Strict Alternate (& Strict Economy) Picking Are Stupid - Do This Instead
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- Опубліковано 9 чер 2024
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Which guitar technique should you use if you want to pick fast? Alternate picking or economy picking?
In my opinion, the answer is: NEITHER. Watch the video to understand why and what technique I recommend instead.
![[Guitar Techniques] Economy Picking vs. Directional Picking](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Rq3KKz-Gf7E/mqdefault.jpg)
What I always disliked about strict alternate picking was that if you happened (improvising, a mistake, whatever) to start playing something with an upstroke instead of a downstroke or vice versa, in a sense you'll be "stuck" playing a mirrored version of that for who knows how long. With directional picking you "reset" every time you change strings so in a sense only the first string will be different and after that you're back to your more familiar version of playing the lick or whatever it was.
You're using economy picking. That's literally what it is. Economy means you pick in an economical way which involves both alternate picking and sweeps like you explained (going to the next note in the easiest way possible) . And when people say they practice both they mean they practice strict alternate picking and then the same lick with alternate with sweeps to the next string which is economy picking.
Agreed - thats how I see it.
It is not economy picking. Watch frank gambales monster licks video. He economy picks.
@@bradsims5116 Gambale employs a very specific style of economy picking that even has strict basis in mathematical principles. His style of economy picking has the disadvantage of forcing you to have to consider the number of notes you're playing for a passage to employ effectively.
If you say so. But I've wasted alot of time figuring this out. So call it what you want.
I learned his style of picking and it was called "economy picking" by whom I learned it from, but I can understand the distinction he's making in this video and the need to distinguish his approach to avoid confusion due to different definitions.
E.g. "in an economical way" can have many different meanings based on the metric used to measure price.
Excellent video!!! The best information I’ve collected as a player of almost 15 years. Really blown away by this concept. Thank you for sharing your knowledge so freely
This is great Mike!! I actually stumbled on directional picking by accident about 10 years ago. For me it was just logical to pick the next string moving the least distance possible. Thing is I was taught that it was bad technique thus to use alternate picking instead. I switched and found alternate picking to be much more fatiguing on the picking hand, especially for 3 note per string runs. I'm glad I found this video and Tom Hess' videos too. I made the switch back to directional and have seen an improvement in speed, fluidity, and cleanliness in just days! Thanks for posting this!
Everything depends on the number of notes per string, choose what is most efficient for you. I naturally use directional picking, but of course you can't directional pick in every situation.
One note ? Direction picking of course.
Two ? Strict alternate: Down, Up, [Down], Up, [Down] .... or start directional then change to alternate by starting with an upstroke : Up , Down, [Down], Up, [Down], Up, [Down] etc.... Where the []s symbolize string change.
Three ? Full Directional: Down, Up, Down, [Down], Up, Down, [Down], Up, Down, [Down] ... And so on. When descending (pitch): Up, Down, Up, [Up], Down, Up, [Up], Down, Up, [Up] .... Or you can start alternated and change to directional. For me its all the same: Down, Up, Down, [Up], Down, Up, [Up], Down, Up, [Up], Down, Up, [Up] .... So on.
Four notes ? Full alternate.
To sum it up: Two and Four notes per string, you use alternate. You can start the first change on directional but then you have to alternate the rest.
One and Three notes: Use directional. You can use full alternate on three, but the most natural motion is to go directional. When you strict alternate on three, you move your thumb and wrist more and thus pick slower.
Alternate picking is natural on two and four notes per string but feels wrong on three notes per string. You have to master pick slanting and do more wrist movement to do strict alternate picking on three notes per string. That's the problem.
If, and only If you somehow force your picking to work on strict alternate on three notes per string and get super fast in it, like Paul Gilbert, then , excepting on sweeping (one note per string), just strict alternate everything since you don't have to worry on changing movement. But for most people, use directional for 3 notes per string and alternate the rest when you can't go directional. It can get strange at first to change freely from non directional to directional and back, but you'll get fast faster than if you try to strict alternate everything.
I cannot believe how amazing this is....you've figured out that your hand should move in the direction that your pick needs to travel...you've also figured out that if you need to pick more than one note on a string that it requires less effort to pick in more than one direction...and finally, you've figured out that, sometimes, when you change strings you don't have to change the 'direction' of your pick. This is what happens when you have a strong desire to state the obvious as something entirely new, and give it a name.
Why thank you, kind sir. Did you also love my guitar tone? Many people say it's their favorite thing about my channel.
