This lead guitar lesson will explain common picking techniques used in lead guitar playing, the most common of these being alternate picking. Understanding when to use the best picking techniques is an important skill in lead guitar.
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, as the name suggests, involves the use of alternating up and down strokes. As an example, to play the C major scale or Ionian mode using three notes per string, with alternate picking, we first typically start with a downstroke on the C note, followed by an upstroke on the D note and then a downstroke on the E. We then shift to the A string where the F note is an upstroke. Next is a downstroke on the G note and then an upstroke on the A, and so on and on. The scale is completed using these up and down strokes. This alternating movement helps maintain steady time and rhythm and enables maximum speed. This lead guitar lesson aims to emphasise the importance of using this style of picking in lead guitar playing.
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.
When playing lead guitar, one often starts out using purely downstrokes. This will often enable a steady and accurate production of notes at the expense of speed. Using the alternate picking technique in the same situation will effectively halve the stroke movements, potentially doubling the speed.
In lead guitar, it is important to continuously practice propper picking technique. The easiest way to do this is to play a scale pattern using alternate picking. As you get better, increase the speed, but not to the point where your playing gets sloppy. A useful lead guitar lesson tip is to always start out slowly and use a metronome to stay in time. As you practice this exercise, your rhythm, timing and precision will all improve, and so will your lead playing overall.
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, as the name suggests, involves the use of alternating up and down strokes. As an example, to play the C major scale or Ionian mode using three notes per string, with alternate picking, we first typically start with a downstroke on the C note, followed by an upstroke on the D note and then a downstroke on the E. We then shift to the A string where the F note is an upstroke. Next is a downstroke on the G note and then an upstroke on the A, and so on and on. The scale is completed using these up and down strokes. This alternating movement helps maintain steady time and rhythm and enables maximum speed. This lead guitar lesson aims to emphasise the importance of using this style of picking in lead guitar playing.
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.
When playing lead guitar, one often starts out using purely downstrokes. This will often enable a steady and accurate production of notes at the expense of speed. Using the alternate picking technique in the same situation will effectively halve the stroke movements, potentially doubling the speed.
In lead guitar, it is important to continuously practice propper picking technique. The easiest way to do this is to play a scale pattern using alternate picking. As you get better, increase the speed, but not to the point where your playing gets sloppy. A useful lead guitar lesson tip is to always start out slowly and use a metronome to stay in time. As you practice this exercise, your rhythm, timing and precision will all improve, and so will your lead playing overall.
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