4 Easy Songs That Teach You Alternate Picking

A handy analogy here is walking or running. It’s widely accepted that, if we want to get around efficiently, putting one foot in front of the other, in a ‘left-right-left-right’ motion is pretty reliable. 

The same can be said for picking technique; ‘left-right-left-right’ equating to ‘down-up-down-up’. Every down is followed by an up, and vice versa. 

Alternate picking is by no means the only and preferred picking preference, and there are different tools for different jobs. What is certain is that execution of anything on guitar is much more difficult when picking direction is completely at random; imagine trying to run anywhere using an unpredictable combination of your left and right steps!

It’s not uncommon to assume you are alternate picking a passage when you’re not. Muscle memory is our greatest ally, as guitarists, and whilst this allows us to engage our picking hand auto pilot, so we can concentrate on the more musical side of things, it is easy to disengage with what’s happening with your picking patterns. 

As a test, try playing a two note per string, 3 note per string and 4 note per string pattern, across all 6 strings. Play super slowly and, as you go, say to yourself - out loud with each pick stroke - “down-up-down-up” etc, vocalising that repeating alternate picking pattern. 

Many players, when trying this for the first time, are shocked to find themselves picking ‘down’ and saying ‘up’. This test is also the fix for this, as verbalising the pick strokes encourages your hand to move in the right direction. 

Imagine performing any set of exercises, non-stop for 3-5 minutes, without pausing for a moment. Intensive guitar workouts and play-alongs (see Sam Bell’s Guitar Gym) will certainly encourage this type of relentless practice. But, left to our own devices, we’ll all too often drill a scale or exercises a modest number of times before changing things up or becoming distracted. 

Songs, on the other hand, lock us into performing a part from start to finish. And when these guitar parts have a side benefit of hitting your picking where it hurts, a 3 minute pop song can give you a respectable technique drill. 

The last consideration, is songs are fun. All work and no play can make guitar practice session very dull indeed!

Let’s take a look at some well known songs which are quick to learn, easy to remember and fun to play, all whilst providing a solid alternate picking challenge when performed in full with the track itself. 

Perhaps an unexpected contender for an alternate picking primer, the opening of ‘Baba O’Riley’ by The Who delivers a gruelling and lengthy alternate picking motif, guaranteed to give you a right hand of steel. 

Set across 3 strings, the part is a simple repeating phrase which outlines a regular E power chord, with each string picked twice, in a true alternate picking fashion. 

The bi-word here is ’stamina’, and maintaining this picking part along side the track is the alternate picking equivalent of a half marathon. 

This song is a prime example of a track which is little effort to learn but requires a lot to bring up to performance standard. 

‘00s pop punk was a treasure trove of crunching power chords, hooks and catchy riffs, so this one represents somewhat of a hidden gem. 

The main guitar riff for ‘Fat Lip’ features a familiar 3 note per string shape, on the lowest string, delivered in a quick burst, whilst pedalling off notes on the D string. 

Whilst speed building is a great benefit of this guitar part, the main pay off is a boost to your hand synchronisation. Successful alternate picking is rooted in accuracy and the ability to coordinate both picking and fretting hands so they move in unison. 

The combining of a quick and short run of 3 notes, paired with both string skipping and independent fingering is a real technique gold mine, all while representing one of the best guitar riffs of the ‘00s!

Not only is this song a triumphant ‘80s anthem, but it’s chock full of alternate picking drills, with both the opening riff and verse parts chalking up some serious picking points. 

The intro guitar riff for ‘Love in an Elevator’ is a mix of E major and E minor pentatonic shapes, in the 2nd and open position, all located on the low 3 strings. 

Intro riff - The main feature here is ‘string crossing’ - the simple act of having to play alternating notes on adjacent strings. 

Add to this the less than predictable patterns and you have yourself an alternate picking pattern that would feel at home in any great guitar technique workout. 

Each phrase is played at a fairly challenging speed, but with a short respite between each, mirroring the ever effective ‘speed bursts’.

With a main guitar riff that wouldn’t sound out of place being played by any one of Neo-Classical shred’s luminaries, Papa Roach’s Nu Metal hit serves as the ultimate alternate picking bootcamp. 

With a repeating 2 string motif, based around a root position E minor scale shape, this riff repeats whilst ‘pedalling’ off notes on the lowest string (effectively repeating the pattern, with the first note changing each time). 

This one has it all - speed, endurance, hand sync/coordination and accuracy. The ever changing first note of each phrase gives your picking hand a ‘moving target’, which trains that all important hand sync. 

The repeating motif is a classically inspired ‘pivot’ phrase which can be found in many a picking technique warm up and workout. Not to mention, there’s an enviable speed when performing this at tempo with the track. All this combined is a recipe for rock solid muscle memory and reliable alternate picking - not to mention a throughly cool riff!