What's interesting about directional picking is that it is a simple system that automatically covers all of the main picking styles: Alternating, Economy, Sweep. Stating this "obvious" finding is apparently necessary because the entire internet is full of nonsensical debates between alternating/economy picking as the supreme picking style.
great..I just switched to directional only 2 weeks because of your last clip , OMg it s much more better .thank you mike
This is fascinating stuff, thanks for sharing! I'm fairly certain this is what I'm doing already but I'm not conscious enough about my picking to know for sure. I'm going to analyze it a bit because I'm genuinely curious.
A subtle but important distinction between economy and directional, thanks Mike! Get well soon.
ok so economy picking is not directionnal picking. But what is the difference between economy picking and sweep picking ?
Gilles Pelletier that's exactly what I'm wondering, for me is the same thing
@@gillespelletier5124he literally just explained it in the video.
Sure, it takes a second to wrap your head around it, but just rewatch it.
Thank you Mike for this lesson!
Greetings
From watching Tom Hess videos I have been introduced to “directional picking” and it has surfaced again in this video.
It has taken me a bit of time to understand what it is . I think that’s because I have never been a student of Tom’s and I have only picked up bits of the concept without being able to ask questions and clarify things or have example licks to play the used DP in its most complicated form (mixing AP and EP)
But now that I get it , I think the best definition of directional picking is this
Directional picking - playing a series of notes in the most efficient way possible using either alternate picking or economy picking or a combination of both.
It really is just jumping back and forth between AP and EP
I suspect rather than trying to throw AP and EP away and rebrand them both into one package , I think it would be better to teach and drill into a student AP and EP as separate skills and then DP will be simple to apply as they have already got a firm grasp of both techniques and can jump back and forth between them effortlessly
I am mainly an alternate picker but recently I’ve been working on economy
I was taught in a london music school the typical 3 note per string shapes but didn’t like them and moved the notes into more comfortable positions where I had a natural 4 fret stretch and didn’t have to stretch over 5 frets .
The problem with that , if it’s a problem? Is that now you end up with scale shapes that are a mixture of 2 notes on some strings and 3 notes in others. But these scales shapes are the perfect candidates for directional picking , and now that have a bit of skill doing AP and EP, I find it quite easy and natural to play with DP. I seem to fly through the scales without even having to think about it much .
Great lesson 🤘🤘
Excellent lesson. Makes total sense. Never get hung up on one technique. You have to be able to play on time. Al Di Meola is very big on this. He often plays with time, between the beats.
I noticed this when playing even number patterns. Good that you bring attention to this.
Today I found out I have been naturally doing directional picking. I always found it strange when people talked about how certain number of notes per string is difficult to play. I thought whats the big deal. 2, 3 or 4 notes per string, none of them ever bothered me. Doesn't matter if you start with an upstroke or downstroke, it works out just fine. Thanks to directional picking, I never ever had to think before picking.
When descending do you start with an up or down by default? I'm trying to practice this technique I can't seem to start with an upstroke on anything when I intend to descend. Your comment gives me the impression that for you it doesn't matter as when your ready to descend or ascend to the next string it just happens intuitively regardless?
@@greenygg3498 For me, I sometimes practice both ways for the same riff, with the goal that directional picking should become pure muscle memory.
In general: For adjacent string changes, there are only 5 string transitions x 2 directions x 2 previous pick directions = 20 unique types of adjacent string transitions for a 6-string guitar, and no matter how many times you pluck a string before a transition, you will always use one of those 20 transitions. Also, 2-note/string pentatonic scales guarantee opposite-direction transitions, while 3-note/string diatonic scales guarantee same-direction transitions, so all you have to do is run through both types of scales to get all 20 transitions into your muscle memory. 20 can sound like a lot but there are more letters in the English alphabet so it's not as bad as it might seem to get them into muscle memory.
John Petrucci does directional picking, too. I learned some of his exercises.
I’ve been completely enraptured in this situation this week. You are doing God’s work!
One strange aspect of my technique is that I can play a lot faster and more accurately through a two-note-per-string pentatonic scale starting on an upstroke (alternate picking) even though I've never practiced it that way. I just happened to discover it one day by accident. Thanks for clearing up the definition of directional picking.
I think that would be due to upwards pick slanting, try doing it starting on a down stroke but with your wrist rotated so your thumb is further away from the strings than the pinkie side of your hand and you might find that you can play at a similar speed to starting on an upstroke. Troy Grady has some really good videos about it that explain way better than I can
I'm way faster with that 2-note per string pattern if I start on an upstroke because I have an habit of upslanted (top of pick is higher than bottom) picking. So it takes no effort to do that 2-note per string pentatonic pattern using alternate picking. But if I do it the way you showed, starting on a dowstroke, I can't play it very, very fast, because the pick stroke prior to string crossing is away from the direction of the next string. Is there a better way to do this than alternate picking, or do I need to learn to downslant, or do you not agree with those concepts?
