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Posted by: Sam Hook Jun 8 2008, 11:08 PM

Hey guys,

I've recently noticed that my down picking speed is really lacking a lot and needs improvement. Up until now I've been solidly practising alternate picking runs and I've never really spent time to practice down picking.

I love Metallica and James Hetfield uses down picking in many of their songs which really adds extra power and feeling. How can I practice it though? Does anyway know any cool exercises for me to work on?

I've heard that the Master of Puppets spider riff is a good one to practice down picking. Should I just start slow with the metronome and just build up speed gradually? Has anyone tried some other techniques of learning it?

Thanks in advance!

Posted by: Nick325 Jun 8 2008, 11:12 PM

toni has some nice riffing lessons with a lot of downpicking

Posted by: DeepRoots Jun 8 2008, 11:17 PM

Also Kai had a cool "no upstrokes allowed" lesson.

Apart from that, just practise metallica songs you like

For me its just been playing along to sonds i like, and when i mess up- i slap myself until its right lol

Posted by: seagull Jun 8 2008, 11:24 PM

Funny, I am struggling with that particular riff right now too. Seems to me that it is really important to try and relax in your picking arm and move your wrist, not the shoulder or elbow. Other than that I usually drink some water before I practice it because David Walliman once said that it helps the blood flow and thereby increases your stamina.
Have a fun time practicing!

Posted by: Muris Varajic Jun 8 2008, 11:54 PM

QUOTE (DeepRoots @ Jun 9 2008, 12:17 AM)

For me its just been playing along to sonds i like, and when i mess up- i slap myself until its right lol

Posted by: Vasilis Jun 9 2008, 01:19 AM

Zakk Wylde I think once said that his first guitar teacher taught him to play the A minor pentatonic only with down strokes,in all positions so I believe that this might be a good idea for you to strengthen your technique
and I would suggest practicing the riffs from the following songs:

Painkiller - Judas Priest
Disposable heroes -Metallica
Them Bones - Alice in Chains (probably the easiest)
Sixes and Sevens -Annihilator(the hardest)

Posted by: Sam Hook Jun 9 2008, 05:07 AM

Cool, thanks a lot for the help guys!

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jun 9 2008, 03:49 PM

Also check out Trond lessons, he is influenced by Metallica and I'm sure he can give you some advices how to riff properly.

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Jun 9 2008, 04:13 PM

Any Metallica song might be a good help cause James downpicks pretty much everything. But be sure to start at a slow speed and play it precise before you speed up. It is no good to try something like this at a high speed if you are not that fast yet, it would only mess up your technique

Posted by: seagull Jun 12 2008, 10:18 AM

QUOTE (Muris Varajic @ Jun 9 2008, 12:54 AM)

I like that