Pick: All Downstrokes, or alternate?

MammaryVest · #1 03-02-2008, 08:19 PM

Pretty simple. Some people like Tom Peterson say that alternate picking is "for the birds" while other players practice it exclusively. Personally, I think that with experience, you can easily make your alternate strokes sound consistent. What does everyone else think?

robnatt · #2 03-02-2008, 08:28 PM

I play mostly with picks. Downstrokes work well for a lot of stuff, but for speed, you need to be proficient with alternating pickstrokes.

speedkills · #3 03-02-2008, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robnatt

I play mostly with picks. Downstrokes work well for a lot of stuff, but for speed, you need to be proficient with alternating pickstrokes.

What he said.

Seriously, it's hard for me not to alternate pick now...Even when I play slower parts, it's very natural for me now to alternate.

I guess it would be like asking someone who plays fingerstyle to just use their index finger.

The Golden Boy · #4 03-02-2008, 09:01 PM

I alternate.

I don't think I could play all downstrokes if I tried.

Ric5 · #5 03-02-2008, 09:11 PM

alternate strokes doubles your speed ... a very handy trick if you want to play really fast and clean ... if you practice it a lot you can get 32nd and 64th notes ...

EduardoK · #6 03-02-2008, 09:26 PM

Although I mainly play fingerstyle I've been a huge Steve Swallow fan for years. His tone is amazing. He only plays with a pick, I am not sure if he ever alternates but he mostly uses UPSTOKES. I find that's not only uncommon but also very interesting!!!! As you know Mr. Swallow plays jazz and started on an upright. Rock might need a different aproach...Just my 2ç

cdef · #7 03-02-2008, 09:53 PM

Playing strictly downstrokes can sort of lend itself stylistically to, say, "punk"-type lines with a lot of chugging straight 8ths in them. Other than that it's pretty limiting.

jschwalls · #8 03-02-2008, 10:15 PM

I always practiced both and fingerstyle...
I can usually tell what style an original track was done with and I prefer to emulate that as much as possible..

My practice routine was always divided into 3 parts.... I would all my exercises with fingerstyle, down-picking only, and finally alternate picking.. On more than one occasion I have been asked by producers to play an exact bass part with the three different ways and they would decide which they liked best...

jollygiantchris · #9 03-03-2008, 01:23 AM

Use both depending on what sound you want.

Dogbertday · #10 03-03-2008, 01:36 AM

All downstrokes give a more consistant sound in my oppinion. you can get very close with alternating but there will always be a difference... i use a mix of both.. I've done this so much I don't even think about it any more...

I also play fingerstyle, slap, tapping, pinch harmonics, double thumb, (rest for upright) jazz pizz, classical pizz, classical bowing (for those who don't know there are tons of bowing techniques)... honestly, I'd say tat using a pick, electric fingerstyle, and one finger jazz pizz are the only one's I claim to be proficient at... I haven't even touched jazz bowing or that crazy playing electric with a drumstick thing...

but after a long post the point is that though some of those techniques may be close to eachother none are the same and essentially are not really interchangable...

sorry for the long rammbling post... it's 230AM... and now i'm going to bed

The BurgerMeister · #11 03-03-2008, 01:41 AM

alternating, usually... downstroke-exclusive, sometimes.

Mharris · #12 03-03-2008, 01:46 AM

I went on a pick-a-thon for a few months, and it opened up a new world for me ... anyway, I found I totally suck at downstrokes. I can only play half as fast, but for what I was doing, I thought the alternate picking sounding pretty killer. I've since went back to concentrating on my fingers because I noticed I was starting to get weak

Anyway, when I do pick up a pick I continue to play alternate picking, unless the sound really calls for downstrokes (or a pick for that matter).

I say it's all up to the artist. After all, music is art. Do it how ya do it.

Stumbo · #13 03-03-2008, 01:59 AM

I started on guitar so alternate picking and using a pick was the way I went with the bass. I can do fingerstyle but mostly stick to picking because of the clean tone I can get with it.

nysbob · #14 03-03-2008, 07:57 AM

Know any guitarists who limit themselves to downstrokes?

I thought not.

lunarpollen · #15 03-03-2008, 08:25 AM

My default pick style is actually to use all upstrokes. I find I have a lot more precise control that way, and I can get a punchier sound.

But for certain faster rhythmic touches I'll thrown in an alternating bit...

Thunder Pulse · #16 03-03-2008, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nysbob

Know any guitarists who limit themselves to downstrokes?

Metal rhythm guitarists.

nysbob · #17 03-03-2008, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder Pulse

Metal rhythm guitarists.

I meant to say accomplished guitarists.

XtreO · #18 03-03-2008, 02:55 PM

You should always alternate pick. You don't play many chords anyway, do you?

cowsgomoo · #19 03-03-2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MammaryVest

Pretty simple. Some people like Tom Peterson say that alternate picking is "for the birds" while other players practice it exclusively. Personally, I think that with experience, you can easily make your alternate strokes sound consistent. What does everyone else think?

I think what Tom Petersson says is probably right.. for Tom Petersson (if you play 12 string bass, upstrokes will sound vastly different to downstrokes)

plenty of better musicians than him would disagree though... ultimately it's up to the individual to find what's best for them I spose

El-Bob · #20 03-03-2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder Pulse

Metal rhythm guitarists.

...