Alternating Picking Technique vs Down-Up Motion: Which is Harder for Fast Playing?

When considering the challenge of playing fast on the guitar, two popular techniques come to mind: alternate picking and down-up motion. This article explores the intricacies of these techniques and which might be more challenging for achieving swift and accurate playing.

Understanding Alternate Picking and Down-Up Motion

Alternate picking, as the name suggests, involves a pattern of alternating the picking hand between downstrokes and upstrokes. It follows a simple and repetitive pattern: down-up, down-up, and so on. This technique is often the first one taught to beginners due to its straightforward nature and the ease with which it facilitates consistent note production.

In contrast, down-up motion, or sweep picking, involves a more fluid and flexible approach. It involves going through chords or arpeggios by using a single downstroke followed by a single upstroke, creating a smooth sweep across multiple strings. Sweep picking is particularly useful for achieving fast and clean passages in a manner that is less repetitive compared to alternate picking.

Learning the Techniques

The author of this article, a self-taught guitarist, has refined their alternate picking technique over years, starting with simple down-up patterns and progressing to more complex maneuvers such as three-string triplets. Despite the progression, the author finds that the technique, once mastered, is very easy and can be applied consistently across different styles of playing.

For learning purposes, however, the author expresses some caution regarding overly complex picking patterns they have observed in magazines and online tutorials, suggesting that these might be harder for beginners to grasp and execute accurately. Examples like up up up down up down up down down down are highlighted as particularly difficult to follow and execute.

Efficiency and Simplicity

According to the author, the key to efficient and accurate fast playing lies in several fundamental aspects:

Making upstrokes and downstrokes sound the same. Mastering the concepts of lifts and skips.

A lift is a 1 string skip over a string that has just been played, while a skip consists of a 2 string skip. The simplicity and directness of the pick mechanics are highlighted as crucial. The author advises against imitating other players' idiosyncrasies, including unnecessary facial expressions, focusing instead on straightforward and consistent technique.

Conclusion

Whether alternate picking or down-up motion is more challenging for fast and accurate playing largely depends on the individual player and their familiarity with these techniques. While alternate picking might be easier to learn and master due to its simplicity, down-up motion offers flexibility and speed for achieving complex and precise patterns.

The author's experience suggests that once the fundamental techniques are mastered, both methods can be used effectively. However, the ability to skip and combine different playing patterns, such as arpeggios and horizontal intervals, without overthinking the picking hand, is crucial for consistent and efficient playing at higher speeds.

For those just starting out, the author recommends focusing on getting upstrokes and downstrokes to sound the same and mastering the concepts of lifts and skips. By keeping the technique simple and direct, beginners can gradually build up their speed and accuracy over time.