The Secrets of Alternate Picking Perfection! WW255 with Ben Eller

Downloadable TABS, bonus lessons, backing tracks, and MORE available on my Patreon page! / benellerguitars
instagram: BenEllerGuitars #weekendwankshop #weekendwankshop255
unclebeneller
**as i was editing the video this morning, i noticed my mic somehow picked up some weird static towards the end of the video! I laid in a little soundtrack drums behind it to help hide it. Sorry for the noise!**
Hey kids! Its your good buddy Uncle Ben Eller here, with Weekend Wankshop 255: Alternate Picking Perfection!
Wanna shred like a god?! You're gonna need to get your alternate picking skills up to snuff, and then work on the REAL secret: how to change strings while picking fast! Troy Grady's incredible Cracking the Code series exposed the use of downward and upwards pick slanting used by players like Yngwie, Vai, Johnson, and Vinnie Moore; in this lesson, i'm going to show you my own approach to making super fast string changes happen with ease! Its all about understanding that a pick stroke that is changing strings HAS to have a different angle to it than a non-changing stroke, and you're going to learn how i do it!
This lick is based around a Paul Gilbert-style sequence in A Lydian. It utilizes string changes that happen after down AND upstrokes. You're gonna get it ripping in no time!
Playing my Suhr Modern Satin through my Fractal Audio Axe FX III. Flannel season makes me happy.

[@BenEller]

Sorry for the noisy mic later in the video!!! No idea what it was picking up. What do you all want to learn next week?!

[@SergioDiaz-hx9zz]

Ben Eller Ben recently I see your tutorials .. I understand little English but looking at them help me a lot !!! Greetings from Argentina

[@chrissguitarshow206]

I like this kind of technical thing with modes and maybe legato. Keep van halen coming I love when you break down a song note for note like him or any other band in that kind of genre

[@CyberScorps]

Ben, have you ever done a lesson on whammy bar tricks? That might be a fun one. A lesson on cool tapping licks would be a good one too like you did with the Arpeggios lesson. 👍🏻 If I could pick a song to work on then I'd love a '5 things you're doing wrong' in Sanitarium, Leper Messiah or Dyers Eve". Cheers Ben 🙂🎸🤘🏻

[@pushbuttonhorse]

I would like to see you do a vid on your hybrid technique and when do you use it? String skips, crossing strings or on the same string ever? Thanks.

[@picoctm6331]

Hi ben, can u do the beyond the reef arpeggio section? Would be a nice way to practice hybrid picking.

[@ravikant840]

Uncle Ben, saving lives of depressed millennials and their kids. We need more teachers like you and the world needs more humans like you and you need million more subscribers than those 'reaction' guys. Thank you for everything.

[@Murhaw]

Really digging that FF7 track on the background while explaining technique

[@BenEller]

Murhaw glad you noticed!

[@marks3780]

apologies to everyone in the house for the 1000's hours you will now hear this....

[@danielgrohl6971]

This video has me re thinking all the advice i have got over the years about economy of motion and the, " Gate theory " etcetera. If i try and fathom the Troy Grady form of pick slant and in addition to this utilize the roof slant distance of travel needed to get over the next string i am really going to have to slow it down and think! Thank you Uncle Ben for this new essential insight to practice utilizing alternate picking! ;)

[@carlprevost3321]

You never disappoint to show me something that improves my playing man thank you.great lesson

[@trentcook4255]

Ben you're like the guitar teacher my mom would never let me take lessons from

[@Axame1]

Probably because he is a teacher worth thousands of dollars

[@dannyspitzer1267]

😁😂

[@TremorBear]

I discovered your channel 3 weeks ago. I’m 57 years old and I started playing when I was in sixth grade. These last ten years have been so blah (concerning my “playing”). My playing stopped progressing back in the 80’s! I found your synchronize your hands video and these last 3 weeks have been so encouraging. Thank you! I’ll keep watching and learning. My goal is to be able to play 16th notes at 120bpm. I’m at 97 bpm and slowly progressing. More progress in 3 weeks than 30 years! Thank you!

