This lead guitar lesson will focus on the commonly used picking techniques used to play guitar solos. Understanding when and how to use a particular picking technique is an important skill in lead guitar playing.
This lead guitar lesson will explain the three common picking techniques. These are alternate picking, sweep picking and using purely downstrokes. Each picking style will have a certain situation in which it is better suited for the guitar player.
As the name suggests alternate picking involves an alternating pattern of up and down strokes. So, for example to play the C major scale using three notes per string, using alternate picking, we first start with a downstroke on the C note. Next, an upstroke on the D note followed by a downstroke on the E note. We then move to 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. We simply continue with alternating up and downstrokes to complete the scale. The advantages of alternate picking are that the up and downstrokes help us stay in time and maintain a consistent rhythm with our playing. There is a better economy of movement using the alternate picking technique over using just purely down strokes. This will translate to greater speed, potentially double the speed compared to just using purely down strokes. This lead guitar lesson aims to emphasise the importance of this style of 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.
The easiest way to start playing lead guitar is to use purely downstrokes. This may be the steadiest and most accurate way to hit notes, but this style of picking has its drawbacks. Picking in this manner will limit the speed in which notes can be produced as compared with the alternate technique which potentially could be twice as fast.
When studying lead guitar it is important to practice propper picking technique. A good starting point is to repeat a scale pattern using alternate picking. You can gradually increase the speed as you improve but not to the point where your playing gets sloppy. As you practice this exercise, your rhythm, timing and precision will improve, and so will your lead playing overall. A great lead guitar lesson tip is to start very slowly and to always use a metronome to help you stay in time.
This lead guitar lesson will explain the three common picking techniques. These are alternate picking, sweep picking and using purely downstrokes. Each picking style will have a certain situation in which it is better suited for the guitar player.
As the name suggests alternate picking involves an alternating pattern of up and down strokes. So, for example to play the C major scale using three notes per string, using alternate picking, we first start with a downstroke on the C note. Next, an upstroke on the D note followed by a downstroke on the E note. We then move to 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. We simply continue with alternating up and downstrokes to complete the scale. The advantages of alternate picking are that the up and downstrokes help us stay in time and maintain a consistent rhythm with our playing. There is a better economy of movement using the alternate picking technique over using just purely down strokes. This will translate to greater speed, potentially double the speed compared to just using purely down strokes. This lead guitar lesson aims to emphasise the importance of this style of 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.
The easiest way to start playing lead guitar is to use purely downstrokes. This may be the steadiest and most accurate way to hit notes, but this style of picking has its drawbacks. Picking in this manner will limit the speed in which notes can be produced as compared with the alternate technique which potentially could be twice as fast.
When studying lead guitar it is important to practice propper picking technique. A good starting point is to repeat a scale pattern using alternate picking. You can gradually increase the speed as you improve but not to the point where your playing gets sloppy. As you practice this exercise, your rhythm, timing and precision will improve, and so will your lead playing overall. A great lead guitar lesson tip is to start very slowly and to always use a metronome to help you stay in time.
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