Economy Picking vs Alternate Picking: When to Use What
Technique · 7 min read ·
The internet loves a good technique war. "Alternate picking is the only real picking!" "Economy picking is more efficient — why would you alternate?" Forum threads devolve into tribal warfare, everyone citing their favorite player as proof.
Here's the boring truth: both techniques are correct. They solve different problems. And the best players use both, switching between them instinctively based on what the music needs.
What They Actually Are
Alternate picking: Strict down-up-down-up alternation regardless of string changes. When you cross to a new string, you continue the alternation pattern even if it means the pick has to "jump over" a string to maintain the down-up sequence.
Economy picking: When crossing to a higher string, you use a downstroke (sweeping in the direction you're going). When crossing to a lower string, you use an upstroke. You "economize" the motion by eliminating the need to skip over strings.
The fundamental difference: alternate picking prioritizes rhythmic consistency (the down-up pattern acts as a built-in metronome). Economy picking prioritizes physical efficiency (no wasted motion on string crossings).
When Alternate Picking Wins
Even-note-per-string patterns. If you're playing 2 or 4 notes per string, alternate picking naturally works out — you always end up on the right stroke to cross to the next string. No efficiency is lost.
Patterns requiring strong attack on every note. Each alternately picked note has the full weight of a deliberate pick stroke. Economy picked notes during string changes can sometimes sound slightly lighter because they're part of a sweep motion.
Rhythmically complex passages. The down-up-down-up pattern creates an internal clock. You always know where you are in the bar because downstrokes = downbeats (or vice versa). This is invaluable in odd meters, syncopated passages, or anything where rhythmic precision matters more than efficiency.
String-skipping. When you're jumping over strings (playing the low E, then the G, then the high E), economy picking doesn't help — there's nothing to sweep to. Alternate picking handles string skips without any conceptual confusion.
When Economy Picking Wins
Odd-note-per-string patterns (especially 3s). This is where economy picking transforms from "slightly more efficient" to "night and day easier." With 3 notes per string, alternate picking constantly fights against the string crossing — you end up on a downstroke needing to go up to the next string. Economy picking resolves this naturally: three notes, the third one sweeps you to the next string.
Scalar runs across many strings. A six-string scale run with 3 notes per string is an exercise in frustration with strict alternate picking. The same run with economy picking flows like water — every string crossing is a natural sweep in the direction of travel.
High-speed legato-like lines with a picked sound. When you want the smoothness of legato but the attack of picking, economy picking gives you that hybrid character. The sweep transitions between strings create a slight legato-like connection while every note is still picked.
When to Blend Both
Here's the advanced approach: don't commit to one system. Use each where it makes sense within the same phrase.
Example scenario: You're playing a lick that starts with 4 notes on one string (alternate picking — even numbers, no reason to change), then moves to a 3-note-per-string scale run (economy picking — odd numbers, efficiency matters), then ends with a string-skipping arpeggio (alternate picking — no adjacent strings to sweep).
Switching between systems mid-phrase sounds complicated in theory. In practice, with enough drilling, it becomes instinctive. Your hand learns to read the pattern ahead and select the most efficient approach.
The Transition Problem
The hardest part of blending is the moment you switch from one system to the other. If you're alternate picking and suddenly need to economy pick a string change, your motor pattern has to shift mid-stream.
Training the transition:
- Write or find a lick that naturally requires both. A 4-note-per-string section followed by a 3-note-per-string section is perfect.
- Practice each section separately with its optimal picking pattern.
- Practice only the transition — the last 2 notes of the alternate section and the first 2 notes of the economy section. Loop just that fragment.
- Once the transition is smooth, connect the full sections.
This is boring, meticulous work. It's also the kind of work that separates players who are "fast" from players who are "fast and musical."
The Trap: Overthinking It
I want to caution against analysis paralysis. Some players get so caught up in optimizing their picking pattern for every single note that they can't play anything anymore. They're sitting there with a pencil, annotating every downstroke and upstroke in their tab, and never actually practicing.
Here's a simpler approach: play the passage. Does it feel awkward at a string crossing? Try switching the pick direction at that crossing. Does it feel smoother? Keep it. Does it feel worse? Go back. Done.
Your hands often know the right answer before your brain does. Give them some credit.
Finding Your Default
Most players naturally gravitate toward one system. And that's fine — having a default isn't the same as being limited to one technique.
If you're a natural alternate picker: keep it as your default. Add economy picking specifically for 3-note-per-string patterns. That alone covers 90% of the situations where economy picking helps.
If you're a natural economy picker: keep it as your default. Develop strict alternate picking for even-note patterns and string-skipping shapes. The rhythmic precision of alternate picking will tighten up your overall playing.
The goal isn't to become equally proficient at both. The goal is to have both available and use each where it shines.
ShredForge tracks your technique families separately in the Skill Tree — so your alternate picking NPS and your economy picking NPS develop independently. Build exercises for each approach, chain them in the Session Builder, and watch both techniques progress on their own timelines.