Getting your alternate picking guitar technique down solid is one of the best things you can do for your guitar playing. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or you’ve been playing for years — there’s always room to tighten things up.
In this lesson, I’ll walk you through the fundamentals and give you some exercises that actually work. No fluff, just stuff you can practice today.
The Technique
This alternate picking guitar lesson is one you’ll want to come back to. The video covers the specific finger positions and chord shapes you’ll need. Colin walks through each shape carefully, showing exactly where your fingers go on the fretboard. If you’re following along, keep your guitar handy and pause as needed — the positions will click faster when you can see and try them at the same time.
The technique might feel awkward at first, especially if you’ve built up habits that work against it. That’s normal. Slow, deliberate practice is the fastest way to rewire your muscle memory. Give it a few days of focused work and you’ll feel the difference.
Tips for Alternate Picking Guitar
- Keep your picking hand relaxed — tension is the enemy of speed and accuracy
- Start at a tempo where you can play cleanly, then gradually increase
- Focus on consistent downstrokes before adding upstrokes
- Practice with a metronome to develop solid internal timing
Keep At It
That covers the essentials of alternate picking guitar. Grab your guitar, work through it at your own pace, and stick with it. Consistent practice always pays off. I’ll see you in the next lesson.