[@BenEller]

Hey man that’s excellent to hear! Thanks for watching!

[@cornstar1253]

Yah, when we had to learn something it was off vinyl or cassettes. But our ears are really good.

[@JeffAulich]

I love that you give credit to Troy Grady for his stuff. I found it last year and it totally transformed my playing!!!

[@BenEller]

Jeff Aulich you and me both! Troy is a genius!

[@Stringprodigy]

Ben Eller Hardly a genius

[@tommyob4762]

I've been watching some of those but it seems he slants the pick itself too much downward. The technique in this video might be more for my style of playing but I plan to experiment with both.

[@TheMork]

Ben seriously your channel is absolute, pure, 24-karat gold - I'm a late beginner/early intermediate player and your exercises have been INSTRUMENTAL (no pun intended) in my chops improving dramatically over the last few weeks. Thank you so much for all that you do.

[@mattydoubles]

Uncle Ben has once again answered all my pick slanting questions

[@huessitho]

Excelent like always !! Very good job dude, the way you explain all this stuff its unique !

[@Collartie]

I have been looking so long for someone to speak about the 'physics' of the minutia to get to the next level and your tips are absolutely priceless. thank you, Sir !

[@mcpa2991]

The very last statement of the video was like a bucket of water over the head. Thanks. I needed that!

[@RC32Smiths01]

I read that as WW2 with Ben Eller haha! Amazing and informative indeed! Great work

[@Ions11]

The most clear explanation of pick slanting I've seen. Thanks! - 🙏

[@aaroncole7736]

Thanks for sharing. People who are serious about music approach the guitar with awareness of what they are doing, and this really helps to make one more aware. Thanks Uncle Ben once again.

[@martynspooner5822]

Great information which I personally have never thought about . Nice one cheers

[@nicwilliams7850]

You explained this so well. Thank you!

[@AleX-ux2qz]

Thanks Ben! This exercise feels real good! I also started the whole thing on upstroke, and voi la, you got an exercise for inside picking!

[@drifter1984]

The last 5 minutes, talking about expanding the pick range really helped. I’ve never had a major issue with alternate picking, rather the transitions sounding smooth. There lies my issue. Thanks for the info!

[@davekumarr]

Thank you Ben. That was very helpful.

[@lynnelanguedoc4049]

Thank you 😊 so informative for years I struggled with alternate now I get it Tony from Canada 🇨🇦

[@SheaRecordmetal]

Been playing metal for 22 years and still watch your videos. Michael angelo batio’s videos back in the day taught me most of this stuff. But, i still like watching your lesson videos cause I can always learn something new from a guitar player that is way better than I am.

[@gabmitnick]

Awesome Ben!! Thanks man!!

[@Zezewe]

God tier lesson, thank you so much!

[@deboer666]

Great lesson. Awesome guitar too.

[@supernatural9r406]

Wow you Read my Mind. I wanted to Practice that and now i saw your Video. Will Practice from now on. Thank you Heartly. Als Practice your legato patterns.

[@ryanbrowne120]

good advice about its ok to exaggerate movements... Ive learned more music theory from you than anywhere else. Anything you teach on theory is very appreciated. Thanks uncle ben

[@upsbear]

I was asking my fast guitar friend how to alternate pick fast. And now you've explained perfectly how to do it. So thanks a bunch.' This is the most useful lesson I've ever seen. Exactly what I was searching for.

[@RodrigoPF82]

Very good lesson. Thanks

[@RebelTheUncanny1]

Most excellent stuff!

[@brunolevasseur]

I' m fully accepting the trick to demonstrate the alternate picking with fingers! 🙂 Thx Ben ! 🙂

[@CelestiC]

Thanks a lot ! Just practicing it right now :) Also doing it the other way around starting from the highest note :)

[@guitardude1981]

Love this guitar tone!

[@sparkx251]

So good and makes logical common sense. Thanks very much.

