[Lesson] A Different sort of Alternate Picking Drill - crossing strings

Drew · 05-06-2006, 11:13 PM

Ok, this is something I came up with a couple nights ago, and already I'm seeing a huge improvement in my picking technique. Basically, most of your alternate picking drills focus on repeating several pickstrokes on a single string before moving onto the next one, which is good for focusing on building a smooth and even pick stroke along a single string, but isn't as challanging as it could be when it comes to crossing strings. Here, you're alternate picking one note per string. It's a very Steve Morse sort of exersize, I guess.

You COULD just do random shapes, but it sounds way more musical if you do it through the circle of 5ths. Try it with a bit of overdrive and a light palm mute:

And, just for kicks, here's a really sloppy mp3:

Media Player

Click here to download.

It's a cool picking drill that works a part of your picking technique that you normally don't see isolated in picking drills, and even over the last week I've noticed a HUGE change in my picking hand's control. Give it a shot.

distressed_romeo · 05-07-2006, 12:31 PM

I've been practicing this stuff for a while now, both with Morse-style arpeggios, and DiMeola-style chordal picking. It does produce great results, but feels pretty painful at first. This stuff sounds awesome on steel-string acoustic.
Most rock guys seem to shy away from this, as the modern approach seems to be either to sweep across the strings, or cram as many notes onto each string as possible (don't get me wrong, that stuff rocks too!).

Drew · 05-07-2006, 02:47 PM

Yeah, I don't think I'd bust this out in a solo or anything, but what it's been doing for my actual picking technique has been great. It's cleaning up a few weaknesses I have.

Course, if that clip is taken to be indicative, I still have my practicing ahead of me.

David · 05-07-2006, 02:49 PM

you've got an awesome melody going on that drill, and I'll definately have to go play that.

Drew · 05-07-2006, 03:06 PM

circle of 5ths, bro, just with some chromatic leading. Easy as pie.

David · 05-08-2006, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drew

circle of 5ths, bro, just with some chromatic leading. Easy as pie.

I just fucked around with that one figure and scale, it's pretty lame (what I improv'd), but I like the chord progression when you don't arpeggiate it.

Check it out (2nd part in the vid)
http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/general-music-discussion/9173-newest-video-for-myself-new-tone-some-original-stuff-pics.html

I'll fool around with it some more.

abyssalservant · 05-11-2006, 04:25 PM

That's an excellent exercise. I've been known to use things like that when my picking felt inadequate . . . thanks to that and others, I haven't felt the need in some time. And song after song of continuous tremolo picking doesn't faze me anymore . . .

In other words, I highly rec. this exercise. Try a skipping exercise a la Petrucci to get warmed up:
|-------------
|------------5
|-------6-----
|---7-----7---
|-----7-------
|-5----------- etc.

Also try whatever you can to pick in ways that are consistently awkward . . .

Ibanez_fanboy · 06-10-2006, 06:50 AM

want to tab that for all 7 strings drew?

Drew · 06-12-2006, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibanez_fanboy

want to tab that for all 7 strings drew?

Count again, dude.

And yeah, that JP excersize rocks. I haven't busted out Rock Dicipline in a while, I really should.

kmanick · 09-11-2006, 12:23 PM

vinnie Moore runs sequences like this all the time (on a 6 duh)
these types of excersices are great for left/right hand coordination
.
thanks

05-07-2006, 12:31 PM	#2
distressed_romeo Bringin' UR Kaos! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Albion Posts: 9,597 Real Name: I have many... Main Seven: C7 Hellraiser Main ERG: Aria bass tuned in fifths Rig: POD v2.0 Thanked: 200	I've been practicing this stuff for a while now, both with Morse-style arpeggios, and DiMeola-style chordal picking. It does produce great results, but feels pretty painful at first. This stuff sounds awesome on steel-string acoustic. Most rock guys seem to shy away from this, as the modern approach seems to be either to sweep across the strings, or cram as many notes onto each string as possible (don't get me wrong, that stuff rocks too!). Nothing like a good depressant to chase the blues away! www.soundclick.com/distressed_romeo http://farsideguitars.blogspot.com/

05-11-2006, 04:25 PM	#7
abyssalservant Ascaris Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Arlington Heights, IL. Posts: 569 Main Seven: Ibanez RG7321 (bassist) Rig: Ampeg VH-140C/Carvin Thanked: 0	That's an excellent exercise. I've been known to use things like that when my picking felt inadequate . . . thanks to that and others, I haven't felt the need in some time. And song after song of continuous tremolo picking doesn't faze me anymore . . . In other words, I highly rec. this exercise. Try a skipping exercise a la Petrucci to get warmed up: \|------------- \|------------5 \|-------6----- \|---7-----7--- \|-----7------- \|-5----------- etc. Also try whatever you can to pick in ways that are consistently awkward . . . "Abyssalservant is so grim, he bleeds black and sweats chainmail. Surrender all your virgins!" -quartie

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05-07-2006, 02:47 PM	#3
Drew Fear the Polo! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 21,365 Real Name: Call me Ahab... Main Seven: 1991 Ibanez UV7PWH Main ERG: Sherman 5-string bass Rig: Mesa Recto-verb 50 Thanked: 141	Yeah, I don't think I'd bust this out in a solo or anything, but what it's been doing for my actual picking technique has been great. It's cleaning up a few weaknesses I have. Course, if that clip is taken to be indicative, I still have my practicing ahead of me.

05-07-2006, 02:49 PM	#4
David je t'aime Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Issaquah, WA Posts: 4,193 Real Name: David Knise Main Seven: 2005 Ibanez RG1527 w/ Blazes Rig: POD XT Live > Carvin Thanked: 2 / 1	you've got an awesome melody going on that drill, and I'll definately have to go play that.

05-07-2006, 03:06 PM	#5
Drew Fear the Polo! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 21,365 Real Name: Call me Ahab... Main Seven: 1991 Ibanez UV7PWH Main ERG: Sherman 5-string bass Rig: Mesa Recto-verb 50 Thanked: 141	circle of 5ths, bro, just with some chromatic leading. Easy as pie.

06-10-2006, 06:50 AM	#8
Ibanez_fanboy I want a 1527!! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 1,304 Real Name: Jayson Main Seven: Ibanez RG7321 Rig: Fender FM212 Thanked: 0	want to tab that for all 7 strings drew?

09-11-2006, 12:23 PM	#10
kmanick Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: BOSTON Posts: 3,105 Real Name: Nick Main Seven: Carvin DC727C/Ibby 7620RB Rig: Mesa Mark III/6505+ Thanked: 43 $kmanick is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $kmanick is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $kmanick is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $kmanick is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $kmanick is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $kmanick is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $kmanick is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$	vinnie Moore runs sequences like this all the time (on a 6 duh) these types of excersices are great for left/right hand coordination . thanks


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[Lesson] A Different sort of Alternate Picking Drill - crossing strings