https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 23:55:20 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/#post-371787 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:04:53 +0000
I used to exclusively rely on economy picking, but since then, i have worked very hard on the alternating picking.

I have to tell you, that having both techniques has made a HUGE difference to my playing. I no longer feel that i have to adapt licks that before, might have seemed difficult to play correct or upto speed.

I was worried i would get "confused", or my economy picking would get worse, but really, its been great, i feel faster and more fluent than ever.

Good luck, AL]]> Guitar Players Discussion almann1979 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/#post-371787 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/#post-371705 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:13:12 +0000
The picking pattern needs to support the music. If you fully understand the music that you are trying to create, then you can adjust your technique to create that music.]]> Guitar Players Discussion MatthiasYoung https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/#post-371705 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/#post-371684 Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:26:22 +0000
Anyway, I'll look into what you said.. it's interesting. I just dont know if you can become "faster" if you dont actually train for it?]]> Guitar Players Discussion 1990eam https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/#post-371684 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/#post-371663 Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:58:09 +0000
Too many musicians try to put 'playing' something ahead of being musical, and add the musicality after you can 'do' it. That's the wrong approach, IMO. You simply can't add good timing, good phrasing, or a good sense of dynamics as an "add-on" to the mechanics. If you can play something with a good sense of musicality slowly, getting faster is a technical problem - and technical problems can be solved.

But if you start with technique devoid of timing/phrasing/musicality, it's practically impossible to add the missing elements later on. Because now it's no longer a technical problem, but a musical one. Making music is the fundamental reason we do what we do, and nothing else will substitute for it. (I'm guessing that's what Cat has in mind when he says you're not feeling it)]]> Guitar Players Discussion NoteBoat https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/#post-371663 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/#post-371661 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:54:46 +0000
Cat]]> Guitar Players Discussion Cat https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/#post-371661 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/#post-371639 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:09:08 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion 1990eam https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/#post-371639 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/#post-371608 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:52:06 +0000
Economy picking can be faster than alternate picking, which is why most shredders use it. But it's easy to push it too far, especially if you're playing with a lot of distortion... and the result is sloppy playing.

You say you can't seem to play the solo with economy, because it sounds sloppy. My first thought is that you should slow the whole thing down. You can't 'clean up' fast playing. You can only play quickly and cleanly by speeding up clean playing.

My second thought is that whether or not economy picking or alternate picking is appropriate for this song, it would be a good idea to develop alternate picking capabilities. The best way to do that: start slow, and accent downstrokes (either every one, or every downbeat). A 2/4 ONE-and-two-and-ONE-and-two-and checks your pick direction every two beats. Once it's habit, you can lose the accents.]]> Guitar Players Discussion NoteBoat https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/#post-371608 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/#post-371607 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:39:58 +0000
Cat]]> Guitar Players Discussion Cat https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/#post-371607 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/#post-42214 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 06:55:33 +0000
What are your thoughts about it? Do you really think it makes a difference in developing speed as long as you are confortable with the way you play? What do you think would be the best way to approach re-learning to pick after almost 5 years of economy picking?]]> Guitar Players Discussion 1990eam https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/going-from-economy-picking-to-alternate/#post-42214