COMBINING Economy + Alternate Picking Like the PROS!

[@BenEller]

Thanks for learning how to combine alternate and economy picking with me! Grab the practice tracks and TAB on my Patreon page to master this FAST: www.patreon.com/posts/75669460?

[@Collartie]

i don't see a link for that brass pick you guys made.

[@Minty.Fresh.Tunes.]

I know im supposed to use both but its easier to alternate pick it :\

[@Jammaster1972]

Uncle Ben, would you please teach "No More Tears" Ozzy/Wylde the RIGHT WAY?

[@mikaelflodstrom6370]

👍🏻

[@jeremyswalley8625]

I’m pretty good at my combos but definitely appreciate introducing new ideas!! Forever evolving yo bro!!

[@craigitr0n]

Always enjoy seeing Brandon Ellis getting his due from someone as awesome as Uncle Ben

[@CreepingDeath_]

Brandon is an absolute monster

[@craigitr0n]

@@CreepingDeath_ The man is an otherworldly talent.. his skill and feel for the instrument is right up there with Eddie imo, made me fall in love with guitar all over again.

[@maximejerjise276]

I really enjoy the new “step dad speed” format great video as always uncle

[@MaximeDUMONT59]

As far as my natural/confortable way to pick goes, I find it more easier to economy pick from high strings to low strings (Up-down-up-Up-down-up-Up-...) than to go down the strings. Luckily enough, my dear Uncle Ben has just given a good lick to work the Down-up-down-Down-up-down-Down-... way !!! Thanks a lot !

[@nc1969]

I listen to Yngwie's " Now your ships are burned" or "I am Viking solo, Soldier without faith intro... to me it's the definitive example of economy picking... just smoldering... that level of fluidity... I haven't heard anyone replicate quite like that.

[@jfo3000]

Yng's first two albums were game changers.

[@nc1969]

@@jfo3000 I would also include Trilogy... plus his work with Steeler and Alcatrazz

[@andershine]

Best Uncle Ever

[@andrewsantos3283]

This is how you unveil a guitar technique. Thanks for this video, a big inspiration for me who have a poor alternate picking technique

[@dixonrooster5954]

About time you had Brandon featuring with Marty. They are too similar! Good job Also, during a live stream, I told Marty I loved his signature Kelly Jackson did for him. He said watch this space, something is coming!

[@Cysquatch]

Marty Friedman, Brandon Ellis, and Psycho Goreman in one video? Hunk overload indeed.

[@PerryCodes]

This exact topic has been on my mind lately. Over the past decade, during my "noodling hobby" period, whenever I'd pick up the guitar I would only use economy picking when playing scales. And by scales I mean the major and minor pentatonic... so the absolute minimum to make the word "scales" correct and applicable. But I've recently been much more serious about playing and getting better at guitar - and to do so, it seems being able to fluently move between economy and alternate picking will be a big part of that journey. Thanks Uncle Ben!

[@wyzyguy726]

I am a true economy picker who is working on strict alternate... It is a hard thing to do...I feel that economy gives me the most freedom to pick whatever I want... but Alt has that tick/tock machine sound. Some patterns work out to be Alternate & Economy just because they do.... Great lesson. Thanks

[@shalomshalom735]

as always love this great video thanks Ben. Your Jackson guitar looks GREAT.

[@natesenglishkameoka3728]

Uncle Ben! Big fan. You asked for suggestions. We all learn lots of scales in various positions. BUT, one thing I feel is lacking in my own playing is techniques to link / stitch those patterns together between different positions all over the fret board. If you had any gnarly wisdom to share in that department, I would be very grateful! Thank you 🙏

[@erix777]

This an awesome pattern for playing across all modes of all scales and also it going back down not just up. Thanks uncle Ben.

[@erix777]

If you get used to doing it both ways (economy picking on the upstroke as well as alternate picking) then you really can feel what you explain about the challenge being the rhythm consistency (as in the accent right on time) with that, so it is helpful to learn it both ways. I got an even better simplification for picking technique: Don't get it stuck in between some other strings.

