Alternate Picking Exercises (Speed & Accuracy)

The goal is clean, relaxed motion. Speed comes from consistency, not force.

10-minute alternate picking plan

2 minutes: single string

Down-up steadily. Keep pick strokes small.

4 minutes: string crossing

Move between two strings slowly. Don’t let the right hand tense up.

3 minutes: scale fragment

Pick a 3–5 note pattern and loop it.

1 minute: speed test

Increase 2–5 BPM only if it stays clean.

Fix the most common problem: tension

Check your shoulders and grip. If tone improves when you relax, you were gripping too hard.

Build speed with timing

Pair this with metronome practice + a daily routine.