Alternate Picking

Lesson 3/53 | Study Time: 5 Min
Course: Introducing Guitar 1
Alternate Picking

Alternate Picking

All of the songs you have so far played involved a downward pick motion, indicated by a a. With the introduction of eighth notes, the technique of down and up (s) picking is used. This is called alternate picking, and it is essential for the development of speed and accuracy.

In alternate picking, use a down pick on the beat (the number count) and up pick off the beat (the "and" count). Try the following exercise.

Use alternate picking on the second beat of the first bar. To achieve the rest on the first beat of bar 2, stop the string sounding by lightly touching it with your finger

Remember to use alternate picking throughout this riff.

Rhythm Pattern

Rhythm Pattern

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Gary Turner and Andrew Scott

Gary Turner and Andrew Scott

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Class Sessions

1- The Note B 2- The G<sup>7</sup> Chord 3- The C Chord 4- The Three Four Time Signature 5- The Quarter Rest 6- Open E Note 7- Changing Chords 8- The Note F 9- The Eighth Note 10- Chords 11- The Note D 12- The Note C 13- The Note A 14- Eighth Note Rhythms 15- INTRODUCTION 16- Tuning the Guitar to Itself 17- How to Sit and Hold the Guitar 18- Sharp Signs 19- The Open D Note 20- The Dotted Quarter Note 21- First and Second Endings 22- The Note G 23- The D Chord 24- The Note F Sharp 25- The Lead-In 26- Two-Bar Eighth Note Rhythms 27- Approach to Practice 28- The Tie 29- Other Methods of Tuning the Guitar 30- Alternate Picking 31- Rhythm Pattern 32- Suggested Rhythms 33- Chord Diagrams 34- Right Hand 35- Two Chord Songs 36- The D Seventh Chord 37- Two-Bar Rhythms 38- Tuning to Another Musical Instrument 39- Tuning 40- The G Major Scale 41- Right Arm Position 42- Eighth Note Rhythms in <span class="symbolA">^</span> Time 43- Duets 44- Tuning Fork and Pitch Pipes 45- Parts of the Guitar 46- Left Hand 47- Strumming Chords 48- Left Hand Thumb 49- Guitar Fingering Diagram 50- The Open G String 51- How to Read Music 52- Music Notes 53- The Note G

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