[@diegolatorre4384]

Thank you!!! This is daaaaamn helpful. I'll see you soon, buddy. Peace out

[@TheToddcole]

Excellent lesson! #shoutout to the STP reference at the end of the stepdad version!

[@BenEller]

Todd Cole haha dude I didn’t even consider that!

[@williammead9966]

Great tip!

[@TheBlackKoma]

I didn't know any guitarists growing up so I learn to alternate pick starting with a down pick on each string. Done that for many many years until i saw your video way back when on starting the next string with then next continuing stroke. I've been trying to do that ever since but I'm only able to pull it off at step dad speeds. Once I get fast I auto revert back to my old shitty alt picking.

[@jimyhelix7458]

what a bad ass distortion and bad ass clean play.

[@khupalex8765]

Thnx uncle ben🤙🎸

[@billyarsenault1970]

Wow. The best guitar teacher on you tube is also practical enough to wear his ring on the right hand. I’m sold. Next time I have my bank card handy I will be hitting the Patreon link. Have a good one Brother. Oh - so now your a Roofer too?. Your a beast.

[@joebarker7643]

Troy Grady changed everything!

[@twistededge8307]

Shredding away uncle ben🌋

[@thebedroomrockstar960]

Nice to get a break from being constantly reminded of why I suck at guitar by uncle Ben :) actually I already know that. My vacuum cleaner even, is way better than me, co'z when I turn my vacuum cleaner off, it don't suck no more.

[@thepracticingguitarist]

Love your weekly lessons and content! I'm new to Logic so was hoping you might consider a tutorial on Logic in the future in terms of how you use it for your purposes....

[@mgrocki]

Stepping up that thumbnail game. Love it.

[@metomyoujane]

Roofline picking your handfingers... Love it 😂

[@adrianmutimer3820]

The implication of this is that you need phrases that have you going down a string on a down pick and up a string on an up pick. Phrases that have you doing the opposite will not work. How many of us have ever thought about that? The reason we have missed it is because the good guys sound like they can play anything fast and fluently. But actually they are deliberately creating and using phrases that work for this picking method... Cool lesson Ben. Very cool indeed.

[@nickcormier]

Solid as usual! I got a lot to work on haha

[@Mythki11er]

10:45 *playing fast passage* Uncle Ben: Now dip the chip! Good! Now eavesdrop!

[@NANA-sd5io]

Arm Hand? :) Love the lesson Uncle Ben!

[@Carlos-fh8wk]

Uncle Ben you can probably explain and reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity to a rube. This finally makes sense.

[@donniebrook9900]

I do need an alternate picking technique... The one I have is terrible 😣

[@joebarker7643]

troy grady on youtube has an amazing series on alternate picking. you'll learn about what troy grady calls pick slanting.

[@5T3LTH]

underrated post

[@tammyjodolan8533]

Love you

[@jamesswanson4391]

This literally describes why I quit practicing for lead guitar a few years ago. No pick slant, trying to do tiny picking motions. Those Dick Dale riffs tho 🙄. Thanks for the Eureka moments

[@EclecticEssentric]

Nice riff.

[@HeadbangersLocal]

Even if I didn’t play guitar I would still watch these videos just for the “uncle Ben-isms” 🤘🏻

[@MrZacke08]

Thanks, Uncle Ben! Can you do a video of the solo in The Last Baron?

[@StringVA]

Love your videos Ben. Got from zero to an aspiring hero in two years, and it all started with This Is Why You Suck At Guitar! Also, as a personal request, I always wanted to hear your take on legato practice - I just love to get some tips on getting this almost liquid sound that Sach, Vai, Gothrie and others have on some of their solos.

[@xman8157]

Awsome lesson Ben! Can you do a lesson on sweep picking?

[@SergioDiaz-hx9zz]

Sos un genio loco 😊

[@djh6970]

Got it Ben. Roof line, chip in a dip🤙🏻

[@BenEller]

Djh 69 get some!

