So, how can you practice to get faster alternate picking in a creative way that works?

Answer:

Instead of speed picking a single string, pick multiple strings at once.

This has the effect of making it more difficult to picking accurately and precisely. Challenging yourself in this way massively improves your general picking technique and makes normal speed picking much easier.

Use these exercises to apply this concept:

 

Exercise 1 – Speed Pick 2 String Power Chords

Okay, time to build some killer speed picking technique!

Choose any two string power chord on the fretboard.

For this exercise, set a metronome to a moderate tempo such as 120 beats per minute. Pick using eighth notes (2 notes per beat) at first, then sixteenth (4 notes per beat) or triplet (3 notes per beat) notes.

At first, resist the temptation to speed pick the power chord at your max speed.

Instead, focus on picking both strings in one even stroke while “downstroking” and one even stroke while “upstroking”.

The purpose of this is to ensure you are picking with precision and striking both strings using the most smooth and efficient motion possible.

Make it your goal to get each string to sound with the same amount of volume.

 

Exercise 2 – Increase The Challenge By Adding An Extra String

Adding another string creates a much greater range of motion for the pick to travel. This makes your normal single string speed picking so much easier!

Think of it like trying to do a pull up by pulling yourself up on a bar that is so thick that you can barely wrap your hands around it. Then compare that to doing a pullup on a bar that you can easily wrap your hands around.

It’s night and day!

And this is the same effect that occurs for your speed picking.

For this exercise, add another variable in addition to the extra string:

Power.

Apply the same general practice approach of the previous exercise, except pick with much more power in your picking hand.

This makes it much easier to articulate a single string.

 

Exercise 3 – Go All Out Using Power Chords

Alternate picking power chords with speed not only improves your rhythmic picking technique, it makes regular speed picking feel infinitely easier.