Picking Exercises

Alternate, economy and outside picking basics

Michele Vanni
Standard tuning
=E =D
=B =A
=G =E
= 91
4th
Play on each string to get used to different string response. Mute string or palm mute
using any note you like. We concentrate on the Right hand. Use a clean tone or unplug the guitar.
1 2
el.guit.

X X X X X X X X

8th
It's very important to accent the notes on the downbeat: it helps us synchronize with the click

3 4

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

16th
Start slow and repeat till you can play it clean and in time. Then go up 10 Bpm to the next speed level.

5 6

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

8th Triplets
In the Triplet exercise, the accents alternate between a downstroke and an upstroke: be careful.

7 8

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

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 16th Triplets
In this exercise we accent one note every six

9 10

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Chromatic 16th - 4 notes per string - Follow the picking pattern Alternate picking when descending

11 12
5 6 7 8 9 8 7 6
5 6 7 8 9 8 7 6
5 6 7 8
5 6 7 8
5 6 7 8
5 6 7 8

13 14
9 8 7 6 7 8 9 10
9 8 7 6 7 8 9 10
9 8 7 6 7 8 9 10
9 8 7 6 7 8 9 10

Economy (sweep) picking when descending - learn to play the exercise in both ways.
continue pattern moving up one fret at a time

15 16
7 8 9 10 11 10 9 8
7 8 9 10 11 10 9 8
11 10 9 8
11 10 9 8
11 10 9 8
11 10 9 8

Alternating 16th on one string - Scale of A minor (starts with Harmonic minor)

17 18
4 7 5 7 4 7 5 7 5 8 7 8 5 8 7 8 7 10 8 10 7 10 8 10 8 12 10 12 8 12 10 12

continue picking pattern

19 20
10 13 12 13 10 13 12 13 12 15 13 15 12 15 13 15 13 17 15 17 13 17 15 17 12 15 13 15 12 15 13 15

2/4
21 22
10 13 12 13 10 13 12 13 8 12 10 12 8 12 10 12 7 10 8 10 7 10 8 10 5 8 7 8 5 8 7 8

Ascending and descending Triplets

23 24
4 5 7 4 5 7 5 7 8 5 7 8 7 8 10 7 8 10 8 10 12 8 10 12

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

continue picking pattern

25 26
10 12 13 10 12 13 12 13 15 12 13 15 17 15 13 17 15 13 15 13 12 15 13 12

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

27 28
13 12 10 13 12 10 12 10 8 12 10 8 10 8 7 10 8 7 8 7 5 8 7 5

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Ascending and descending Triplets on two strings - E minor

29
7 8 10 7 8 10 8 10 12 8 10 12
7 8 10 7 8 10 8 10 12 8 10 12

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

continue picking pattern - outside picking

30
10 12 14 10 12 14 12 14 15 12 14 15
10 12 13 10 12 13 12 13 15 12 13 15

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

3/4
31
14 15 17 14 15 17 15 17 19 15 17 19
13 15 17 13 15 17 15 17 19 15 17 19

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Picking pattern changes

32
20 19 17 20 19 17 19 17 15 19 17 15
20 19 17 20 19 17 19 17 15 19 17 15

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

33
17 15 14 17 15 14 15 14 12 15 14 12
17 15 13 17 15 13 15 13 12 15 13 12

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

34
14 12 10 14 12 10 12 10 8 12 10 8
13 12 10 13 12 10 12 10 8 12 10 8

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

35
10 8 7 10 8 7 8 7 5 8 7 5
10 8 7 10 8 7 8 7 5 8 7 5

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

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