right, however practice all picking patterns anyway, it will only improve your riffing.

I agree with Jose, there is no perfect solution, and no general rules.

Down picking is great if you wanna get more power in your riffs
cause all notes sound a lot shorter compared with alternate picking.
What Kris wanted to say that you should try to avoid down picking for everything,
that's what many beginners do and get stuck at the end,
so that's why Kris said you should focus more on alternate.

As for the very riff example you mentioned,
try with alternate (as you do already)
and then go for down picking, see the result,
listen to how it sounds and that's the way to go.
Idea is not to have many limitation,
practice everything as much as you can.

I agree with the guys, it is important that it sounds good for you and that you play it comfortably. Do what you feel it is best, but other techniques won't hurt you as well. It will only help you to play more easier.

Use the technique that you feel that helps you achieve your goals the best. But learning many different picking techniques can really help you create your own personal style.

Thanks all! OK, so it sounds like actually it is a good thing play around with it on purpose, and that there is nothing I am doing that is known to be bad. Normally when I leanr a new riff I work out a way that feels natural and then stick to it, so now I will try to make a habit of finding more than 1 way and seeing how it affects the sound.

Work on both picking styles and techniques. Reality is you won't just play alternate picking or just down beats, but rather mixture of whole other techniques as well (legato, economy , sweep etc).