yea
im trying to build up my three note per string speed and i just wasnt sure if im using the right picking technique.

at the moment im doing this (by the way, U = up and D = down ) :

----UDU
E---134
-------------UDU
A------------245
---------------------UDU
D--------------------356

so am i doing the right thing? do i reset the picking pattern when i change string or do i continue it?
in other words, do i always start each string with an upstroke or do i just continue the alternate picking pattern from the previous string, like this:

----UDU
E---134
-------------DUD
A------------245
---------------------UDU
D--------------------356

...?

the latter seems like a bit of a bitch at the moment, but i can help but feel that it will be better in the long run.
am i wasting my time by doing that or will it help?

cheers
thanks a lot
user01

edit: ive only just come into this problem now because before i was just doing 4 note per string picking, and that didnt have this problem as you could see below.

----UDUD
E---1234
-------------UDUD
A------------2345
---------------------UDUD
D--------------------3456

it doesnt realy matter wich method u pick.

this method would be economy picked

----UDU
E---134
-------------UDU
A------------245
---------------------UDU
D--------------------356

-------------------------------------

this method would be alternate picked

----UDU
E---134
-------------DUD
A------------245
---------------------UDU
D--------------------356

i think u should just look what plays the best, and wich method sounds the best.

i think alternate picking would sound the best, if all the notes have to sound flawless without tempo change.

__________________

This is a bit hard when I can't sing it to you, but hopefully you get the idea:

If I want 123123123123123123 then it's alternate all the way.
If I want 123-132-132-123-123-123 then economy.
And for 1-2-3... damnit, representing a gallop riff this way is hard, but if you listen to trash you might get it anyway. That's downstrokes all the way.

__________________

Economy picking is always faster.

__________________

Lol Mansley, tisn't a fact.

I don't really concentrate on how I pick things, I just work with the fastest way and cleanest way, whether it be alternate or economy... But generally for fast runs I would pick alternate, since my hand is going at speed and economy would reset that motion.

But meh, whatever workds

learn ALL methods of picking. after you have mastered them you will naturally use which one is most comfortable for you for each given riff.

__________________

more accurate in my opinion as well

__________________

Funny thing that. I tried using only economy for a little more than a month, but for me alternate has been the fastest and cleanest ever since I mastered it.

__________________

Economy picking is always the fastest way. Simple geometry dictates so.

__________________

Hmm I'm a little confused. Seems both economy picking and alternate picking, when mastered, or equally good.

Does where they are applied make the difference of which one is better? In other words, learn both and use where they fit best?

You have the potential to reach higher speeds with economy picking for three notes per string stuff because there is less movement involved than with pure alternate picking.

Unfortunately I'm shit at it, so I always do alternate picking.

what is economy picking what is alternate picking. alternate is like up down up down up down what is economy?

Alternate is strict DUDUDUDUDUDUDUDUetc

Economy would be

---------123-
-----123-----
-123---------
-DUDDUDDUD-

Or

-UDUUDUUDU
-321---------
-----321-----
---------321-

So when you change string, it's like a mini sweep - less wrist movement.
It feel really unnatural to me.

Economy picking is always striking the next string with the same picking motion (down or up) as the previous string - like a mini sweep. Eg:



Economy picking just eliminates the need to actually pass the next string before hitting it. It makes picking and hand movement more efficient.

EDIT: Danny beat me to it!

__________________

economy you u skip an upstroke per string

-----------------------------------8-9-11-
---------------------------7-9-10---------
---------------------5-7-9----------------
---------------5-7-8----------------------
---------5-7-8----------------------------
---5-7-8----------------------------------

d u d d u d d u d d u d d u d d u d

alternate is obvious.

__________________

jazmetalguitar put it best. Learn both, then use what you think fits.

__________________

Does that geometry take into account the motion of your hand?

If you're going at tremolo-like speeds, restarting the motion of your hand isn't the best method.

No, the distance travelled by the pick.

__________________