Thanks for the video Mike! My big blocker on directional picking over alternate picking is one I don't think you covered, so either I missed something or it's so obvious as to not be worth mentioning. So I will sheepishly ask, doesn't directional picking require more planning (and therefore time thinking) so you start on the correct up or down stroke to be able to go in the right direction to your next string? Do you even always know which is your next string when improvising or how many times you're going to pick the string before moving off it? Playing a scale yes cos that's predictable but making a solo up on the fly seems like I need to plan every string change ahead? With alternate picking you don't have any of that decision making going on so feels so much easier. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to challenge you, I believe you, it's just every time I try directional picking I have to think which way to pick to start and then have to think how many picks on this string before I can move off to the next string and all that thinking just eats time.
Steve, no. you don't plan anything. You simply move the pick in the direction of where the next note is. That is literally ALL there is to it :)
This doesn’t answer all of your questions but...
Directional picking - playing a series of notes in the most efficient way possible using either alternate picking or economy picking or a combination of both.
It really is just jumping back and forth between AP and EP
If you get good at both AP(alternate picking) and EP (economy picking) then you will probably find it quite easy and natural to then play DP (directional picking) without even having to think about it too much.
One of the best things you can do is learn the 7 modes of the major scale in tightly grouped boxes that are a bit like pentatonic scales that fit nicely under your four fingers and you don’t have to stretch over a 5 fret span .
For example , the A major (Ionion) scale starting at 5th fret on low E would be
E: 5 , 7 A: 4, 5, 7 D: 4, 6, 7
G: 4, 6, 7 B: 5, 7 E: 4, 5, 7
If you play through this starting on a downstroke the your alternate picking till the last note on the A string then you economy pick sweep into the D string , sweep again into G, sweep again into B, then it back to Alternate picking to the E to finish
Back again with another thought :
Directional picking makes sense as a method if we choose to define economy picking like this
Economy picking - you MUST move to a new string using a sweep. IF you move to a new string using alternate picking instead of a sweep then it’s NOT economy picking.
I don’t know if “economy picking “ has a universally accepted, nailed down definition or not, or if it means different things to different people.
If my above definition is wrong and you don’t have to sweep when moving to a new a string but can if you have an opportunity, then there is NO difference at all between “economy picking” and “directional picking” as far as I understand.
Perhaps it’s because many play only 3 note per string scales and get caught up in the need or desire to always change string with a sweep? Maybe where this rule or strict definition of economy picking comes from? 🤔 hmmm
One question sir, when playing on the Low E string at min 2:30, do u have the hand slithly in the air right ? basically the only pivot point would be around the elbow, but that happens ONLY when playing low E ?
Hi, thanks for the video.
So if you want to play a 3-note per string lick (picked) with a string skip, for example the Paul Gilbert lick you showed here, but on the G and E strings, what would you do? Would you:
A) Play with alternate picking?
B) Pre-plan by to start the lick on an upstroke to enable directional picking? (which would technically be alternate picking but still fits the directional picking rules)
C) pre-plan by playing one note with legato to enable direction picking?
Think about the definition of directional picking I gave. Then imagine you are your own guitar teacher. How would you answer your own question?
@@HowToPracticeGuitarI was hoping you would tell me! If I'm brutally honest, I would either alternate pick it all or legato it all depending on the tempo, because I suck at economy type picking lol. But given the scenario goal here, option C would be most likely (reasons being that 2 consecutive downstrokes with a skipped string in between seems unlikely). However, that kinda goes against what you seem to be teaching here (that directional picking requires no pre-planning and can pick anything).
There is no difference between directional and economy picking, when changing strings you move the pick in the direction of the next string which gives you either a double down or upward sweep motion.
Alternate picking gives you a different sound and is better in time. I always hear it when players use economy picking, it’s just not that good in time as it is with alternate picking.
I would rather use alternate picking in combination with some hammer ons and pull offs. In that way you can keep the movement of your picking hand the same, just down up down up etc.., in order to keep that rhythmic flow going on.
This is what Paul Gilbert does.
Anton Oparin also does it that way and he can play anything and in perfect time with this technique.
Now in the first, two-note per string example of "directional" picking, you go down-up, then move [the hand] to the higher string, do the "down-up" again, then again. . . so you're basically doin' strict alternate down-ups. The only / as far as I can get it / case one can use so-called "directional" picking to play even numbered groupings (2, 4, etc) of notes is starting on an upstroke when ascending (up-down, movin' to the higher string (by continuing that "downward" motion), then play the next up and down and so on and so forth) and start the lick with a downstroke on the way back (same principle 'up-side down').