[@mattyleighramone734]

This is definitely going to help with my playing, thank you

[@josephlangham9900]

Perfect timing! I was having a conversation with a friend yesterday evening regarding your channel / lessons. We started discussing economy / alternate picking so this is great. I'll send him this lesson, thanks' Uncle Ben!! 🤙🎸

[@BenEller]

Perfect!

[@LucasFernandesSilveira]

That clarifies a lot why I was struggling for a long time. Every time I tried to go up and up the mess was installed. Thanks a lot

[@karthain5742]

I quite accidentally noticed a major flaw in my picking. Coincidentally, a video covering that came up in my recommended list. And it was from this KZbin channel. Now this one coming out today. It must be a sign! 😆

[@zlatanplaysguitar]

I use this technique since I can play scales and I always thought that it is a "bad habit" i picked up cause noone told me how to do it, but as I see there's nothing wrong with it. It is much easier and comfy then the basic alternate picking. It has just more flow for me.

[@tandybare]

for a step dad you have some excellent lessons!! great concepts here. asymmetric approach I suppose is what this is.

[@АртёмСалахетдинов-ь9в]

I learned the solo from 'How Very Dead' recently, but didn't know how to get it up to speed. Thank you uncle Ben! You're always providing the best content.

[@PeterJDeVault]

Ben - thank you! I spend my amateur guitar time split between playing metal (lots of directional or economy) on the one hand, bluegrass (diehard alternate) on the other. I've been trying to do directional (economy) picking in both directions and then stumbling around bluegrass crosspicking. In my head, there's got to be a set of principles that would direct me to one technique or the other. This should help significantly.

[@23dvs]

I’ve been messing with economy picking for awhile now but I feel this method of combining economy & alternate picking like this makes more sense at least for me. Thanks Uncle Ben, I really appreciate these videos….learned a lot from them 🤘

[@jfo3000]

Uncle Ben, "Start every sting on a downstoke." Early on I started doing this while DESCENDING! Yep, down up down on the first string, down up down on the second, then third...all the way through. It was natural for me and easy to get quick tempos. Thought I was weird and went to strict alternate. Now I've seen Syu do the method I started with! I'm back to doing it that way. It works! Seems counterintuitive, but it works.

[@ramirodiaz7389]

Sos el mejor explicando técnicas de púas!!!

[@Krullmatic]

Thanks as always Uncle Ben! I've been trying to economy pick, and I'm getting better. Thanks for showing us to pretty much use it on down strokes. Like you've shown, doing it on upstrokes, throws it all off.

[@shaharbar]

Incredible lesson, one of your best IMHO! Keep delivering the goods!

[@michaelwade379]

Remember working so hard on strict alternate picking back in the 80s even thought I knew guys like Yngwie utilized a hybrid approach. Watched an instructional video from the insanely talented Frank Gambale and that ended that! Economy + alternate picking is so much more natural for me, don't shred much anymore but the technique is useful at any speed. Great lesson Ben.

[@Peter_Stoops]

This was a good one!! Thanks Ben!!!

[@GabrielTruck]

I like the Yngwie's technique. Using economy picking ascending versus alternate + pull offs to descending patterns. I like to see diagonal patterns in the fretboard haha

[@ameratassi1852]

Dude, I love the channel! Long time follower! Amazing content and awesome tips and great work ethics! And hilarious. You deserve millions of subscribers. Thanks a lot

[@jamesswanson4391]

Economy Parking? That's value right there

[@fluntimes]

For some reason, I prefer to alternate pick as much as possible, especially in scalar runs. However, I like sweeping, which is pretty much what economy picking is, just on two strings.

[@richardrrockenzburgh8469]

I had to learn this over time cause of the loss of use in my right hand but my hand is at 70 per now thank god nerve damage sucks

[@JoeHeisler]

I need to practice this and full alternate picking, I am really fighting my right hand. At faster speeds I automatically try to economy pick like this, but it isn't perfectly in time or clean. Doing full alternate picking is really hard for me because of that automatic switch to economy that keeps happening in my brain. Part of it is working on my pick slant too

[@nightfall215]

You sir get a thumbs up and sub for the psycho goreman reference and sweet metal music! Love the channel!

