Alternate picking — down, up, never two downs

Alternate picking is the default right-hand clock for scale lines: down-up-down-up with no two downs (or two ups) in a row. The goal is not speed yet — it is an even pulse, a small stroke, and clean string changes that still keep the strict alternate rule so every note of a scale speaks clearly.

Technique path: Exercises · pick · this page · Alternate lab · Scales · Solo drills · alternate

Hold / motion / click: grip the pick lightly (thumb + index). The motion is mostly wrist — forearm stays quiet. Lock every attack to the practice-bar click before you chase tempo.

Escape hatch: when a string change would force a reverse that feels wrong, that is a cue for economy or sweep — not a reason to smash two downs on alternate.

Six-line tablature (TAB): high e on top, low E on bottom. Footer rows: LH finger, RH D/U, X crossing mark (o outside, i inside), then note names. Play becomes Stop; a moving bar follows the sounding note. Models use eighths unless noted. Tempo follows the metronome.

Scales job — why alternate exists

These lessons are not “picking for its own sake.” They are the right-hand grammar for scales: pentatonic boxes (2 notes per string), chromatic approach tones, and any shape you insist on playing with strict DUDU.

Learn the map: note-name footers are scale tones — say them while you pick (Am box = A minor pentatonic; 3NPS cells preview major/mode shapes on Scales / Modes).
Grow the neck: 2→4→6 string steps are how a scale shape becomes full-neck fluency, not a two-string exercise.
Then the lab: Alternate lab · Scale shape loads real systems (pentMin, 3NPS, maj5, min5) under the same RH rules.
Sibling RH: long 3NPS runs often want economy; chord-tone outlines of a key want sweep. Same scales vocabulary, different jobs.

Order of lessons: pulse and accents on open strings → chromatic one-string → outside/inside ping-pong → 2NPS then 3NPS progressive (2→4→6 strings) → string skip → triplets / ascending fragments → Am box (3 then 4; full 6 in lesson 15) → sixteenth burst → 2-string spider → outside/inside crawl E→e → Am full neck → progressive 4NPS spider (3→4→6). Then the Alternate lab for any scale shape and direction.

Sources (two-check): Hal Leonard / rock lead alternate basics · Berklee-style right-hand-to-click. Inside/outside string crossings: Guitar World consensus. Troy Grady pickslanting is the job (how the pick exits a string) — we do not copy his drill catalog. Sibling modules: Economy · Sweep.

Lesson 1 · Open E pulse · DUDU

Eight notes on open low E

Left hand stays off the frets. Right hand only: down-up locked to the click. Eight notes, then the loop repeats.

Model: eighths · 4 loops

e|--------------------------------
B|--------------------------------
G|--------------------------------
D|--------------------------------
A|--------------------------------
E|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0
LH   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:
     E   E   E   E   E   E   E   E

Listen for: every up as loud as every down. If ups disappear, shorten the stroke.

Lesson 2 · Accents on open G

Same DUDU pulse on open G. Three listening jobs: accent downs, accent ups, then even.

Accent downs

e|--------------------------------
B|--------------------------------
G|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0
D|--------------------------------
A|--------------------------------
E|--------------------------------
LH   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:
     G   G   G   G   G   G   G   G

Accent ups

Same tab — now the ups speak louder. This is the hard one for most players.

Even

Return to matched volume. If you can do all three, the stroke is honest.