And as for the three-note per string example, again, you're doing proper economy picking as long as the string to string transition matters: down-up-down, down-up-down... and once you reach the top string, you do a few alternate pickings, make sure your last stroke is an upstroke - so you're ready for the descending run and, well, go back using, again, economy picking. You're not doing anything else.
Or if you do, and they ARE DIFFERENT can you explain what is the difference between what you're doing (these two examples, labelled as "directional picking)) and alternate and economy picking regarding the first and second examples respectively? I mean, can you play the same lick, say, the 1st one using a) alternate picking and b) directional picking and show the difference by comparing the two, and do the same 'back to back' comparision regarding the second example by playing it using a) economy picking and b) directional picking) and again showing the DIFFERENCE. Cuz it's not clear what the difference is (if there's at all..)
THANX!
P. S. Also, if one starts ascending three-note per string with an upstroke or a descending one on a downstroke, then the strict alternate is the ONLY way here to execute the particular run. What your thoughts on this? Would you rather avoid this kind of scenarios for the sake of always being able to do economy (directional) picking when you move from a string to the next.. ?
I posted this below . I shared your confusion on the matter but now I get it.
The best way to understand and practice DP is to play a scale with 2 notes on some strings and 3 notes on others.
Play an A major scale for example starting at the 5th fret on the low E string. You play it so it’s in a nice box that fits under your 4 fingers , you don’t have to stretch over 5 fret span to play it . Nor any other the other modes of the major scale.
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Greetings
From watching Tom Hess videos I have been introduced to “directional picking” and it has surfaced again in this video.
It has taken me a bit of time to understand what it is . I think that’s because I have never been a student of Tom’s and I have only picked up bits of the concept without being able to ask questions and clarify things or have example licks to play the used DP in its most complicated form (mixing AP and EP)
But now that I get it , I think the best definition of directional picking is this
Directional picking - playing a series of notes in the most efficient way possible using either alternate picking or economy picking or a combination of both.
It really is just jumping back and forth between AP and EP
I suspect rather than trying to throw AP and EP away and rebrand them both into one package , I think that might be less profitable
I think it would be better to teach and drill into them AP and EP as separate worlds and then DP will be simple to apply as they have already got a firm grasp of both techniques and can jump back and forth between them effortlessly
I am mainly an alternate picker but recently I’ve been working on economy
I was taught in a london music school the typical 3 note per string shapes but didn’t like them and moved the notes into more comfortable positions where I had a natural 4 fret stretch and didn’t have to stretch over 5 frets .
The problem with that , if it’s a problem? Is that now you end up with scale shapes that are a mixture of 2 notes on some strings and 3 notes in others. But these scales shapes are the perfect candidates for directional picking , and now that have a bit of skill doing AP and EP, I find it quite easy and natural to play with DP. I seem to fly through the scales without even having to think about it much .
Malmsteen does this all the time, it is a fact that he can't do 3 nps strict alternate picking, so does Satriani.
Correct in some way. Yngwie eco-pick when doing ascending scale lines but when he descends, he mixed al-pick and pull-off, and use certain sequence so that he doesn't do inside picking, Trilogy intro is the best example for this. Chris Brooks and Cesario Filho explain Yng-way picking very clearly.
What kind of picks do you use now? I noticed you used to use the clayton 1.26 picks, those look like dunlop ultem primetones
Jim Dunlop Primetones. These things rock!
Then what exactly what should the guitarist do? Post up exactly how to do this.
is the same as economy picking, so how do you play the pentatonic 2 notes per string scale with economy picking??
When i began playing guitar , i took no lessons and i learned everything on my own , and luckily and naturaly directional picking was the picking techinque i have been developing without intention. For the last 4-5 years i began to realise and understand the picking technique i have developed naturaly was directional picking , and it is sure as hell very efficient , and you can play really fast although at higher speeds i feel like my pick attack gets weaker , i feel a necesity to do lighter , softer pick attacks than at normal speeds. I would very much like you to breakdown licks like the Paul Gilbert lick you show in this video because changing strings repeatedly , like playing inside picking licks gets me really annoyed. Standart up-down scale run like licks are really easy and fast to play with directional picking , but the inside picking licks are really annoying. I really would apreciate if you could make a video on directional picking with such licks. By the way thank you so much because this channel is the only one that gives proper info about directional picking.
E.g. technical difficulties, intro riff...directional picking isn't easy there lol
Thanks for the video. How would you approach the picking when you're playing 3 notes per string triplets and repeating the 3 notes on every string like: E string: 3-5-7 A string: 3-5-7-3-5-7 D string: 4-5-7-4-5-7 etc. The diretional picking pattern is lost when repeating the notes.
Just seeing this comment now.
The directional picking pattern still works for your lick. On the string change from E to A, you do an economy picking string change motion, assuming you start the lick with a downstroke. If you started with an upstroke, then E to A would have an alternate picking string change motion).
