What is economy picking?

[superdave]

I know about alternete picking but what does economy picking mean? Also is there ever a time when down picking is only used?

[souvenir]

If you look at this:

 

http://www.guitarplayer.com/musicpopup.asp?title=Ex.%2015&fpath=/Pictures/musicscore/i/i/j/Clas15.jpg

 

Where you see to upstroke or downstroke symbols beside each other, that's economy picking. It's like a mini sweep pick.

 

The only time where downpicking is only used is if you think it should be used. Alot of heavy metal and punk has rhythm with all downstrokes, it gives the music a more aggressive feel.

[mdrs]

like The Ramones...........I'm pretty sure the he never hit an upstroke EVER

[Hardtail]

It's kind of a hybrid alternate picking style that uses concepts borrowed from sweep picking. I use it all the time.

 

Alternate picking is straight up-down-up-down... etc.

 

So... if I hit the D string with a down stroke and want to hit the G string next, with alternate picking, I'll hit it with an upstroke.

 

In economy (sometimes called directional picking), I'll hit that G string with a downstroke. So in effect, I've hit both D and G with successive downstrokes creating a kind of mini-sweep.

[Gifthorse]

I think it is when you use 3 note patterns on strings you kind of sweep or make sure you are going to a downstroke on the first note of every string.

[mdrs]

economy picking is;

 

let say you have three notes to play on the low E string, and then a note to play on the A string.

 

Instead of alternative picking, which is going "up down up down" with your pick, you'd go down up down and then continue on that third downward picking stroke on to the A string and hit your fourth note on the A with the same downward picking motion. I think that many of us do this intuitively. It allows you to pick more efficiently, and presumedly, faster.

 

I've done this forever, without ever knowing I was doing it. I would not have been able to describe this, except that I just read the interview of Dweezil Zappa in the August issue of Guitar Player, where he was talking about this!

 

I'm learnin......

[Durockrolly]

Originally posted by mdrs:

economy picking is;

 

let say you have three notes to play on the low E string, and then a note to play on the A string.

 

Instead of alternative picking, which is going "up down up down" with your pick, you'd go down up down and then continue on that third downward picking stroke on to the A string and hit your fourth note on the A with the same downward picking motion. I think that many of us do this intuitively. It allows you to pick more efficiently, and presumedly, faster.

 

I've done this forever, without ever knowing I was doing it. I would not have been able to describe this, except that I just read the interview of Dweezil Zappa in the August issue of Guitar Player, where he was talking about this!

 

I'm learnin......

Wow!!! That stuff has names??? I'm in trouble. I often get my kids name mixed-up!!! And I only have one!!!

[Gifthorse]

I knew a guy who could use this technique very well. It sounds cool. More legato definately than alternate picking.

 

I am more of a pick hammer on pull off guy if I am not alternate picking on guy, but to each his own.

 

Always good to practice new techniques. I work on that one sometimes if I am playing 3 note patterns.

[Tone Taster]

here's a great way to burn some triplets w/ econ pckng:

 

pick a 3 finger per string and 7 tone scale A natural minor

 

--------------------------------

--------------------------------

--------------------------------

--------------------------------

------------5------5-7--5-7-9--

5-7-8--7-8---- 8----------------

d-u-d--u-DD---u-d-u--d-u-d

 

timing should be in triplets, so count trip-a-let

 

PICKING PATTERN-----d---u--d----u--D--D--u--d-u

COUNTING PATTERN:-trip-a-let--trip-a-let-trip-a-let

 

any way, there isn't enough space for the whole scale but it is an A natural minor or Aeolian mode three finger per string pattern

 

On the way down it's a little awkard in that there is no sweep from string #1 to # 2 and the UP sweeps on the way down start from String #2 and on down

[Gifthorse]

D u D e!!!!

 

Thanks for the exercise.

 

Even if you don't apply a technique to your normal playing it is always helpful for your overall playing to learn new technique.

 

I practice sweep picking but I rarely use it in my normal improvising.

[jimash]

Last night I saw Doc WAtson on TV.

The words "economy of motion" came to mind.

Dude barely moves his fingers plays great stuff.

[mdrs]

Doc's technique is massive. Amazingly smooth, the best timing I've ever witnessed live. Powerful, and graceful, all at once. The man is one of the all time greats. At something like age 83, when I saw him, he actually apologized to the audience for forgetting the words on one line in one song! Talk about gracious and humble. I felt very lucky to have had the chance to see him in person.