Wish you could play guitar faster using effective picking
technique? You won't need to look up countless guitar exercises
online... you only need to make a simple adjustment to your guitar
playing. Implement the following idea into your playing to easily play
faster on guitar:
1. Whenever you ascend while playing strings on guitar (go from a heavier string to a lighter string), ALWAYS use a downstroke - regardless of the notes that came before or after what you are playing.
2. Whenever you descend while playing strings on guitar (go from a lighter string to a heavier string), ALWAYS use an upstroke - regardless of the notes that came before or after what you are playing
.
(... you can still use alternate picking while playing several notes on a single string).
This picking concept is referred to as "directional picking". I teach this to all my guitar students to help them become fast guitar players. Many guitarists would (falsely) refer to this technique as "economy picking". However, this term is a name for a separate technique (more on this below). The point is, out of the three most common techniques for lead guitar (alternate picking, directional picking and economy picking), directional picking is the least difficult to develop and build incredible guitar speed with.
Here are four main reasons why this kind of picking is the best way for you to become a faster guitarist:
Reason #1: If you don't use directional picking, you must use 30% more movement to play the identical notes (slowing down your picking speed drastically)
As you play scales with three notes on each string it's not necessary to skip over strings (as you would need to with alternate picking). Rather than doing this, you simply move directly to the next note by picking in its direction (as described above).
Notice: to develop incredible guitar speed using this style of picking, you have to properly complete string changes with two consecutive down/up strokes and avoid a frequent mistake guitarists make when they initially use this technique. If you do it incorrectly (like most people when they begin), your guitar picking speed will not achieve its greatest potential.
Reason #2: The amount of time needed to build speed on guitar is reduced due to greater practice efficiency
While practicing directionaly with your picking, you are also working to improve sweep picking. By practicing sweep picking, your directional picking becomes more clean and articulate.
Of course, this doesn't mean that directional picking takes the place of any sweep picking practice you could be doing - it just means that practicing each individual technique (directional picking and sweep picking) simultaneously uses the other technique.
With this in mind, practicing exclusively with alternate picking will NOT help you master sweep picking (and sweep picking will not help you master alternate picking). So you must invest additional practice time into mastering both guitar techniques separately.
This makes directional picking a great choice whenever you have little time to practice guitar and/or want to become a faster guitarist in less time.
Reason #3: Directional picking greatly improves your picking articulation
The above headline is the opposite claim of what you hear in a lot of guitar communities and YouTube videos. What you frequently hear is that alternate picking helps you play stronger accents because downstrokes are naturally louder and that directional (or economy) picking prevents you from playing with great articulation.
Here is some reasoning to show you why this false claim is TOTALLY misguided and why reality is the opposite:
*You can articulate any note using either an upstroke or a downstroke, whenever you want. To see for yourself, choose any note on guitar and play it with a downstroke... then immediately play that same note using an upstroke (but played with additional force). Chances are, you could easily do this. And if you could, then you already know that you don't need to use a downstroke to have the note be accented. Accents and articulation are accomplished by having good control over your overall picking technique, NOT by focusing on downstrokes vs. upstrokes.
*The concept of alternate picking (making ALL downstrokes always be accented strong and ALL upstrokes not accented) is massively limiting. Since we already determined that any note can be accented using any type of pick stroke, there is no fundamental advantage that comes with restricting yourself to playing in the same manner all the time. More importantly, whenever you need to pick a different manner (by having accents fall somewhere else other than on the downbeat), your playing will feel unnatural.
However, if you practice using directional picking (where accents can fall on any pick stroke), you won't run into the problems above. You will learn to articulate notes either on downstrokes or upstrokes and will not be limited to doing so only on the downbeat. So directional picking provides more options for articulating notes in any manner you desire... IF you master control over BOTH downstrokes and upstrokes. After helping many thousands of students become world class electric guitar players, this has been the case for each one.
The fundamental reason why most strict alternate picking guitarists make the (false) claim above is because their downstrokes and upstrokes are completely out of balance. So whenever they use directional picking, it feels strange to accent upstrokes, and it reveals the weakness in their overall picking technique. Instead of overcoming this playing weakness and developing their technique, they simply choose what feels easiest to them (while claiming that directional picking limits their articulation).