[@ricklemke6975]

Whatever floats my boat? It all floats my boat Ben... all of it

[@Plymouthmusicschool]

It’s the string skipping that gets me with this. It seems like if I almost try to Aim for a rest stroke every other string it kind of starts to come together.Also I have a bit of a struggle keeping my thumb from not flexing forward and back when I’m picking

[@ksaavedra_Immortalbelovedmusic]

"Everything will shrink and get more subtle." shit.

[@ClassicPass_]

Ummm... the little melodic ending got My Step-Mom Becky all squirrelly!? Knock it off with ya #4!

[@jeremytee2919]

Tmnt, Tears of nostalgia every time.

[@stevenhartman2605]

I have the opposite problem - I pick like a pecking bird, and every stroke comes up out of the strings even if I'm not going to change strings. Need to work on that if I want to get faster.

[@hisham1111]

Steven Hartman I used to be the same. I found the reason I was doing that was because I was thinking of picking as an arm movement. I tried thinking of it as more of a wrist rotation movement and practiced for a couple weeks with that in mind and all was good after! Hope that helps at all, good luck!

[@Sanjarih]

I had no idea that Usain Bolt rode jet skis......thanks for the info, Uncle Ben

[@AmericanGwyn]

DOWNWARD and UPWARD PICKSLANTING!

[@RafaelTorresLara]

I could play that same line using downward pickslanting as well but with Swipping. I check that term on one of TG videos :D

[@BenEller]

Rafael Torres you totally can!

[@RafaelTorresLara]

@@BenEller The must dificult thing for me (and for most people i think) is to switch between Downward and Upward Pickslanting playing descending lines, like Petrucci does in Metropolis scale run. There i can't use Swipping hehehe

[@Thiago_Alves_Souza]

Wh...why did you sound like Petrucci in Adam02's Psycho Exercises at the beginning?? My main techniques usually are triplets, sextuplets, and string skipping. When I began using alternate more often 15 years ago, I noticed that it used to be sloppy because my picking positioning used to be paralleled to the strings. I started changing the movement to wrist notations, aiming the pick tip downwards and upwards (down on the first 3 strings and up on the last 3). Pick slanting just helped solidify the facility and clean sounding picking instead of the muddy sound I still had a little. Add this to your arsenal, folks! It also helps to start with legatos; pick downwards slanted and hammer ons, upwards the next string and add picking strokes as you get more comfortable.

[@Skullshards]

0:02 Yes

[@Veovisce]

Aw man, I _love_ this riff. I'm a sucker for that grandiose spacey Lydian sound though. Very Vai-ish. Anyway, it's pretty tough to think about the pick-slant angle *while playing*. Especially when it's fast playing. So I guess the key is to play it slow while deliberately thinking about (and controlling) the angle of the pick and where that slant changes from up to down. Then just hope it starts coming naturally at higher speeds. That's pretty much how a *lot* of guitar-learning seems to work. Oh and Uncle Ben closes with the suggestion to get away from the computer and instead fire up the metronome... But what if my metronome is *on* the computer?! Contradictory instruction! Now I'm all flummoxed. ;)

[@doggedout]

You are my favorite uncle ..Uncle Ben! Although, I am much older than you ..which says a lot about my parents sisters and brothers and of course.. Step Dads! Just saving all these in a file and waiting to take down one of the four cheap ass guitars currently hanging on the wall behind me. I will probably just work all this out in my sleep and start ripping Hendrix riffs any day now...through the magic of..osmosis! Hey, how about doing Little Wing like you did those two awesome Steely Dan tunes? I would be there for that.

[@dagobertkrikelin1587]

Nice dog - and shirt. :)

[@oneamongall8861]

Thanks for all of your interesting videos.Wouldn't it be more practical on 3 notes/string method to downstroke the adjacent string like it's done on sweeping arpeggios as oppose to using an upstroke?

