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.

 

[PDC]

Thank You!! I will take all the encouragement I can get, for sure. I was always SO afraid to tackle this because of the inevitable period of time when the new method isn't there yet, but the old method is long gone. I finally said 'what the hell' at my age, its not like I am playing out or have any recording dates on my calendar. I've got nothing but time, LOL!!

One thing I will say - I have been mildly OCD about 'shred' technique my whole life and it is amazing how mindless most of my daily practice routine has been. Having to focus on upstrokes / downstrokes / inside vs outside string crossing is mentally challenging in a way that gliding through the old routine hasn't been in a long, long time. I have to think that if nothing else, this level of mandatory focus and concentration on what I am doing has GOT to help somehow!!!

 

[TheBiggestJerk]

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.

Have you considered learning jazz?
I’ve spent the last 5y on a jazz fusion deep dive (bass and guitar) and my playing especially my picking hand has markedly improved. I tabbed this song on UG a few years ago.https://youtu.be/KG7fIFuQTMw?si=KyjC28y1WgfM8F9C

 

[PDC]

That's really a good idea - Jazz - or even some of the speedy country stuff - anything that has some interesting, melodic intervals that will really force my right hand out of familiar, predictable patterns.

I will say - this is day 3 and today I had the experience of feeling everything 'smooth out' for 6 - 8 bars at a time max. And just about the time I am thinking to myself 'wow, that feels pretty good' it literally falls apart under my fingers!! I am telling myself this is like learning to ride a bike: you get going for several feet at a time and as soon as you think about it too much, you start jerking the handle bars left to right and get wobbly again. But at least those precious few instances of feeling kind of 'in the groove' are starting to happen!

I think Jack Luminous is right: at LEAST 3 months / 90 days of really focused work before things really start to gel.

I am honestly really enjoying this as strange as that may sound.

 

[TheBiggestJerk]

That's really a good idea - Jazz - or even some of the speedy country stuff - anything that has some interesting, melodic intervals that will really force my right hand out of familiar, predictable patterns.

I will say - this is day 3 and today I had the experience of feeling everything 'smooth out' for 6 - 8 bars at a time max. And just about the time I am thinking to myself 'wow, that feels pretty good' it literally falls apart under my fingers!! I am telling myself this is like learning to ride a bike: you get going for several feet at a time and as soon as you think about it too much, you start jerking the handle bars left to right and get wobbly again. But at least those precious few instances of feeling kind of 'in the groove' are starting to happen!

I think Jack Luminous is right: at LEAST 3 months / 90 days of really focused work before things really start to gel.

I am honestly really enjoying this as strange as that may sound.

I’m getting into country too. Funny thing is the licks are all the same from jazz to blues to metal to… it’s just how you play em. But note for note identical in concept.

 

[TheBiggestJerk]