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.