[@garygreen3638]

Final Fantasy VII theme towards the end. I see you lol

[@johnwardle9667]

Hey there Uncle Ben! Thanks for generously posting another entertaining and informative video! As a dedicated KZbin guitar student, I'm trying to develop my alternative picking the right way, and learn a top Weezer song at the same time. The intro hook, which I know you've covered before, represents a one note per string alternate picking challenge. Which is good right! Do you have any advice for how to approach it, apart from practicing it for hours at stepdad speed? Which is a guaranteed method to success, I know. Keep it up. Much love from London, UK.

[@eddiejr540]

Uncle Ben...im obsessed with picking and i've been working on pick slanting....but there has to come a point where the slanting just becomes a "feel"...cuz my brain isnt quick enough to detect an upstroke or a downstroke on the last note...i guess its gonna take hundreds if not thousands of hours of practice...yea....good times!!!

[@ryanbrowne120]

these lessons are gold. i feel i must patron something... and hey, whats with the dinosaur? is it like your mascot or something?

[@paulst3859]

Hi Ben , thank you for this lesson. Would you also apply/recommend two way pick slanting while strictly alternate picking 3 notes per string?

[@jeanmichelgonthier8118]

God i love you

[@tyberard5736]

you the man bro. Awesome explanation. Another way I look at is like string skipping but not if that makes since. I use basicly the same technique but instead of down stroke on the 2nd or string away it's a up stroke on the next consecutive string. What part of the south are you from.

[@BenEller]

Ty Berard thanks man!!! I’m an East Tennessee guy!

[@tyberard5736]

@@BenEller South South louisiana here. Keep doing what your doing. Tomorrow I'm a send you some money. I hope the younger guys and fuck even the old bastards like myself realize how valuable your videos actually are. From the theory behind it to the technique. And actually giving a fuck enough about the guitarists out there actually taking this shit serious and giving them solid information on a silver platter for free. I assure you my man I'll drop some money in the hat monthly to help. Again sincerely thanks

[@edwardbarcello9037]

"Step-dad speed"

[@WarDimensionOfficial]

When I first watched your pick slanting lesson I thought I need to do that on the entire stroke of the string... And then in this video you say I only need to to that on the last stroke, and I thought... Hey... I already do that from a long time ago... Edit: I just realized I start doing that because I watch your video about "Your Picking Patterns Suck" back then, and the escaping motion just came naturally...

[@wyzyguy726]

Hello Uncle Ben... I naturally two way pick slant... but economy pick mostly... does Troy Grady or you have any thoughts on that.. passing a string to force an alternating stroke hurts my head.. why not pick it instead of pass it... love to hear a response .. thanks GGG

[@wombozombo]

Stepdad shreds

[@skruffy79]

1,666 views - no.1 devil confirmed :) - great info again Uncle Ben!

[@WillieEaderbush]

I want to learn your gear rundown for your videos. I want to see how you put together the lessons and backing tracks.

[@BenEller]

El Conquistador you’d be shocked at how primitive everything is.

[@anilyazar_]

Hey Ben! My pick hand shoulder gets pumped when i do fast stuffs. Am i doing something wrong? How can i improve that?

[@dougscreatureart]

Uncle Ben! Do you have any excersises for 7 string guitarists?

[@SteelyGlow]

Wasn't that NES TMNT streets theme when doggo appeared?

[@vincentrandles8105]

No double scooping though! PS: I always have to double stroke it! (And I'm NOT just talking about guitar!) Ha! Ha! V⚡

[@dimesoul2020]

i cant break the habit of starting on a down strokeon the next string after 3-note-per-string runs

[@timsmith190]

How does this work when mixing 1, 2 and 3 note per string sequences?

[@illlanoize23]

I feel like I alt pick correctly slow but I literally hit a wall in terms of playing w speed without doing obvious pronounced pick slants. I’m not getting it it’s been years of playing w sloppy technique 😭

[@Jackal799]

Loving that Alt T. That’s my next axe. How do you like it?

[@BenEller]

Brandon Powers dude, it’s a 10. Absolutely gorgeous and incredible ax.

[@francisa5213]

I dont have a problem with transferring from a downstoke on upper string to upstroke on lower string. frustrates me when transferring from downstroke on lower string to upstroke on upper string.