Lead Guitar Lesson : Picking Techniques Explained
The common types of picking used in lead guitar will be explored in this lead guitar lesson, with an emphasis on alternate picking. It is important to understand when a certain technique is best suited in a particular musical context or situation.
Essentially there are three common picking techniques that will be discussed in this lead guitar lesson; these are using purely downstrokes, alternate picking and sweep picking. Each technique will be best suited to a certain lead phrase, style of music and individual preferences.
Alternate picking involves an alternating pattern of strictly up and down strokes. To play the C major scale using three notes per string, with alternate picking, we first start with a downstroke on the C note. Next, an upstroke on the D followed by a downstroke on the E . We then strike the A string where the F note is an upstroke followed by a downstroke on the G note and then an upstroke on the A note, and so on. We then continue with alternating up and downstrokes until we complete the scale. Alternate picking ultimately helps us stay in time and promotes a steady rhythm with our playing. There is a better economy of movement using alternate picking over using just down strokes. This picking style helps achieve greater speed, potentially double that of using down strokes alone. This lead guitar lesson will hopefuly emphasise the importance of alternate picking.
An advanced and less commonly used lead guitar technique is sweep picking. When used correctly it can provide great speedy lead lines. This picking style is best used to cross several strings using one stroke in one direction. It is best thought of as strumming a chord without letting the notes ring out in a single motion. When crossing adjacent strings, this picking style will enable the best economy of movement and speed.
In lead guitar, often individuals will use purely downstrokes when playing a series of notes. This is probably the easiest and most accurate way to hit a series of notes, although this style of picking has its limitations. By only stroking downwards, one must play twice the speed to achieve the same effect as using the alternate picking method.
When learning lead guitar it is important to practice propper picking technique. A good starting place is to repeat a scale pattern using purely alternate picking. Gradually increase your speed as you improve but not to the point in which your playing gets sloppy. As you practice this type of exercise, your timing, rhythm and precision will improve which will be greatly beneficial to your lead playing. An important lead guitar lesson tip is to start slowly and to always use a metronome to stay in time.
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