Lesson 3 · Chromatic G 5–8 · start down

One string · frets 5-6-7-8-8-7-6-5

Index-middle-ring-pinky ascending, then back. Repeat the top fret so you get eight eighths — one clean bar of 4/4. First note is a downstroke.

e|--------------------------------
B|--------------------------------
G|---5---6---7---8---8---7---6---5
D|--------------------------------
A|--------------------------------
E|--------------------------------
LH   1   2   3   4   4   3   2   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:
     C  C#   D  D#  D#   D  C#   C

Lesson 4 · Same chromatic · start up

First note is an upstroke

Identical frets — the RH map flips. Same eight-note 4/4 bar. Starting on an up is a common weak spot; train it now.

e|--------------------------------
B|--------------------------------
G|---5---6---7---8---8---7---6---5
D|--------------------------------
A|--------------------------------
E|--------------------------------
LH   1   2   3   4   4   3   2   1
RH   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D
X:
     C  C#   D  D#  D#   D  C#   C

Lesson 5 · Outside ping-pong · G5–B5

Outside crossings

Start on G5 (lower string), then B5. With D→U on the way up, the pick approaches from outside the string pair (o on the X row).

e|--------------------------------
B|-------5-------5-------5-------5
G|---5-------5-------5-------5----
D|--------------------------------
A|--------------------------------
E|--------------------------------
LH   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:       o   o   o   o   o   o   o
     C   E   C   E   C   E   C   E

Lesson 6 · Inside ping-pong · B5–G5

Inside crossings

Start on B5, then G5. Same strokes — now the pick works from inside (X row i). Both should sound identical; only the approach path changes.

e|--------------------------------
B|---5-------5-------5-------5----
G|-------5-------5-------5-------5
D|--------------------------------
A|--------------------------------
E|--------------------------------
LH   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:       i   i   i   i   i   i   i
     E   C   E   C   E   C   E   C

Lesson 7 · 2NPS progressive · 2→4→6 strings

Two strings · D G

D 5–7, G 5–7, then reverse — repeat the top so the cell is eight eighths (one bar of 4/4).

e|--------------------------------
B|--------------------------------
G|-----------5---7---7---5--------
D|---5---7-------------------7---5
A|--------------------------------
E|--------------------------------
LH   1   3   1   3   3   1   3   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:           i               o
     G   A   C   D   D   C   A   G

Four strings · D G B e

Same 5–7 shape on D, G, B, and e, then reverse including the peak — sixteen eighths (two bars of 4/4).

e|---------------------------5---7---7---5------------------------
B|-------------------5---7-------------------7---5----------------
G|-----------5---7-----------------------------------7---5--------
D|---5---7---------------------------------------------------7---5
A|----------------------------------------------------------------
E|----------------------------------------------------------------
LH   1   3   1   3   1   3   1   3   3   1   3   1   3   1   3   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:           i       i       i               o       o       o    
     G   A   C   D   E  F#   A   B   B   A  F#   E   D   C   A   G

Six strings · full neck

2NPS 5–7 on every string E→e, then reverse including the peak — twenty-four eighths (three bars of 4/4).

e|-------------------------------------------5---7---7---5----------------------------------------
B|-----------------------------------5---7-------------------7---5--------------------------------
G|---------------------------5---7-----------------------------------7---5------------------------
D|-------------------5---7---------------------------------------------------7---5----------------
A|-----------5---7-------------------------------------------------------------------7---5--------
E|---5---7-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------7---5
LH   1   3   1   3   1   3   1   3   1   3   1   3   3   1   3   1   3   1   3   1   3   1   3   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:           i       i       i       i       i               o       o       o       o       o    
     A   B   D   E   G   A   C   D   E  F#   A   B   B   A  F#   E   D   C   A   G   E   D   B   A

Lesson 8 · 3NPS progressive · 2→4→6 · strict alternate

Two strings · D G — no double downs

Three notes on D end on a down; G therefore starts on an up. That is the discipline — do not “help” with a second down at the change (that would be economy). Strict alternate only.

e|------------------------------------------------
B|------------------------------------------------
G|---------------5---7---8---8---7---5------------
D|---5---7---9---------------------------9---7---5
A|------------------------------------------------
E|------------------------------------------------
LH   1   2   4   1   2   3   3   2   1   4   2   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:               o                       i
     G   A   B   C   D  D#  D#   D   C   B   A   G

When the join feels inevitable, switch to Economy · ascending join.

