# Alternate Picking: The Foundation of Fast Guitar Playing > Master alternate picking on guitar with technique breakdowns, progressive exercises, and speed building tips. The essential picking technique for every guitarist. Source: https://guitarwiz.app/articles/alternate-picking Alternate picking is the single most important picking technique on guitar. It's exactly what it sounds like: alternating between downstrokes and upstrokes with your pick. Down, up, down, up - simple in concept, but developing clean, fast, consistent alternate picking takes dedicated practice. Every fast guitarist - from Yngwie Malmsteen to John Petrucci to Django Reinhardt - relies on alternate picking as their foundation. Even if you later develop economy picking or hybrid picking, alternate picking is where it all starts. ## The Technique ### Proper Pick Grip 1. Hold the pick between your thumb and the side of your index finger 2. About 3-5mm of the pick tip extends past your fingers 3. Grip firmly enough to maintain control, loose enough to avoid tension 4. The pick should be angled very slightly - not perfectly perpendicular to the string ### The Motion The picking motion comes from your **wrist**, not your arm or fingers. - **Downstroke:** Wrist rotates slightly downward, pick strikes through the string - **Upstroke:** Wrist rotates slightly upward, pick strikes through the string going up Think of turning a doorknob slightly back and forth. The motion is small, controlled, and efficient. Large arm movements waste energy and limit speed. ### Pick Angle Slightly angling the pick (about 10-15 degrees from perpendicular) helps it glide through the strings rather than catching. This reduces resistance and increases speed. ## Common Issues and Fixes ### Issue: Upstrokes are weaker than downstrokes This is the #1 alternate picking problem. Most players naturally apply more force on downstrokes. **Fix:** Practice upstrokes in isolation. Play a passage using ONLY upstrokes. Then alternate, focusing on matching upstroke volume to downstroke volume. ### Issue: Getting stuck at string crossings When moving from one string to the next, the pick can get "trapped" on the wrong side of the string. **Fix:** Practice scales slowly, paying attention to which pick direction you use when crossing strings. The goal is to maintain strict alternation regardless of string changes. ### Issue: Speed ceiling You can play cleanly at 100 BPM but fall apart at 120 BPM. **Fix:** Practice at 110 BPM (just above comfortable) in short bursts. Play 4 clean notes, rest, repeat. Gradually build endurance and increase tempo by 5 BPM increments. ## Progressive Exercises ### Exercise 1: Single String Alternate Picking On the open 1st string, play: ``` D U D U D U D U ``` (D = downstroke, U = upstroke) Start at 60 BPM, four notes per beat (sixteenth notes). Increase tempo by 10 BPM when it's perfectly clean. Target: 120 BPM. ### Exercise 2: Two-String Crossing ``` e|---5-7-5-7---| B|---5-7-5-7---| ``` Alternate pick across two strings. The challenge is maintaining alternation when crossing - don't default to two downstrokes on the new string. ### Exercise 3: Three-Note-Per-String Scale ``` e|---5-7-8--------| B|-----------5-7-8-| ``` Three notes per string is the most efficient pattern for alternate picking because the pick naturally exits in the right direction for the next string. ### Exercise 4: The Spider Exercise ``` e|---1-2-3-4---| B|---1-2-3-4---| G|---1-2-3-4---| D|---1-2-3-4---| A|---1-2-3-4---| E|---1-2-3-4---| ``` Alternate pick this chromatic exercise across all six strings. This trains string crossing in both directions. ### Exercise 5: Speed Bursts Play 4 notes as fast as you possibly can (even if sloppy), then rest for 4 beats. Repeat. Gradually increase the burst length to 8 notes, then 12, then 16. This teaches your muscles what fast feels like. ## Inside Picking vs Outside Picking When crossing strings, your pick can be either "inside" or "outside" the two strings: **Inside picking:** The pick moves between the two strings (e.g., downstroke on the B string, upstroke on the E string). This feels naturally tight and controlled. **Outside picking:** The pick moves around the outside of the two strings (e.g., upstroke on the B string, downstroke on the E string). This can feel more awkward but sounds slightly different. Practice both. Most players have a natural preference, but being comfortable with both gives you full freedom. ## Practice Exercises ### Exercise 6: Tempo Ladder Start at your comfortable clean tempo. Play a scale for 4 beats. Increase by 5 BPM. Repeat. When you hit your "sloppy threshold," drop back 10 BPM and play for 2 minutes. This is your working tempo for the day. ### Exercise 7: Metronome Subdivisions Set the metronome to 60 BPM: - Play eighth notes (2 picks per beat) - Play triplets (3 picks per beat) - Play sixteenth notes (4 picks per beat) Switching between subdivisions while maintaining alternation builds rhythmic precision. ## Common Mistakes **1. Using arm motion instead of wrist.** The arm should be relatively still. The wrist does the work. Large arm movements limit speed and cause fatigue. **2. Gripping the pick too tightly.** Tension in the picking hand limits speed and fluidity. Use the minimum grip necessary to keep the pick from dropping. **3. Inconsistent pick depth.** The pick should pass through the string by only a few millimeters. Going too deep slows you down and causes snagging. **4. Abandoning alternation at string crossings.** When crossing strings, beginners often throw in extra downstrokes. Maintain strict down-up alternation. This is the hardest part but the most important. **5. Practicing sloppy at high speed.** Never practice faster than you can play cleanly. Speed built on sloppy foundation is speed that falls apart under pressure. ## Try This in Guitar Wiz Set the **Metronome** in Guitar Wiz to your target tempo and practice alternate picking exercises with the click. Start slow, increase by 5 BPM increments, and only move up when the current tempo is perfectly clean. The metronome's precise timing helps you identify when you're rushing or dragging. [Download Guitar Wiz on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6740015002?pt=643962&ct=article-alt-picking&mt=8) · [Explore the Metronome →](/metronome) ## FAQ ### Is alternate picking better than economy picking? Neither is "better" - they serve different purposes. Alternate picking is more versatile and rhythmically consistent. Economy picking is slightly faster for scalar passages. Most players use alternate picking as their primary technique. ### How long does it take to develop fast alternate picking? Noticeable improvement comes within 2-4 weeks of daily practice. Reaching "shred" speeds (180+ BPM sixteenth notes) takes months to years of dedicated work. ### Should I practice with a metronome? Absolutely. The metronome is your best friend for building picking speed. It ensures you're actually getting faster rather than just feeling faster. ### People Also Ask **What is alternate picking on guitar?** Alternate picking is the technique of alternating between downstrokes and upstrokes with a guitar pick, creating a consistent, efficient picking pattern. **How do I pick faster on guitar?** Use wrist motion, keep the pick angle slightly tilted, practice with a metronome at gradually increasing tempos, and maintain strict alternating down-up patterns. **Is alternate picking necessary?** It's the most fundamental picking technique. While you can explore economy picking and other methods later, alternate picking is the essential foundation.