alternate picking or downstroke ?

[jiting]

hey guys i have been facing some questions using pick well here are a few

1. when picking, i know that by playing it downstroke or upstroke will actually produce slightly different tones.

But by playing it across a straight 16beat on eg note D, does playing it downstroke all the way and alternate pick actually affects much of the song ?

Do tell me the difference in importance when playing downstroke all the way or alternate picking

and also..

2. i would be happy if you could give me some excerises on playing on pick. i know a basic method of playing it across metronome and double-timing it on a tempo. but i would like to know how to pick fast across from string to string.

i've been a finger player all the while and have been loyal to the finger technique. well, the music i've been playing needed me to play pick and i find the attack from pick can be especially useful in different kind of songs

Thank you maestros !

[Chriso21]

Down strokes make a different sound because each of them is exactly the same. When you alternate pick it makes a sound like "da ta da ta da ta", ass opposed to "da da da da da" - almost like a machine gun. For example, in Master of puppets, the main riff is played with down picks, or Postmortem by slayer. The Ramones we great at down picking. Its all about getting perfectly tight with the guitars and if you do the same as them, it sounds tighter.
As for changing strings whilst playing fast, just do lots of scales with a metronome.
Hope the helps mate.
Chris

[elpelotero]

downpicking all the time is used mostly in punk or speed metal to get that choppy machine gun sound.

alternating picking is a MUCH MUCH faster technique and enables you to sound "smooth" and fluid. There is no choppiness to it. The best thing to do is practice alternate picking when you do all your scales and stuff.

Then on the side practice your downpicking by learning a few speed metal or punk songs. Your arm will get very tired at first, but you build up strength. Use the downpicking for an added effect, kind of like you would use slapping or popping.

[TheBassBetween]

If it's a 16th note rhythm, you might find it hard to do all downstrokes. If you practice enough with the pick, you should be able to make your down and up strokes pretty much the same sound.

[jiting]

thanks guys for the advises, been very helpful !

to keep it short and simple, by playing it in alternate picking it actually creates a different kind of melody as compared to downstrokes all the way. so the situation arises depending on the songs ?

well just want to make a comment to you elepetro from the rig i got from you signature that you are using a warwick. well, i use a rockbass of lower end and i personally feel that using a pick on warwicks actually produces a very nice attack tone to it. very different and unique in my opinion.

=D