Economy picking
A picking approach that avoids the strain of strict alternation by following a string change with a stroke in the direction of travel.
Where alternate picking insists on down-up-down-up regardless of strings, economy picking allows two downs or two ups in a row when the line moves from a lower string to a higher one or the reverse, so the pick sweeps across the strings. It feels more natural for arpeggio and sweep figures and can be faster at first, at the cost of a less predictable hand cycle when a passage changes direction. Many players mix the two approaches within one solo.
Example: a three-note-per-string run descending across the neck falls neatly into economy picking, with each string change taken in one continuous sweep.
See also
Related
- PageAlternate picking
- PageAccent
- PageAction height
- PageAmp modeler
- PageAaron Dessner
- PageAce Frehley
- PageAd-Rock
- ReferenceCircle of fifths