*When you make string changes with directional picking, by playing two notes going in the same direction, these notes are more accented, due to the momentum and follow-through of the picking motion (watch the video above to see this).
Think about this motion in terms of boxing. Boxers are told to throw punches that go THROUGH their opponent in order to get maximum power in their punches. This is the same thing that happens with directional picking when you switch strings by playing two continuous upstrokes or downstrokes. You pick using momentum from a previous note to follow THROUGH the next note. This makes it much more loud and articulate (when you choose to make it this way).
When you only use alternate picking during string changes, you must go around the next string, kill all momentum and then reverse the motion to perform an upstroke. This is a complete waste. Additionally it keeps you from taking advantage of the momentum from the previous note because of the inefficient picking path.
Reason #4: Directional picking = a more powerful version of alternate picking
Most people who are against directional picking defend alternate picking, while ignoring the obvious: in most guitar playing scenarios, directional picking and alternate picking are completely the same. Whether you are playing on a single string or using two or four note per string scales, your pick will usually move in PRECISELY the same manner with directional picking or alternate picking.
The one instance when directional picking is used differently than strict alternate picking is while playing three note per string scale patterns. As a result, directional picking already uses ALL the core benefits of alternate picking, with zero of its drawbacks.
Directional picking does NOT require you to completely relearn picking technique all over again. The only change you have to make is what I explained in the points at the start of this article. After a short period of time, you can learn to integrate this change into your technique and build your maximum guitar picking speed, while playing more effortlessly than ever.
With this said, many people still choose not to take advantage of this technique, because of various false rationalizations they make.
False Rationalization #1: "Directional picking is only for rock/metal guitar players, it won't work for my playing style." Think again. Just because directional picking makes it easier to quickly build really fast guitar speed, this does NOT mean it cannot be used in non-rock/metal styles. Its most critical benefit is that it makes your overall picking more efficient so you can play better in any musical genre.
False Rationalization #2: "My favorite guitar player can shred and he uses strict alternate picking... so I will too". If you think this, keep in mind that:
*Directional picking and alternate picking are nearly identical, except directional picking is MORE efficient where possible. So using this technique helps you build speed much faster.
*Certainly many players have become fast using alternate picking only, but there is also no denying that directional picking is more efficient. So although you CAN learn to play fast on guitar using strict alternate picking, you will develop the exact amount of speed much faster, with less frustration using directional picking.
False Rationalization #3: "Directional picking makes string skipping/inside picking harder because the pick is more likely to touch the string that is being skipped." This is a poor argument for the same reason that the argument about directional picking having weaker articulation is poor.
Directional picking doesn't make anything more difficult, it simply exposes your lack of skill while playing in specific picking contexts. Such contexts could be continually picking between two strings and using certain kinds of string skipping that strict alternate pickers find difficult. Once you become aware of your weaknesses, you can either develop them to make them stronger OR avoid them and continue claiming that directional picking makes string skipping more difficult:)
Incidentally, rock guitar students who learn directional picking from me, almost never experience the issues with string skipping and inside picking that exclusive alternate pickers do.
False Rationalization #4: "Directional playing means you have to figure out picking patterns before you play them." If you believe this, then you are conflating "directional" picking with "economy" picking. Economy picking is a technique that requires switching strings using a sweep picking motion at all times - thus causing you to plan how many notes per string you must play in every phrase.
Directional playing does not have this limitation - you just go by the two rules I wrote at the start of this article and play whatever you want. You end up alternate picking notes if it is most effective for reaching the next note, OR using sweep picking while transferring strings if it is most effective for reaching the next note.
False Rationalization #5: "I want to completely master alternate picking, then transition into a directional style". This makes no sense because it doesn't follow that you should use a technique that 1. is less efficient and 2. will need to be unlearned later ANYWAY. It's much easier to make the switch to directional picking so you can gain the benefits of alternate picking (without the downsides).
Now that you understand why directional picking is a crucial technique to add into your guitar playing, I want to teach you HOW to master it so you can reach your guitar playing goals in the quickest, least difficult and most straightforward way possible.
