Going from strict Alternate to Economy picking

[jazzgtrl4]

Ok so ive been working out of Jimmy Brunos "art of picking" book and its been good, also just got Jacks book SOS, which looks great but haven't totally dove into it, just the first couple of pages. How long for the people who have done this does it take to get this picking style down comfortably, where your not thinking about it??. obviously months? Ive only really started doing it for a few weeks everyday, working it into my practice time... Its weird at gigs sometimes i feel i can really utilize it to a degree and other times when im in the moment i feel myself falling back on alternate, like last night.. I know i need alot more time under my belt to be pulling this out without thinking about it. Its just frustrating at times because it feels like im going backwards a little any thoughts. thanks

[Gramps]

I think you already know that you just have to keep pushing through and have faith that what you're working on will open new doors for you.

[jazzgtrl4]

yep, i think im realizing that, thank Gramps.

[Drumbler]

The great Joe Pass said to just pick the way it comes naturally to you.

I think he's right.

Jimmy Bruno's method (economy) is no better than any other.

[markerhodes]

I think economy is demonstrably better" you can't rake with alternate picking! The problem with alternate picking is that you limit yourself to things that work well that way; with economy, you have more options.

[Goofsus4]

This is one advantage of being self-taught...I started picking with all downstrokes because alternate and upstrokes cause me to get hung up in the strings. But after a while, my right hand coordination improved and I just naturally started alternate picking because it worked better for certain things. But since nobody cracked the whip on me or tried to force a technique down my throat, I can now pick any way I want for anything I want to do, i.e. alternate, economy, sweeps/rakes, etc.

Recently, I've just been using my thumb though, so I can play both fingerstyle chords and also do single note runs without worrying about palming a pick. I've actually gotten really fast at just downstrokes with my thumb. It sort of limits my tone and attack options, of course. I wish I could get the upstroke thing going like Wes evidently could do with his thumb. I've tried it, but the tone is too soft on the upstroke. Guess I need to develop a really big hard callous that will sort of act as the edge of a pick. I've experimented with upstrokes with my first or middle finger, but I can't get that to work well for alternate picking on the same string - I end up muting the string too much and it sounds flat.

I still use a pick sometimes for more speed and attack on certain songs, but I hate it. I love the freedom of just being able to use my fingers.

[gravitas]

Every kind of picking is neccessary. Alternate, Circular, Economy, Sweep, Elbow, Cross, and finger picking are all essential tools. No one of them will always work in every situation, so practice all of them.

Imagine if you were a hockey player, but you could only do wrist shots. You wouldn't do well.

-Al