But on A to D, that’s an alternate picking string change motion. Here’s the kicker: no matter what stroke you started the lick on, it’ll always be this string change motion.
In both cases, you’re always following the principle of “the pick stroke matches the direction of the string change.”
This is what directional picking is: it’s the best of both worlds between economy and alternate picking.
Grab your guitar and play everything in this video and what I described in this comment. After all, you learn guitar by playing guitar.
The only problem I'd see is that some favorite solos won't be able to be played or am I wrong?
So many variables too like what kind of pick slant do you use, upward? downward?
This is how I play. Never tried to properly use alternate or economy because what I was doing was working.
Good lesson. :) The Guitar King Frank Gambale use or used directional picking alot. :)
This is actually the way great jazz guitar player Jimmy Bruno plays and it happens to be the way I play also. Great lesson.
But what I should do when I change strings that are not next to. How should I pick string skipping? Pls help
Move in the direction of the next string. If ascending - change strings with a donwstroke. If descending - change strings with an upstroke.
I think you have to practice both alternate and directional/economy.because the two techniques sound different
Ps: I once asked Kiko Loureiro which technique he uses and he said that it depends on the type of sound you want to make.
Does any of this apply to bluegrass? Thanks
What about string skipping? How should we pick if we are changing for example from low e to g?
Use a downstroke.
i prefer hybrid picking for ascending arpeggio/string skipping, and hammer on from no where for descending.. make your hand movement really efortless
From a low string to a high string skip, the logic would be to use a down stroke (least distance). Contrarily, an up stroke would be used for skipping from a high string to a low.
I have a question... Let's say you do down up down on the 5th string, then you do down up down again on the 4th string... With economy or directional picking, you will do a sweeping motion on the string change... But if you're not sweeping, then what it's called?
I tried directional picking but i switched back to strict alternate, it worked better for me and I like the sound of it
It takes time to switch to directional picking but as kong as u swtched ur speed would explode. It is simply efficient
@@salimesber2499 I'm not disagreeing with you, but in the 38 years playing as an alternate picking shredder, I've had several people say I'm the fastest player they've ever heard. Listen to John Petrucci and Guthrie Govan and tell me that they can actually get faster if they switched! They both can play as fast or faster than Tom Hess or Frank Gambale.
@@mesabmanI mean, directional picking means that some string changes follow the same rules as alternative picking so ofc it's not faster lol. It has the potential to be faster than alternate picking, but in reality it's not.
Although you have defined directional and economy differently, I think that when people say they are playing economy, they are actually playing directionally.
Yea, my definition of economy picking is the same as Mikes definition of directional…. How it was taught to me years ago anyways. I think it really is two names for the same thing, depending on each person’s understanding of it.
Directional picking is a tool box 🧰
that helps you “get the job done” in the smoothest most efficient way
Inside the tool box you have 2 tools 🛠
1. Alternate picking
2. Economy picking (defined as you must change string with a sweep)
Directional picking will be much easy and natural if you have spent time learning how to use both of your tools competently
If you are skilled with AP and unskilled with EP then DP will be a struggle and you’ll probably give up and revert back to your main strength which might be using AP for everything.
What from I have seen economy picking is still considered economy picking when going from a upstroke do downstroke onto the next string (which is the fundamental difference you are highlighting).
It sounds like the main point of this technique is to eliminate outside string transitions and stick to inside. That makes sense in theory, but how would you apply this to string skipping licks or arpeggios that are not played with sweep picking (for example, Time of your Life by Greenday)?
Well if you're going down, skip a string and downstroke. If you're going up, skip a string and upstroke. Not that complicated, is it?
I still dont understand the difference? Can you do the same exact lick once using economy and then directional so i can understand? Or are you saying directional is just economy and alternate together? To me, thats not its own technique, its just using combinations of economy and alternate… which i thought was the definition of economy in the first place. To me economy picking is alternate picking but with sometimes sweeping to the next string when it makes sense…
also would u consider this principal, in rhythm too ? lets say funk ?
Strict alternate picking becomes fast and reliable when you factor in pick escape motion and double pick slanting
Downstrokes are used for the sound in Metal, it's hard to get an upstroke to sound the same on the low E string, I challenge you to do so. Very good metal rhythm players practice both up and downstrokes with the same velocity/accenting. I learned that from Scott Ian back in the early 90s from a Guitar World article. Same with alternate picking triplets, septuplets, quintuplets, nintuplets and practicing accenting on alternate strokes, something Paul Gilbert does and teaches. You are correct in that up or down strokes shouldn't be weaker, but your reasoning for saying one technique or the other is wrong to do is a dichotomy. Right tool right job, I'll iterate that and what works for you doesn't work for someone else, theres no one way to play and you even make examples of that at the start of your video by mentioning the players you do. It's probably better to study their techniques and what they have developed and choose what works best for you, and that includes your technique.
