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Alternate Picking (Part 1)

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Although some basslines can be played using downstrokes only, many will be too fast, or too complex for this to be effective. For this reason, the most efficient way to use a plectrum is to employ downstrokes and upstrokes. This is a technique that you should be comfortable using on all four strings, so in this course we will begin looking at some simple exercises that will enable you to practice this effectively.

Don’t forget to hit the Download Resources button above to get the PDF workbook and audio files for this course (available to subscribers only).

This course is 37 MINUTES long and contains the following videos, each of which can be selected from the video player above:

1. Introduction to Alternate Picking

In this video I'll be talking through the basics of the alternate picking technique and providing a demonstration.

2. Alternate Picking on All Strings

In this video we will be expanding on the previous lesson and using the alternate picking technique across all four strings of the bass.

3. Playing Scales with Alternate Picking

Now that we've used the technique across all four strings, we can use it to play some scales. For the moment we're going to double every note in the scale to avoid some of the more complex string crossing issues.

4. Exercise #8

This is a very simple exercise that follows a basic chord progression in the key of G. The majority of the exercise is made up of two quarter notes - both of which will be played with downstrokes - followed by four eighth notes, which will be played down-up-down-up.

5. Exercise #9

This is a simple rock bassline that is played on just the E and A strings. Be aware that the point at which the notes change is not always on the beat in this exercise!

6. Exercise #10

This is another very simple line that is played on the lower two strings of the bass.

7. Exercise #11

This exercise is another eighth note-based rock groove. This time the line also includes some quarter note rests.

8. Exercise #12

This final exercise is a 12-bar blues progression in the key of G. This line features includes some 'string skipping', where you will change to a note which is not on the adjacent string. This concept will be covered in more detail in the next course.