Level Up Your Alternate Picking for Pick Control

Would you like to have better picking control? Would you like to sound more fluid when you play? Would you like to sharpen your technique so that you can be more concerned with what notes to play, rather than why your pick is flipping around under your fingers?

Alternate picking is one of the most useful and often neglected exercises for playing the guitar fluidly. In this lesson I give you five levels of alternate picking from beginner to advanced including PDFs. From just a few exercises that I've given you here, you can literally come up with dozens of exercises that will have you practicing for years. Enjoy!

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Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:19 Level 1
02:27 Level 2
03:39 Level 3
04:55 Level 4
06:19 Level 5
07:28 Bonus!

[yourguitarsage]

My friends! I truly hope this helps you level up your alternate picking. Thanks for watching!

[John-boy]

I’ve played a classical guitar and a Stratocaster on and off for close to 60 years. Finger style with nails was my go to, and mainly chords on the Strat, but I’ve put focus on picking the Strat for about a year now. I’m already fine with alt picking on every string, but you have given me some new ideas which I just tried and I can hear and feel the difference already. Something I’m thinking about: A beginner starting in 1st position might struggle with reach on the wide frets. Moving the exercises further up the neck makes it easier on the fingers until dexterity improves. Both ways have merits

[brianhudson]

Thanks Eric. I think that is a good alternate picking summary. I am going to do warm-ups with these in mind. Thanks for helping.

[AndyHO]

Absolutely bang on about having frustration, it means you've advanced too far and not having done enough practice at a particular level. I find that if I haven't warmed up it has a similar effect, but lack of practice at a particular level, and having the patience to get it consistently right before moving on is key.

[donnamc]

This is helpful and will incorporate in my practice. Thanks!

[steverobinson]

Hey Erich. I'm 61 . Been playing a little over a year. I never have used a pick. I just feel more comfortable using my fingers. Should I dedicate some time to learning to use a pick. By the way, my don lives in Columbia. He's a firefighter in Franklin. It's beautiful there.