1. Whenever you ascend while playing strings on guitar (go from a heavier string to a lighter string), ALWAYS use a downstroke - regardless of the notes that came before or after what you are playing.
2. Whenever you descend while playing strings on guitar (go from a lighter string to a heavier string), ALWAYS use an upstroke - regardless of the notes that came before or after what you are playing
.
(... you can still use alternate picking while playing several notes on a single string).
This picking concept is referred to as "directional picking". I teach this to all my guitar students to help them become fast guitar players. Many guitarists would (falsely) refer to this technique as "economy picking". However, this term is a name for a separate technique (more on this below). The point is, out of the three most common techniques for lead guitar (alternate picking, directional picking and economy picking), directional picking is the least difficult to develop and build incredible guitar speed with.
Here are four main reasons why this kind of picking is the best way for you to become a faster guitarist:
Reason #1: If you don't use directional picking, you must use 30% more movement to play the identical notes (slowing down your picking speed drastically)
As you play scales with three notes on each string it's not necessary to skip over strings (as you would need to with alternate picking). Rather than doing this, you simply move directly to the next note by picking in its direction (as described above).
Notice: to develop incredible guitar speed using this style of picking, you have to properly complete string changes with two consecutive down/up strokes and avoid a frequent mistake guitarists make when they initially use this technique. If you do it incorrectly (like most people when they begin), your guitar picking speed will not achieve its greatest potential.
Reason #2: The amount of time needed to build speed on guitar is reduced due to greater practice efficiency
While practicing directionaly with your picking, you are also working to improve sweep picking. By practicing sweep picking, your directional picking becomes more clean and articulate.
Of course, this doesn't mean that directional picking takes the place of any sweep picking practice you could be doing - it just means that practicing each individual technique (directional picking and sweep picking) simultaneously uses the other technique.
With this in mind, practicing exclusively with alternate picking will NOT help you master sweep picking (and sweep picking will not help you master alternate picking). So you must invest additional practice time into mastering both guitar techniques separately.
This makes directional picking a great choice whenever you have little time to practice guitar and/or want to become a faster guitarist in less time.
Reason #3: Directional picking greatly improves your picking articulation
The above headline is the opposite claim of what you hear in a lot of guitar communities and YouTube videos. What you frequently hear is that alternate picking helps you play stronger accents because downstrokes are naturally louder and that directional (or economy) picking prevents you from playing with great articulation.
Here is some reasoning to show you why this false claim is TOTALLY misguided and why reality is the opposite:
*You can articulate any note using either an upstroke or a downstroke, whenever you want. To see for yourself, choose any note on guitar and play it with a downstroke... then immediately play that same note using an upstroke (but played with additional force). Chances are, you could easily do this. And if you could, then you already know that you don't need to use a downstroke to have the note be accented. Accents and articulation are accomplished by having good control over your overall picking technique, NOT by focusing on downstrokes vs. upstrokes.
*The concept of alternate picking (making ALL downstrokes always be accented strong and ALL upstrokes not accented) is massively limiting. Since we already determined that any note can be accented using any type of pick stroke, there is no fundamental advantage that comes with restricting yourself to playing in the same manner all the time. More importantly, whenever you need to pick a different manner (by having accents fall somewhere else other than on the downbeat), your playing will feel unnatural.
However, if you practice using directional picking (where accents can fall on any pick stroke), you won't run into the problems above. You will learn to articulate notes either on downstrokes or upstrokes and will not be limited to doing so only on the downbeat. So directional picking provides more options for articulating notes in any manner you desire... IF you master control over BOTH downstrokes and upstrokes. After helping many thousands of students become world class electric guitar players, this has been the case for each one.
The fundamental reason why most strict alternate picking guitarists make the (false) claim above is because their downstrokes and upstrokes are completely out of balance. So whenever they use directional picking, it feels strange to accent upstrokes, and it reveals the weakness in their overall picking technique. Instead of overcoming this playing weakness and developing their technique, they simply choose what feels easiest to them (while claiming that directional picking limits their articulation).
*When you make string changes with directional picking, by playing two notes going in the same direction, these notes are more accented, due to the momentum and follow-through of the picking motion (watch the video above to see this).
