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Posted by: fire Jan 28 2008, 04:29 PM

Hi guys
Strange things happened: a friend of mine started playing guitar but he isn't alternating clear, he just picks "randomly" like he wantes, it's a kind of economy picking - i don't know.
I suggested him to go for good old clean alternate picking - he asked me "why"?
And I had nothing to answer
After having told him the stuff I believed personally ( more equal sound etcetc ) he recorded some stuff for me and - to be honest I can't hear any unqequality in his picking / playing.
That made me think; what is the "true" advantage of alternate picking? my guitar teacher made me learn it, but by now, I seem not to have understood it at all
I'd be very pleased for help! GIVE ME MY CONFIDENCE IN ALTERNATE BACK!!!

greetings

Posted by: Iluha Jan 28 2008, 04:37 PM

QUOTE (fire @ Jan 28 2008, 05:29 PM)

Hi guys
Strange things happened: a friend of mine started playing guitar but he isn't alternating clear, he just picks "randomly" like he wantes, it's a kind of economy picking - i don't know.
I suggested him to go for good old clean alternate picking - he asked me "why"?
And I had nothing to answer
After having told him the stuff I believed personally ( more equal sound etcetc ) he recorded some stuff for me and - to be honest I can't hear any unqequality in his picking / playing.
That made me think; what is the "true" advantage of alternate picking? my guitar teacher made me learn it, but by now, I seem not to have understood it at all
I'd be very pleased for help! GIVE ME MY CONFIDENCE IN ALTERNATE BACK!!!

greetings

Posted by: Pavel Jan 28 2008, 05:10 PM

Random picking is a bad thing and should be avoided! A good technique is based on rules and routines. It's like driving in 1st gear and switching to 3rd straight away. Why? It doesn't work!

Stick to alternate picking or economy picking but in no way a RANDOM picking. You should be able to play both AP and EP but at least you know what you are doing than. He doesn't know what he is doing so you'll be a REAL guitarist - and he'll be a RANDOM guitarist

Posted by: Stevie·Ray·Vaughn Jan 28 2008, 05:12 PM

QUOTE (Pavel @ Jan 28 2008, 04:10 PM)

Random picking is a bad thing and should be avoided! A good technique is based on rules and routines. It's like driving in 1st gear and switching to 3rd straight away. Why? It doesn't work!

Stick to alternate picking or economy picking but in no way a RANDOM picking. You should be able to play both AP and EP but at least you know what you are doing than. He doesn't know what he is doing so you'll be a REAL guitarist - and he'll be a RANDOM guitarist

Posted by: mattacuk Jan 28 2008, 05:16 PM

I think I remember Kris explaining that by alternate picking you are following a natural flow of things! (at least thats how i remember it ) Either way It would seem pretty crazy to try and play any technical stuff with random picking. I just point out to my friends that all the pros alternate pick so if its good enough for them its good enough for me

Posted by: RIP Dime Jan 28 2008, 05:18 PM

Wasn't there a huge thread about this a while ago?

Posted by: Stevie·Ray·Vaughn Jan 28 2008, 05:19 PM

QUOTE (RIP Dime @ Jan 28 2008, 04:18 PM)

Posted by: coffeeman Jan 28 2008, 05:22 PM

Hi,

I asked the same question to Muris a few monnths ago.

Read this http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=7566&hl=economy+picking

Posted by: fire Jan 29 2008, 04:25 PM

thanks for all the answers
First of all the argument with the speed seems nice to me... sounds idiotic, but i never played different at that speeds, and he can't yet so I wasn't aware of it
gonna convince him with that hehe
thanks