Lead Guitar Lesson: Alternate and Sweep Picking
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.
Sweep picking is a more advanced and less commonly used technique. When applied properly it is a very useful picking style. It involves a continuous stroke over two or more strings in the same direction. It is similar to playing a chord without letting the notes ring out. When consecutive notes lie on adjacent strings, this picking style is best used, creating the best economy of movement and thus 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.
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.
Sweep picking is a more advanced and less commonly used technique. When applied properly it is a very useful picking style. It involves a continuous stroke over two or more strings in the same direction. It is similar to playing a chord without letting the notes ring out. When consecutive notes lie on adjacent strings, this picking style is best used, creating the best economy of movement and thus 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.
About the Author:
For a very limited time our popular E Book entitled "Learn Guitar Scales For Lead Guitar Mastery" is available as a FREE download from our website. Click below to grab your free copy now. rock guitar lesson
0 nhận xét:
Đăng nhận xét