Four strings · D G B e

Same frets as the economy four-string shape (D 5–7–9, G 5–7–8, B 5–6–8, e 5–7–8), then reverse including the peak — twenty-four eighths. Still strict alternate (no double downs at odd joins).

e|---------------------------------------5---7---8---8---7---5------------------------------------
B|---------------------------5---6---8---------------------------8---6---5------------------------
G|---------------5---7---8---------------------------------------------------8---7---5------------
D|---5---7---9---------------------------------------------------------------------------9---7---5
A|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LH   1   2   4   1   2   3   1   2   4   1   2   4   4   2   1   4   2   1   3   2   1   4   2   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:               o           i           o                       i           o           i        
     G   A   B   C   D  D#   E   F   G   A   B   C   C   B   A   G   F   E  D#   D   C   B   A   G

Six strings · full neck

E/A/D 5–7–9, G 5–7–8, B 5–6–8, e 5–7–8, then reverse including the peak — thirty-six eighths. Reminder: every join stays strict alternate (no double downs).

e|---------------------------------------------------------------5---7---8---8---7---5------------------------------------------------------------
B|---------------------------------------------------5---6---8---------------------------8---6---5------------------------------------------------
G|---------------------------------------5---7---8---------------------------------------------------8---7---5------------------------------------
D|---------------------------5---7---9---------------------------------------------------------------------------9---7---5------------------------
A|---------------5---7---9---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9---7---5------------
E|---5---7---9---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9---7---5
LH   1   2   4   1   2   4   1   2   4   1   2   3   1   2   4   1   2   4   4   2   1   4   2   1   3   2   1   4   2   1   4   2   1   4   2   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:               o           i           o           i           o                       i           o           i           o           i        
     A   B  C#   D   E  F#   G   A   B   C   D  D#   E   F   G   A   B   C   C   B   A   G   F   E  D#   D   C   B   A   G  F#   E   D  C#   B   A

Lesson 9 · String skip · outside and inside

Outside · E5 ↔ D7

Skip the A string. Outside approach: low E first.

e|------------------------
B|------------------------
G|------------------------
D|-------7-------7-------7
A|------------------------
E|---5-------5-------5----
LH   1   1   1   1   1   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:       o   o   o   o   o
     A   A   A   A   A   A

Inside · D7 ↔ E5

e|------------------------
B|------------------------
G|------------------------
D|---7-------7-------7----
A|------------------------
E|-------5-------5-------5
LH   1   1   1   1   1   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:       i   i   i   i   i
     A   A   A   A   A   A

Lesson 10 · Triplets, then 3-string and 6-string 3NPS fragments

Triplets on G5–7–8

Six notes (two triplet groups on 5–7–8). Feel three against the click; RH still strict DUDU.

e|------------------------
B|------------------------
G|---5---7---8---5---7---8
D|------------------------
A|------------------------
E|------------------------
LH   1   3   4   1   3   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:
     C   D  D#   C   D  D#

3-string 3NPS fragment

D 5–7–9, G 5–7–8, B 5–6–8 — one direction. Watch outside then inside on the X row.

e|------------------------------------
B|---------------------------5---6---8
G|---------------5---7---8------------
D|---5---7---9------------------------
A|------------------------------------
E|------------------------------------
LH   1   2   4   1   2   3   1   2   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D
X:               o           i
     G   A   B   C   D  D#   E   F   G

Six-string 3NPS · ascending

Next step after the 3-string fragment: same frets as lesson 8c across all six strings, one direction only (eighteen eighths). Full updown lives in lesson 8c.

e|---------------------------------------------------------------5---7---8
B|---------------------------------------------------5---6---8------------
G|---------------------------------------5---7---8------------------------
D|---------------------------5---7---9------------------------------------
A|---------------5---7---9------------------------------------------------
E|---5---7---9------------------------------------------------------------
LH   1   2   4   1   2   4   1   2   4   1   2   3   1   2   4   1   2   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:               o           i           o           i           o        
     A   B  C#   D   E  F#   G   A   B   C   D  D#   E   F   G   A   B   C

