Picking Patterns
How picking patterns work
The notation for picking patterns is very similar to the notation used for
strumming patterns. There are only a few basic ways to pick a string and
then complex runs are made by alternating picking styles with rests (where
no notes are played).
^ = pick upwards (towards the sky)
v = pick downwards (towards the floor)
Use the following tablature for examples and excersises.
G major scale : all down strokes -------------------------------------------------------2---3---- -----------------------------------------------3---5------------ -----------------------------------2---4---5-------------------- -----------------------2---4---5-------------------------------- -----------2---3---5-------------------------------------------- ---3---5-------------------------------------------------------- v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v C major scale : all up strokes -----------------------------------------------3---5---7---8---- -----------------------------------3---5---6-------------------- -----------------------2---4---5-------------------------------- -----------2---3---5-------------------------------------------- ---3---5-------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
One of the most important picking techniques to master is called alternate picking. It involves picking the string alternatively up then down. This is one of the easiest ways to acheive a quick run (series of notes) on the fretboard.
Classic alternate picking exercise ------------------------------------------------------------1--2--3--4 ------------------------------------------------1--2--3--4------------ ------------------------------------1--2--3--4------------------------ ------------------------1--2--3--4------------------------------------ ------------1--2--3--4------------------------------------------------ 1--2--3--4------------------------------------------------------------ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ 5--4--3--2------------------------------------------------------------ ------------5--4--3--2------------------------------------------------ ------------------------5--4--3--2------------------------------------ ------------------------------------5--4--3--2------------------------ ------------------------------------------------5--4--3--2------------ ------------------------------------------------------------5--4--3--2 v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ ------------------------------------------------------------3--4--5--6 ------------------------------------------------3--4--5--6------------ ------------------------------------3--4--5--6------------------------ ------------------------3--4--5--6------------------------------------ ------------3--4--5--6------------------------------------------------ 3--4--5--6------------------------------------------------------------ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ 7--6--5--4------------------------------------------------------------ ------------7--6--5--4------------------------------------------------ ------------------------7--6--5--4------------------------------------ ------------------------------------7--6--5--4------------------------ ------------------------------------------------7--6--5--4------------ ------------------------------------------------------------7--6--5--4 v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^
Continue the above pattern all the way to the 12th fret. This could be considered a warm-up excersice. Warm-up exercises should be done everytime before you play in order to warm-up your fingers for playing. This can halp avoid stress related injuries to your wrist such as tendonitis and RSS.
Warm up exercises can be played along with a metronome. A metronome provides a steady pulse with which you can play the notes. This helps to build a sense of rhythm. Make sure to start at a tempo (speed) with which you can play without making mistakes. Slowly increase the tempo until you start making mistakes and practice at that tempo until you stop making mistakes. Using this method you will be able to build your ability over time.
Exercise 1 : Based on G major scale
:----------------------------------------------------------------------:
:----------------------------------------------------------------------:
:-------------------------------------------4---4----------------------:
:-----------------------------------5---5-----------5---5--------------:
:-----------2---2---5---5---7---7---------------------------7---7------:
:---3---3--------------------------------------------------------------:
v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^
Exercise 2 : Based on G major scale
:----------------------------------------------------------------------:
:----------------------------------------------------------------------:
:---------------------------5---5---8---8---5---5----------------------:
:-----------4---4---7---7---------------------------7---7---4---4------:
:---5---5--------------------------------------------------------------:
:----------------------------------------------------------------------:
^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v
Exercise 3 : G major scale
:--------5-------------------------------------------------------------:
:---8b-------5--8p5----------------------------------------------------:
:---------------------7---5--------------------------------------------:
:----------------------------------------------------------------------:
:----------------------------------------------------------------------:
:----------------------------------------------------------------------:
If there is no picking notation (which there probably won't be on most tablature), play what sounds right to the song your trying to learn or whatever feels comfortable.
On top of playing scales like these, try playing a tune that you know to sing (like twinkle twinkle little star). Play along with that song, just the melody singing part. Try to start the song on any finger on any fret on any string.