Table of Contents
What is inside and outside picking?
Inside picking is when you cross strings “inside” the string, for example, if you alternate between the low E and A strings with an upstroke on the E and and downstroke on the A. Outside picking would be playing the same two notes but with a downstroke on the E and and upstroke on the A.
How do you hold a pick when picking alternate?
Instead of holding your pick flat, try holding it at an angle. You should hit the string with the edge of the pick than with the flat side of it. You’ll find that the guitar pick glides much more easily across the string. Eventually, you’ll be able to build up more speed this way.
How do you practice alternate picking on a guitar?
This is an alternate picking exercise, so begin on a downstroke on the first fret, followed by an upstroke at the second. The following downstroke should pass over the E string and land on the A string, with your ring finger at the third fret. Finish this bar on another upstroke.
What is outside picking?
Outside picking happens when you change to a higher string after a downstroke, or to a lower string after an upstroke. It’s quite easy to imagine that if you were only to play these two notes on the stings your pick would be doing this kind of motion (if you’re going from the D to the G string and vice versa):
What finger do you pick with on a guitar?
Pro Tip: Try playing these guitar picking exercises with your middle, ring and pinky fingers. This isn’t an easy task, as your index finger is quite often the ‘anchor’ that holds different shapes together. The challenge here is to play as fluidly as you would if you were starting on your index finger.
Is directional picking the best picking technique for guitar speed?
Here are 4 reasons why directional picking is the best picking technique for guitar speed: When playing 3 note per string scales (which is the only time when directional picking is different from true alternate picking) you do not have to skip over strings, as you would with alternate picking.