Think about this motion in terms of boxing. Boxers are told to throw punches that go THROUGH their opponent in order to get maximum power in their punches. This is the same thing that happens with directional picking when you switch strings by playing two continuous upstrokes or downstrokes. You pick using momentum from a previous note to follow THROUGH the next note. This makes it much more loud and articulate (when you choose to make it this way).
When you only use alternate picking during string changes, you must go around the next string, kill all momentum and then reverse the motion to perform an upstroke. This is a complete waste. Additionally it keeps you from taking advantage of the momentum from the previous note because of the inefficient picking path.
Reason #4: Directional picking = a more powerful version of alternate picking
Most people who are against directional picking defend alternate picking, while ignoring the obvious: in most guitar playing scenarios, directional picking and alternate picking are completely the same. Whether you are playing on a single string or using two or four note per string scales, your pick will usually move in PRECISELY the same manner with directional picking or alternate picking.
The one instance when directional picking is used differently than strict alternate picking is while playing three note per string scale patterns. As a result, directional picking already uses ALL the core benefits of alternate picking, with zero of its drawbacks.
Directional picking does NOT require you to completely relearn picking technique all over again. The only change you have to make is what I explained in the points at the start of this article. After a short period of time, you can learn to integrate this change into your technique and build your maximum guitar picking speed, while playing more effortlessly than ever.
With this said, many people still choose not to take advantage of this technique, because of various false rationalizations they make.
False Rationalization #1: "Directional picking is only for rock/metal guitar players, it won't work for my playing style." Think again. Just because directional picking makes it easier to quickly build really fast guitar speed, this does NOT mean it cannot be used in non-rock/metal styles. Its most critical benefit is that it makes your overall picking more efficient so you can play better in any musical genre.
False Rationalization #2: "My favorite guitar player can shred and he uses strict alternate picking... so I will too". If you think this, keep in mind that:
*Directional picking and alternate picking are nearly identical, except directional picking is MORE efficient where possible. So using this technique helps you build speed much faster.
*Certainly many players have become fast using alternate picking only, but there is also no denying that directional picking is more efficient. So although you CAN learn to play fast on guitar using strict alternate picking, you will develop the exact amount of speed much faster, with less frustration using directional picking.
False Rationalization #3: "Directional picking makes string skipping/inside picking harder because the pick is more likely to touch the string that is being skipped." This is a poor argument for the same reason that the argument about directional picking having weaker articulation is poor.
Directional picking doesn't make anything more difficult, it simply exposes your lack of skill while playing in specific picking contexts. Such contexts could be continually picking between two strings and using certain kinds of string skipping that strict alternate pickers find difficult. Once you become aware of your weaknesses, you can either develop them to make them stronger OR avoid them and continue claiming that directional picking makes string skipping more difficult:)
Incidentally, rock guitar students who learn directional picking from me, almost never experience the issues with string skipping and inside picking that exclusive alternate pickers do.
False Rationalization #4: "Directional playing means you have to figure out picking patterns before you play them." If you believe this, then you are conflating "directional" picking with "economy" picking. Economy picking is a technique that requires switching strings using a sweep picking motion at all times - thus causing you to plan how many notes per string you must play in every phrase.
Directional playing does not have this limitation - you just go by the two rules I wrote at the start of this article and play whatever you want. You end up alternate picking notes if it is most effective for reaching the next note, OR using sweep picking while transferring strings if it is most effective for reaching the next note.
False Rationalization #5: "I want to completely master alternate picking, then transition into a directional style". This makes no sense because it doesn't follow that you should use a technique that 1. is less efficient and 2. will need to be unlearned later ANYWAY. It's much easier to make the switch to directional picking so you can gain the benefits of alternate picking (without the downsides).
Now that you understand why directional picking is a crucial technique to add into your guitar playing, I want to teach you HOW to master it so you can reach your guitar playing goals in the quickest, least difficult and most straightforward way possible.
Tom Hess is a professional recording artist, composer, and expert
guitar instructor. He teaches and trains guitarists how to become great
musicians in his online rock guitar lessons. Visit tomhess.net to receive additional free guitar playing resources and to read more guitar articles.
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