Does economy picking imply sweep picking? If so, I didn't know that. If not, then I don't see the difference between economy and directional.
When I started learning guitar, I came up on my own with exactly this "directional" technique, as I'm sure most self-taught guitarists would.
If you define economy picking as a super-rigid technique which mandates a sweep on every string change, then sure. But let an economy picker improvise and he would certainly end up doing "directional".
Now off to practice my Benson picking 🙂
You got some exercises to show how to actually do this, or not?
for pentatonic (2/3 not per string) i prefer legato, less robotic sounds like to me 👍
This guy is right. Though I will say that if you are an experienced alternate picker then spend a few months working on strict economy picking... THEN incorporating it into your bag of techniques and adopting ‘directional’ will become more natural. You have to feel how that specific technique works first imho and experience.
5:04 Dude! This is key. The only problem is how do I retrain myself from alternate to directional? Will see If I have the patience to memorize that pattern 🤯
So, directional picking is using alternate picking on even numbers groups and economy picking for odd groups. Sounds like using two separate techniques to me.
By this logic, alternate picking should be 2 different techniques too... since we are doing downstrokes when moving towards the floor and upstrokes when moving towards the ceiling.
We can split hairs forever.
Or we can just think of ONE big-picture technique that covers everything. That is what directional picking is.
@@HowToPracticeGuitar Mike, if you are playing acending pentatonic scale and start with a down stroke the sequence is down, up and string change. The last stroke before string change is moving towards the ceiling. You have to reverse the motion and avoid striking the string just picked to go to the next string. When you start on a up stroke it's up, down and string change. The last stoke before string change is going in the direction of the next string. However, you have to avoid striking the next string and still have to reverse the direction of the pick to hit the next string with a up stroke. Witch scenario is like directional picking
@@HowToPracticeGuitar I suppose when you think about it , AP really is a combination of two techniques, downstrokes and upstrokes
But there comes a point where we get so good at those those two techniques that they transform into one new technique.
Economy picking is like the next stage of the evolution where alternate picking and sweep picking are fused together to create a new technique
So -
1. Down strokes + upstrokes = alternative picking
2. Alternate picking + sweep picking = economy picking
3. Alternate picking + economy picking = directional picking
Actually, now that I think about it , directional picking is really similar to economy picking . It’s just alternate picking until you find an opportunity to sweep.
@@HowToPracticeGuitar or we could say directional picking is an APPROACH to playing that combines both alternate and economy picking techniques.
I still don't get it and I really try...
Economy Picking = changing strings in a sweep motion.
Directional picking = Changing strings in a sweep motion, but sometimes when you don't finish on the same direction that would lead to a sweep motion, you pick it normaly like you would with alternate picking.
So why are they so different? what am i missing?
To me, if you’re only changing strings in a sweep motion, thats sweep picking… economy is alternate and sweeping to next string when applicable, i don’t understand the difference either
I used to do directional picking naturally and was really good at it until a friend told me I need to do alternate picking only or I will be hurting my playing in the future. so, trying to learn alternate only, I ruined my technique. I hate alternate picking.
Play some descending fours! A shred cliché but still a great sound
I thought alternate picking was directional before this video. Stupid me! I always does directional picking then. My thinking was, why would you ever skip the string if you're gonna play it. Way shorter distance just to play the string if you're moving in that direction anyway.
I love the economy/directional picking guys especially since I'm counted among them. My conclusions from my own analysis of the whole debate as it pertains to one's own skill set that has to do with the means of articulation is that to be as musically versatile and unfettered as possible is that one shouldn't be locked into just one way of doing things. We can have our strengths in a particular area, and that only means we work harder on the weaker areas. Having come from a Gambale methodology, I started out as a strict economy picker where every string change had to use the same pick stroke, forcing the phenomenon of odd note groupings to move from string to string in the same direction and even groupings when changing directions. This coupled with my weak inside alternate picking obviously limited my ability to phrase lines that fell outside of this pattern. I tried figuring out how to phrase lines so that when economy picking wasn't possible I can alternate pick in the direction of the string change. But this often required that I worked out beforehand which was my starting stroke so that my pick stroke traveled in the direction of the string shift. I got tired of all this that I just worked on strengthening both inside and outside alternate picking as well. So now I follow a hierarchy of approaches in which as much as possible I do economy picking, and where not possible, inside alternate pick where the string change is not in the same direction. I outside alternate pick (directional picking that isn't a sweep/rake) only when the string change is for only one note to be followed by another string change back to the previous string similar to Paul Gilbert's ascending/descending 4-note sequence over two strings.