Lesson 11 · Am box 1 · 3 then 4 strings (full 6 in lesson 15)

Three bass strings · E A D

Classic minor-pentaton box 1 fragment on the three bass strings. Strict alternate throughout.

e|------------------------------------------------
B|------------------------------------------------
G|------------------------------------------------
D|-------------------5---7---7---5----------------
A|-----------5---7-------------------7---5--------
E|---5---8-----------------------------------8---5
LH   1   4   1   3   1   3   3   1   3   1   4   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:           i       i               o       o
     A   C   D   E   G   A   A   G   E   D   C   A

Four strings · E A D G

Mid step: add the G string (5–7) to the Am box, then reverse including the peak — sixteen eighths. Full six-string Am is already in lesson 15 — do not duplicate it here.

e|----------------------------------------------------------------
B|----------------------------------------------------------------
G|---------------------------5---7---7---5------------------------
D|-------------------5---7-------------------7---5----------------
A|-----------5---7-----------------------------------7---5--------
E|---5---8---------------------------------------------------8---5
LH   1   4   1   3   1   3   1   3   3   1   3   1   3   1   4   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:           i       i       i               o       o       o    
     A   C   D   E   G   A   C   D   D   C   A   G   E   D   C   A

Lesson 12 · Burst · eight sixteenths on G5

Beats 0.25 · still DUDU

Same pitch, double the density. Keep the stroke small — speed comes from shorter travel, not harder hits.

e|--------------------------------
B|--------------------------------
G|---5---5---5---5---5---5---5---5
D|--------------------------------
A|--------------------------------
E|--------------------------------
LH   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:
     C   C   C   C   C   C   C   C

Burst is a tempo check, not a new RH rule. Next: the 4NPS spider for even-count crossings, then the lab.

Lesson 13 · 4NPS spider · D then G

Even notes per string · predictable crossings

Four frets on D (5–8), four on G (5–8), then reverse (repeat the top). Sixteen eighths = two bars of 4/4. Even count per string means each string starts on a down when you begin on a down — ascending changes land as inside (i). One drill trains the hard case of inside crossings without ping-pong isolation. (Paul Gilbert / G.I.T.-style chromatic idea — we keep two strings so the TAB stays readable.)

e|----------------------------------------------------------------
B|----------------------------------------------------------------
G|-------------------5---6---7---8---8---7---6---5----------------
D|---5---6---7---8-----------------------------------8---7---6---5
A|----------------------------------------------------------------
E|----------------------------------------------------------------
LH   1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4   4   3   2   1   4   3   2   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:                   i                               o
     G  G#   A  A#   C  C#   D  D#  D#   D  C#   C  A#   A  G#   G

Rule of thumb: even NPS + start down → ascending changes are inside; odd NPS (lesson 8) → ascending change is outside and the next string starts on an up.

Next: 3-string spider in lesson 16, then 4-string and 6-string in the expanded lesson 16 cards.

Lesson 14 · Outside then inside crawl · fret 5 · E→e

Outside crawl · E→e

Low string first in each pair, walking up adjacent strings at fret 5 across all six strings (five pairs). Ten eighths. X row o on the ups that land on the higher string of each pair.

e|---------------------------------------5
B|-------------------------------5---5----
G|-----------------------5---5------------
D|---------------5---5--------------------
A|-------5---5----------------------------
E|---5------------------------------------
LH   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:       o       o       o       o       o
     A   D   D   G   G   C   C   E   E   A

Inside crawl · E→e · high first each pair

Same frets across six strings; start each pair on the higher string. X row i — ten eighths, different approach path.

e|-----------------------------------5----
B|---------------------------5-----------5
G|-------------------5-----------5--------
D|-----------5-----------5----------------
A|---5-----------5------------------------
E|-------5--------------------------------
LH   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:       i   i   i   i   i   i   i   i   i
     D   A   G   D   C   G   E   C   A   E

