We guitarists often spend so much time trying to learn the intricacies of fretting technique that years may go by before we bring our attention to the picking hand. Once we do, though, we find that alternate picking occupies a primary place in most quick-pickers' techniques. Simply put, alternate picking is the technique of using alternating down and up strokes to maximize picking motion, particularly when playing single-string lines.

Let's imagine for a moment that all you can do is pick down-down-down-down, sort of like the continuous rhythm style of many metal players. While the resulting sound is extremely successful in some applications, it is quite limiting when quickness and string-to-string agility is needed. Think about the picking motion for a minute: if the pick hits the string on a down stroke, then passes by the string to come swooping in for another down stroke, well, why not pick the string again while moving upwards instead of passing it by? Adding an up stroke for every down stroke could effectively double your playing speed.

Of course it's never as simple as that...

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