Guitar Picking Technique

In our previous online guitar lessons, we learn how to play guitar holding the pick properly, and have your wrist positioned to create a pivot point for speed and agility. Now we are going to learn to play guitar with the tremolo technique in the previous guitar lessons and transitioning between notes.

Guitar Picking Patterns: Single String

In the first of these guitar lessons, we’ll transition between two notes on the same string, starting with the same note we used in the previous guitar lessons:

G: first finger, fourth string, fifth fret.

And

A: third finger, fourth string, seventh fret.

The above example is one measure of sixteenth notes, alternating between the G and A notes. When we learn guitar technique it is important to have a strong rhythmic component with the beat moving forward, with your right hand relaxed with an emphasis on articulation.

As in the free guitar lessons before, the strong note should be the down stroke.

Play this example (and all the examples in these guitar lessons) repeating in four or eight measures phrases, trying to make each note ring clearly with an even amount of time between in stroke.

Guitar Picking Patterns: Adjacent Strings

The next of these guitar lessons will apply the same right hand guitar picking technique, only playing two notes, but on adjacent strings.

Starting with a C note: first finger, third string, fifth fret, and then transitioning to a G: Pinky finger, second string, eighth fret.

So, using the same down-up-down-up guitar picking technique from the previous guitar lessons you’ll play:

Each time you switch strings in this guitar picking technique exercise, you’ll start with a down stroke…do not be tempted to play the C with a up stroke when switching from the G!

Guitar Picking Patterns: Three Strings

And, obviously, we’ll apply the same guitar picking technique in the previous example across three adjacent strings. Starting with:

D: first finger, third string, seventh fret.
G: second finger, second string, eighth fret.

And

D: fourth finger, first string, tenth fret

In the above example, you start on the third string for four sixteenth note, then the second string for four sixteenth note, then the first string for four sixteen notes, returning to the second string for the last four sixteenth notes of that measure…then returning to the third string to begin the next measure.

Work on smooth transitions when changing between strings when applying this type of guitar picking technique, and like the previous guitar lessons, you want to play ever downbeat as a down stroke, even when playing the lower guitar strings.

Guitar Picking Technique: Review

When playing the examples in these guitar picking technique lessons, and learn to play guitar solos, it is extremely important to keep your right hand (and arm) controlled and relaxed. In future beginner guitar lessons, or even these guitar picking technique exercises, as the tempo is increased you are going to want to increase the tension in your arm. This lessons are designed to combat that, but you need to be aware and do you part in keeping your arm relaxed.

You want to learn to play guitar with the pivot point wrist positioning from previous guitar lessons, which help promote relaxation for a good clean technique and a good liquid sound to your note.

Try the exercises in these guitar picking technique lessons at different tempos, both fast and slow. Work on learn how to play guitar with your sixteenth notes sounding smooth, even and consistent, with a good clean right hand. These lessons can be varied by playing two sixteenth notes per note instead of four. Or you can vary these guitar picking examples by just playing random note with your left hand: the guitar picking technique lessons are primary to build you right hand technique.

With these guitar lessons, you’ll learn how to play electric guitar with a good clean right hand that sends commands to your amp about what you want to say, and your guitar will become an extension of your soul.