Lesson 15 · Am box 1 full neck · updown

Six-string Am pentatonic at fret 5

Full box low E to high e, then reverse including the peak — twenty-four eighths (three bars of 4/4). Same RH map as lesson 11, stretched across the neck.

e|-------------------------------------------5---8---8---5----------------------------------------
B|-----------------------------------5---8-------------------8---5--------------------------------
G|---------------------------5---7-----------------------------------7---5------------------------
D|-------------------5---7---------------------------------------------------7---5----------------
A|-----------5---7-------------------------------------------------------------------7---5--------
E|---5---8-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------8---5
LH   1   4   1   3   1   3   1   3   1   4   1   4   4   1   4   1   3   1   3   1   3   1   4   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:           i       i       i       i       i               o       o       o       o       o    
     A   C   D   E   G   A   C   D   E   G   A   C   C   A   G   E   D   C   A   G   E   D   C   A

Lesson 16 · Progressive 4NPS spider · 3→4→6

Three strings · D G B

Lesson 13’s spider plus B: frets 5–8 on D, G, and B, then reverse including the peak. Twenty-four eighths. Even notes per string keep ascending changes inside when you start down.

e|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B|-----------------------------------5---6---7---8---8---7---6---5--------------------------------
G|-------------------5---6---7---8-----------------------------------8---7---6---5----------------
D|---5---6---7---8-------------------------------------------------------------------8---7---6---5
A|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LH   1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4   4   3   2   1   4   3   2   1   4   3   2   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:                   i               i                               o               o            
     G  G#   A  A#   C  C#   D  D#   E   F  F#   G   G  F#   F   E  D#   D  C#   C  A#   A  G#   G

Four strings · D G B e

Frets 5–8 on D, G, B, and e, then reverse including the peak — thirty-two eighths (four bars of 4/4).

e|---------------------------------------------------5---6---7---8---8---7---6---5------------------------------------------------
B|-----------------------------------5---6---7---8-----------------------------------8---7---6---5--------------------------------
G|-------------------5---6---7---8-------------------------------------------------------------------8---7---6---5----------------
D|---5---6---7---8---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8---7---6---5
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LH   1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4   4   3   2   1   4   3   2   1   4   3   2   1   4   3   2   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:                   i               i               i                               o               o               o            
     G  G#   A  A#   C  C#   D  D#   E   F  F#   G   A  A#   B   C   C   B  A#   A   G  F#   F   E  D#   D  C#   C  A#   A  G#   G

Six strings · ascending only

4NPS 5–8 on every string E→e, one direction — twenty-four eighths (three bars). Ascending-only keeps the cell countable; reverse when ready in the lab.

e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------5---6---7---8
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------5---6---7---8----------------
G|---------------------------------------------------5---6---7---8--------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------5---6---7---8------------------------------------------------
A|-------------------5---6---7---8----------------------------------------------------------------
E|---5---6---7---8--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LH   1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
X:                   i               i               i               i               i            
     A  A#   B   C   D  D#   E   F   G  G#   A  A#   C  C#   D  D#   E   F  F#   G   A  A#   B   C

Ready for the lab: when lessons 5–8, 11, 13–16 are even, open the Alternate lab and run any scale shape with the same RH map.

Open Alternate lab Economy picking

Practice note

How long: 5 minutes on a new lesson. Pulse and accents first (1–2), then one-string chromatic (3–4), then one crossing family per day (outside or inside). Progress multi-string cells 2→4→6 when the smaller cell is even. Do not stack 3NPS, skips, bursts, spiders, and full-neck runs in the same five minutes.

Listen for: matched up/down volume; X-row crossings that still sound even; no sneaky double downs on odd note-counts.

Then: Alternate lab (Scale shape), Scales, Economy, Solo drills · alternate.

Alternate lab Scales Economy Sweep Solo drills