Alternate picking exercise

[Fred5]

Ok, here's a little something for those ppl

asking about alternate picking.

 

It's all played on the D and G string and it's all in the key of D minor. After every six notes you move up one position and the first note is always played with the index finger.

 

Whenever there's a two fret step between the note played by the index finger and the following, it makes sense in this

situation to play that following note with your

middle finger.

 

Clip here

 

It's played against a metronome, concentrate on

economy and precision.

 

 

G--------0-2-3---------2-3-5

D-0-2-3---------2-3-5-------

 

 

G-------3-5-7-------5-7-9-

D-3-5-7-------5-7-8-------

 

 

G--------7-9-10---------9-10-12-

D-7-8-10--------8-10-12--------

 

 

G-----------10-12-14----------12-14-15--(14)

D-10-12-14-----------12-14-15--------------

[Fred5]

?nac uoy yalp sdrawkcaB

 

?

 

 

Can you play backwards?

 

Here's the same thing in reverse. Keep alternating

all the way through. I recommend to start every

six note grouping with a downstroke to emphasis

the downbeat. This thing is a little faster and less boring

 

If you learn to play this, you not only have a firm grip on alternate picking but also a bunch of important fingerings for diatonic scales - all

of the modes use these exact fingerings. No kidding. Ask anyone

 

Questions?