[@JohnCoughlan_JAC]

Fantastic uncle Ben! Thanks for the helpful lesson. Would definitely dig some more stuff like this since my downward pickslant ain’t going away. :-)

[@KRayxKodessA]

Jackie Vincent is also incredible at combining the two.

[@RobbieFitzgerald]

I came across Emil when he was in Chimaira. Guy is so good.

[@mestengo22]

Perfect lesson Uncle Ben

[@PawpawJamz]

Good stuff, Man. Sweet Axe👍

[@danielsaturnino5715]

Thanks Uncle Ben

[@willschafer5274]

Great lesson! We need a meet the machines on the Jackson.

[@tiborsiroky3040]

Very nice !!!

[@danielfenmore2712]

Love the Psycho Goreman reference!!!!

[@BenEller]

Hahaha I love that you caught it!!! Best movie ever.

[@SunKing968]

Ben Eller is the BOOTSY COLLINS OF HIS GENERATION!!! Genius!!!!

[@pizzagumby7049]

the down-stroke rule is such a great way to view licks like this especially cause i am a lazy stubborn bastard who refuses to learn a second pick slant

[@jeremyswalley8625]

My teacher was very strict about staying on the finger tips and alternate picking from the start!!

[@jeremyswalley8625]

Most teachers start with pentatonic scales, mine was all about 3 note per string scales! He was working on his master’s degree in music!!

[@hierrogm]

Learned so much already from ya ..like tons ! Thanks uncle Ben

[@danted4917]

Subbed! I am also old. The answer: Game Gear

[@wizardx4187]

ty uncle ben

[@relentlessvomit4361]

Enjoyed the Psycho Goreman Joke

[@nc1969]

Is that one of the new Jackson USA Soloist you got there??? You get all the cool stuff!

[@BenEller]

Yes! It’s amazing, I love it

[@nc1969]

@@BenEller awesome... I bought the riviera blue... what a beauty.... flat out muscle car

[@SquidVet]

Shout out to Django Rhinehardt for the win. 👍🎸

[@timothysmith4674]

Gypsy jazz guys do it this way as well. Down stroke is prominent.

[@AeolianReflex]

Great insight and lesson Ben but how do you apply that concept to a descending line?

[@BenEller]

I got that in the Patreon bonus video ;)

[@tariksadiku4723]

Awesome video! I just wanted to ask, what about going from the High E string to the B string? Lets say we're playing Down, Up, Down on the high E, should we make that last down and Up so we can easier jump to the B or should keep it a Down and jump to the B string with another Down?

[@BenEller]

Good question. The solution a lot of players would do here is down up hammer/pull on the high e, then go to the b. Or play the high e as up down up, which would make it easier to get to the B starting on a downstroke.

[@tariksadiku4723]

@@BenEller Thanks for the reply my man, you rock!

[@richardrepp]

This seems to work well for lines that are mostly ascending, but what about lines that mostly descend?

[@BenEller]

Check out the Patreon bonus video!!

[@nethbt]

Cross string alternate picking , harrrd, really harrrd to execute peoperly

[@ewljr]

What do you do when you’re returning back up the scale?

[@jeremyswalley8625]

That’s opening lick sounded like Tony Macalpine ! Christmas Island..

[@DesignCourse]

Bro, that meme is "Why not both" get with it, you're making us old turds look like.. well.. turds!

[@ericolson326]

And on Marty's birthday! (60, wow)

[@jeremyswalley8625]

I like either jazz picks or these new Tortex Flex !! 1.0

[@jeremyswalley8625]

My hand is way too big for a tiny Original Jazz pick ..I have an aluminum pick I use sometimes. Get those Rocky George tones and harmonics..

[@Ibanezguy2007]

haha the intro cracks me up

[@demongeminix]

Old El Paso girl!!!!

[@jeremyswalley8625]

Uncle Bens Cabin !

[@bes5164]

What a hunky boy!!! :3

[@Peck_Bull]

Fuck, Ben, your videos are pure gold!!

[@braxal6983]

Hahaha. Ben, If you are old, what am I? Ready for the grave? hehehe

[@metalheadpunk]

Siiiiiiick

[@BenEller]

Siiiiiiick!!!!