Same. I went from strict Gambale to more of a jeet kun do approach, I found myself wanting to resurrect the old alternate/outside deal on too many occasions. The pattern you described in the last sentence is like a good pair of channel locks in the toolbox but it's not coming back to me easily after a few decades of weirdly timed upstrokes lol. I was determined to see this strict economy thing to the end and got really far with it but the technique was so high maintenance, 1 day off from a 5hr sesh and I was garbage...
Paul Gilbert admits alternate picking is not as "economic", he just prefers the sound,. Which makes sense as his pack attack is a huge part of his sound. One last thing, upstrokes are actually better for accenting notes, Paul Gilbert and Dimebag employ this often.
Also Paul Gilbert uses hammers/pulls more than people think, even though he is obviously known for his picking.
So directional picking isn't alternate picking or economy picking it's just alternate picking and economy picking. Got it.
Exactly... 💯
haha 9:16 it strts up here well listen to Vais guitar method on psychology as well as some of paul gilbert , sometimes you need some mental training then ear training
With most things in life , a lot of confusion and misunderstanding can be bypassed if we take time to CLEARLY DEFINE OUR TERMS .
There is something, that only Alt. Picking can do, for example, 「Technical Difficulty」, before I try to play this, I was a typical Eco. Picking player for a long time.
In all of the skill involved to do that, where is the music?
Take care😊
Directional picking isn't a new type of picking then... its just being able to do both...
Great info but fuzz/heavy distortion on picking exercises should not be used (setting a bad example) and sounds horrible on low notes. It is a crutch hiding sloppiness, accuracy, and mistakes besides just simply sounding bad especially in this video. Distortion is like salt and pepper - used judiciously it adds to the flavor. But can easily be overdone and ruin a good tone (meal). Thank you for your video and explanations.
I'm glad he not doing tone tutorials.
Are you kidding? I literally just finished recording all the audio examples for: "3 Steps To Dial A Perfect Guitar Tone For UA-cam Tutorials" vid.
Directional picking and economy picking are exactly the same thing.
I'm still undecided. Directional picking helps not a bit on inside/outside picking patterns. And that's the biggest bottleneck. I sometimes do let directional picking happen because I can switch to an easier picking pattern for the next couple of notes or when I have two consecutive string changes but there it is the same as sweep picking...
It's not supposed to "help" on inside picking. Directional picking just cuts down on the amount of distance your pick has to cover to play notes. But it's on you to learn the technique/pick properly :)
Inside picking is a topic fo another time.
Direction sense is less efficient than alternate picking. Let me explain.
With directional picking, your picking hand has to wait for your fretting hand to move its finger to the next string in order to strike said string. Your picking hand is in between strings, about to downstroke, but can't because your finger hasn't moved to the next string yet. This can lead to colossal time impurities, and even worse habits. With alternate picking, your picking hand doesn't have to wait for anything, and in the time that it moves past the string, your finger moves as well, and both hands are exactly where they need to be in order for the next note. Direction picking is only good for developing a lot of speed in a short amount of time. Alternate picking is for doing things the right way, rhythmically to your right hand, and naturally. Why do you think all the great guitar players, Paul Gilbert, Steve Morse, Anton Oparin, Shawn Lane, all use alternate picking, rather than directional picking. If you ask me, I say it's because directional picking is for impatient newbs who wanna look cool.
No. You should use all tools in the tool box at any given time for a fluid sound. What you explained is YOUR issue. He and many others don't have that issue. And lots of great players have shitty technique that doesn't mean shitty technique is good just because you can reference famous guitarists using shitty technique. Again, there's more tools. Use all of them and don't constrict yourself to one tool only. Just a couple months ago I thought like you. Strict alternate. Guess what the moment I let go and mess around i do everything from legato to alternate to get a fast fluid sound on my exercises. Sometimes strict alternate feels wrong or doesn't sound good.
The only downside to this technique is that you'll lose a certain percussive attack that you normally get from strict alternate picking but it has a LOT of benefits.
Looks like you turned off the video before 7:25. ua-cam.com/video/61Jacha66M4/v-deo.html
I mean the oblnly reason i don't buy the argument that you make about upstroke accents is that if it were possible to have the same type of articulation with both down and upstrokes, there would be no reason to play only downstroke riffs like master of puppets, but downstrokes clearly have a certain quality to them
Cool video, but you say at 4:59 "exactly the same as economy picking" - so whats the difference? That is literally what economy picking is: letting the pic go through the next string in the DIRECTION of the string change.
