Help me correct my picking technique...

[Dan B]

Alright, this has been something that has been bothering me now for the past year...

Whenever I use a pick when I go to hit an individual note or a series of notes (let's say, quarter notes) my picking technique is to use up-picks on each note (picking the string upwards instead of downwards). Now, this has been natural for me because whenever I think about fingerplaying, I always hit the top of the string and pull my finger upwards; this has lead to me doing something similar with a pick. Yet whenever I see pick players play they always go downwards. Therefore, it feels like I am doing something wrong.

Is there a way to correct this? I've been practicing the "standard" technique but I always tend to flub notes and I return to my way of picking.

Oddly enough, tremolo picking and chords aren't a problem for me, but hitting an individual note is.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Mr L]

I think you need to ditch the idea of "down, down down" or "up, up, up" and go with alternate picking "down, up, down, up"

At least that's what I got from your OP.

 

[Waterpilot]

I think you need to ditch the idea of "down, down down" or "up, up, up" and go with alternate picking "down, up, down, up"

At least that's what I got from your OP.

Agreed. Down, up, down, up. Should speed things up for ya too.

 

[Dan B]

Agreed. Down, up, down, up. Should speed things up for ya too.

That's what I have been trying. I should note doing normal strumming on one string so far isn't an issue. It's doing it on multiple strings that hangs me up.

Thanks for the responses so far; trying to perfect that and learning slap as well because I don't know how to slap.

 

[Mr L]

Best way to practice picking (all IME) is to practice with the major scales, pick a scale and work through it slowly.

Down, up, switch string, down, up, down switch string, etc, then back up the scale.

As you get more comfortable going across strings, speed it up till you can do it as fast as with fingers.

As for slapping, way I learned was to practice slapping with my right hand on the open E, A, and D strings.

Keep your right hand in kind of a thumbs up position. Slap with the bone on your thumb (side of the joint) think of it as a flicking motion almost, whack it and pull away just as fast as you hit it.

For popping the D and G strings your hand is in kind of a fist so you can slap and easily extend your middle or index finger so it's under the D or G string and pull up as if you were trying to rip the string off the bass. Go slowly and speed up gradually. Practice with the G, and A octaves on the E string at first.

All IME so if you find something that works better for you do that, plenty of videos on these subjects as well!