[@thejship]

Widdly widdly widdly!!!

[@T_SDuarte]

Excellent video! Kiko Loureiro is another legend that combines alternate and sweep picking very well. Just listen to "Enfermo", from his first solo album, "No gravity"...

[@davidyates8880]

Oh yes, this is the perfect wankshop for my weekend. Cheers Uncle Ben, you must have read my mind through some weird transatlantic ESP 🧠

[@bestboy897]

as someone who's strictly plays alt the two consecutive down picks when changing strings really messing up my brain

[@sigiligus]

It’s weird to me that there are people who struggle with this single escape style playing. It comes naturally to me, whereas I had to work a lot harder to develop a pure alternate picking technique.

[@Jimmyjimjum]

Why 'or' when you can 'and' 👍

[@Giraffinator]

Ben I've been considering economy picking for the last couple of weeks, you're gonna have to pay some rent if you're gonna be in my head like that.

[@busski]

the psycho goreman reference haha

[@ErikAnders]

🎉🎉🎉

[@billydeewilliams9104]

Great job recognizing your unconscious bias in the intro.

[@UserNameWasCensored]

No metal picks!!! 😮‍💨 EVH swore till his dying day that it was the metal picks (and not the two pack-a-day habit) that gave him tongue and throat cancer. I do wish he hadn't smoked though...

[@jennyprorock]

No one plays like Marty Friedman..I could never play like that..try holding your hand and wrist that way just playing some simple chords.for a few minutes..it's painful. Guys a frigging legend.. Also..I'm old enough to have seen Megadeth w him a few times.. Clash if the Titans being the most memorable..he was awesome..but a hunk? You may be the only human who's ever said that about him..Chuck Schuldiner and Tom Araya..ok..but Marty Friedman? Not so much dude..aside from that..he's the only guitarist that really complimented and kept up with Dave imho...

[@joshwalraven8518]

Does that pick deteriorate or flake at all? I had a carbon fiber pick at one point that sounded amazing but it would flake and my fingers would turn grey after using it

[@BenEller]

Nope, not so far!

[@FGC_Archer]

as a hunky boi myself, im sad you dont care about me.

[@BenEller]

…. Or do I?????

[@jeremyswalley8625]

My hammer-on’s and pull-offs are so powerful I can pretty much play without picking..

[@jeremyswalley8625]

What did it for me was the Ebow !! And of course obsessing to play like Steve Vai!!!

[@wiscostrongman3430]

I caught that “meow” lololol you crafty SOB lmao

[@yakuzsa1]

This stuffl for picking looks like a choclet christmas

[@proklyatiy82]

Привет из России! Спасибо Бен за урок. Но вот футболка у вас нехорошая.

[@adrianmontel2892]

Im old 🤣

[@Gillespie5150]

Emil was one of the first to the KZbin game, but never went anywhere because of his attitude.

[@BenEller]

Mmm I don’t know about that. I’ve known Emil for years and years now. He’s played all over with Daath, Chimaera, Tony Macalpine, Colonel Bruce Hampton, and many others, plus his amazing solo career he just started. He’s done very well for himself. He’s never been interested in playing the game of social media, so he doesn’t always show off everything he’s doing. Incredible player and human who deserves the world.

[@iamdecentatguitar1091]

That intro tho…

[@ewljr]

Alex Hutchings, one of the greatest players in the world does directional picking as well

[@briancooke5532]

Makes me realize that I suck on guitar lol

[@gainbear8853]

“Everybody’s favorite ruffly shirt scale, B harmonic minor…”. I’m sorry, but that’s some funny stuff and I know funny.

[@josephbrant9827]

30 bucks for a pick that im gonna lose in 10 minutes haha.

[@paulbaglio6295]

Keep playing those sweet, sweet Jackson's.... yummy yummy for the fingers

[@patandmacmusic]

15 seconds in and we get a Psycho Goreman exercise. Excellent work Uncle Ben. Frig off. Frig you. 🤌

[@BenEller]

Hahahaha I’m so glad you caught that