What you are doing is using alternate picking for pentatonics/even number of notes per string, AND using economy picking when there are 3 nps. Calling it "directional picking" is cool, but its just combining both. (thats what players mean when they say they practice both)
"Directional picking" is a APPROACH that combines both techniques - which makes total sense. It is not a separate technique.
Economy picking is directional picking.
Don't believe there's a difference.
Tom Hess most likely reason for trying to say they're different techniques.
They are not.
Agreed. I would say directional picking is an APPROACH that uses both alternate, AND economy picking. It is not a different technique.
And now get your guitar to actually sound good.
Never understood how this guy is this good of a teacher and player yet the tone sounds like a first gen line 6 POD on a shitty metal preset. Like damn
I don't know why but after watching this my handwriting improved...
Shout out to Tom Hess
Just kind of do it the easy way, that's what I do. 😉
Yeah but but papa het says he only down picks,wait he’s not a lead playing
What I am getting is:
Don't use only alternate picking.
Don't use only economy picking.
Mix and match both as necessary.
Hmmm.
I know right? Did he really need to go on a 13-minute rant to make such a simple point? Stupid video. Unsubbed.
@@HowToPracticeGuitar Hah, you unsubbed yourself! Nice.
Best wishes.
James
Economy Picking is definitely faster and more economical, no doubt about it, but it's definitely possible to play pretty fast and comfortable with alt picking. The main hurdle is learning how to do the string transitions. Like in your case you can switch from an upstroke with no problems, hence why 2 NPS licks starting on a downstroke are effortless for you. The problem is learning how to transition after an upstroke. Some players naturally learn to do both transitions, like Andy Wood and prefer alt picking. Others learn to develop an economy picking style instead. I don't really think one is better than the other as your "main" picking style (I say main because some licks are impossible without econ. picking and should be played as such) but whatever feels more natural and comfortable is probably what one should lean towards. But I think in most cases it's possible to learn both with the right training and understanding of the motions/techninques involved, so I see no reason to disregard either.
Did you not watch the video?
Directional picking is the best of both worlds, and is the only necessary thing to practice.
ehhh you dont seem to grasp what strict alternate picking is
strick alternate just sounds better
I must say I agree with you but the name calling due to a use of a term seems excessive to me. I do tell students to practice both ways but not like you instantly assume. To answer your question on what does that mean. It means to be able to loop a lick switching from one mode to another (not spend days or weeks, thats silly). by learning this initially they can learn to shift gears depending on whee they are or where they are going. This gets the same result you mention without being disrespectful to other players you've admiringly admire. For example, I don't think Rick Graham is talking out of his ass when says he does this. wouldn't you agree. Again, just a debate on which we agree but I don't agree with your use of saying people don't know what they're talking about.
I admit I might have missed it in your 20 000 word barrage, but I don't think you ever got around to mentioning the difference between economy and directional picking. I guess that's what the course is all about, eh?
The difference is he thinks economy picking means literally every string change has to be a sweep, which is stupid and not how anyone actually plays economy picking
Dude you did not show us the difference between Economy picking and Directional picking .. it was the same thing . Wtf
Great playing and advice, but that guitar sounds absolutely hideous, sorry I couldn’t bear it!
Limiting yourself to a certain set of techniques is stupid. Even if you havnt mastered all of them. KNow as many as you can.
This is basically what economy picking is. You sweep IF possible when changing strings. Not you must always sweep when changing strings
There is a big issue that you didn’t touch upon w.r.t timing. Your right hand is naturally faster when changing strings with a sweep motion and has to wait for your left to catch up. This is not a problem with alternate picking. It takes some time to overcome this, may not be worth the effort.
this is hardd
I taught myself to play guitar and developed this technique naturally, it was the thing that made the most sense to me and I simply can't understand how people uses strictly alternate picking
with alternate picking you don't need to think from which direction you're going to hit the string, so the only challenge in alternate picking is learning how to avoid a string before stroking it
ngl this is confusing lol my inability to understand this is probably why i stink at guitar
Frank Gambale
This video needs to be heard by so many beginners. But the irony is beginners dont listen. But this video will humble them haha.
With all my respect, this video is confusing. By definition economy picking is combination of alternate and sweep picking. "Economy picking is a guitar picking technique designed to maximize picking efficiency by combining alternate picking and sweep picking; it may also incorporate the use of legato in the middle of alternate picking passages as way to achieve higher speed with less pick strokes."
I think these are the concepts that Troy Grady calls Downward and Upward Pickslanting
No, pick slanting is exactly as described, how you slant the pick. Unrelated to upstrokes or downstrokes, because you can have the pick slanted in the opposite direction of the stroke.
Bruh it’s just combining the two. You don’t need another name for it. Just alt pick pentatonics and 4note per string runs and Econ pick your 3 note per string runs and call it a day.
Exactly