Complete Overhaul

[PDC]

So, I have been playing for 40 years. (Yes, I am old.) I did the G.I.T. thing in '89 and had what I thought were 'respectable' chops. At that time, I arrived as a complete 'economy' picker: always using downstrokes moving from thicker to thinner strings and always using upstrokes moving from thinner to thicker strings. I could keep up with the Paul Gilbert / Racer-X 3-Note Per String sequences by relying on 'inside' string crossing - and I used mini 'economy' sweeps where strict alternate pickers would have to do the 'outside' string cross. I could fake it pretty well 3 notes per string - but really hit the wall with those blistering 2-note per string Zakk Wylde Pentatonics. I just could never replicate the speed and the percussion of true alternate picking with circular economy picking between 2 strings.

Over the last few months, my technique has steadily declined, despite playing practically every evening with no amp in front of the TV for 60-90 minutes as I always have. For some reason, everything feels awkward, clunky and slow. WTF!!! Well, I'm not playing out these days and I got nothin' but time, so I have decided to dig in and learn proper strict alternate picking.

Today was the first day. I feel like a rote beginner all over again! Even though it feels a little clumsy and slow, I can already tell there is a real advantage to strict alternate picking. I was always SO afraid of making this big a change in my technique when I was young and playing out. I didn't think I could ever afford the extended 'down time' of starting essentially from scratch. But if this leads where I think its leading, I'm gonna have a good laugh at myself and wish I would have tackled this long, long ago.

 

[PDC]

Day 2. This is hard. After 2 days, I cannot do 'outside' alternate picking worth shit. But I have made so many slow, labored repetitions in the last 36 hrs, that my once familiar 'economy' picking between strings is all but gone.

This is the 'no mans land' that I feared: I haven't practiced the new technique near long enough to learn it - but just long enough to effectively 'un-learn' what I was doing before.

I keep telling myself the first 'X' days mean nothing. Work for 30 days and see where things are.

 

[Jack Luminous]

It will take about 3 months to start getting the hang of it if you keep at it every day. I think you could get to reasonable speed within a year or two depending on your commitment. Zakk Wylde two-note per strings runs are still hard to play (for me) after years of practicing. The guy is really fast LOL

You can still do economy picking in the meantime, it's totally compatible with alternate picking. I practice both every day.