Alternate picking, as the name suggests, is a technique whereby the guitarist alternates the picking direction between downstrokes and upstrokes. It is typically used for rhythms of eighth notes or faster. When to pick in each direction depends on the following criteria (the "formula"):
Downstrokes should always land on beats 1, 2, 3, and 4 in a 4/4 time signature.
Upstrokes should land on the “in-between” notes. In a series of eighth notes, for example, one would use upstrokes for each "&" beat (1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &).
|