Why DOWNSTROKES Are the KEY to Picking SPEED!

[@Dan_Ranger]

Wow, this could be a game changer for me. Usually an economy up and legato down player for decades and always struggled with alt picking due to my Trailing Edge pick grip. Down picking is great from my 80’s thrash roots but always wanted but avoided to incorporate more alt picking in my runs. I’ve just tried this out for an hour and already seeing an improvement! You definitely can teach an old dog new tricks mate! 😂 60 and still learning 💪🤘🏼🙏

I actually think of Paul Gilbert as an upstroke player. As a kid he started by only doing upstrokes and that explains some of his Racer X riffs.

[@BenEller]

True!

[@Kriegter]

At beginner levels it's a lot easier to develop a good sense of rhythm by doing downstrokes which is why I always encourage people to play the exhausting Hetfield riffs without alternate picking

[@thetribalist6923]

Man, you’re not lying. I used to even try to do Dyers Eve all down picked as a teen. I didn’t know it wasn’t exactly possible and that James even used alternate picking.

[@DisruptedSinner]

Absolutely excellent articulation and mini speed burst lesson and video! I always love the fact that even though you can shred like a beast, you always present how to get to that result by slowing it down and explaining the foundations. Amazing stuff, man. 💪

[@BenEller]

Glad you liked it!

[@satchrules101]

Hi Ben , question in most situations do u pick Quarter notes eighth notes are they usually down strokes?

[@BenEller]

@@satchrules101depends a lot on tempo. But usually, quarters are always down, and up until tempos get HIGH, 8’s too.

[@carteracs]

@BenEller I was expecting a "leave it in" joke after you first said it, but the delayed delivery later in the video literally almost killed me. I was watching while eating dinner and seriously choked on some delicious smoked ham. I survived to laugh and play another day!

[@usagi2988]

"So, I was just talkin' to yer stepmom..." Just started the video blastin', I respect that. 🤣

[@bobgure]

Consistently great lessons from a great teacher!

[@BenEller]

Thank you kindly!

[@chucksaeger7500]

This is brilliant! I learn so much from you that it should be illegal! Heavier pick, more wrist action, and more relaxation and I’m finding definite benefits from your lessons. Too cool dude!

[@TheMirrorify]

I swear you have an uncanny knack for releasing videos on topics I'm currently interested in. Speed bursts and 4 note groupings walking up/down the 3nps scales are 2 things I've been working on lately.

[@eigengrau1]

Thanks again Uncle Ben..! For me (personal) I even play this lession with a slightely thicker pic than ususal; It helps me to be more thoughtful and gentle when picking. Ps. thanks to this lesson, stepmother has made a fresh tray of steaming plum cake- Awesome!

[@KeeperOfThePrecepts]

Thanks so much dude. My whole life I have just alternate picked everything, and in a half hour session I have already noticed a tremendous difference in my playing.

[@notronsivart]

8:30 this was the fist exercise I came up with on my own as a teenager. The drum line in the school band would do something similar. 1 and 2 and 3 e and uh 4 e and uh, so I just started doing it on guitar and my open e palm mutes got way better and tighter after that.

[@aas55]

I need my allowance, thanks for the heads up Uncle Ben

[@FabCom-rm8tb]

Ben, thank you so much for all your videos. You’re my official guitar teacher here in Europe. I really think you’re the best in your category 🙏🏻

[@BenEller]

Wow, thanks!

[@reckless-575]

Thanks Uncle Ben. Can you do a video on your hair care routine? Thanks in advance. 👍

[@reckless-575]

Or a more detailed video on “leaving it in” 👍

[@caveydl]

Nice man. Still had a Christmas vibe to it. Love that guitar.

[@ashamael]

Jesus, man, I was literally JUST having this issue (not with lead, but my Rhythm playing) this week. Watched this video, grabbed my guitar and within five minute the thing that had me bamboozled earlier this week was a breeze. I was so frustrated before but now I'm excited to interject the little bursts more in my playing and writing! Thanks, Uncle Ben!

[@BenEller]

Yesssss stoked to hear that!

[@KOFguitarsGearOutlet]

WOW that's way harder to grasp than alternate picking... THX will practice on it! nicely put ...

[@randallhaney7909]

Oh yeah Daddy, Using this methodological way. I got gooder, Well not gooder; but Better'ish in a positivically way . I used the "down Scale" in the song "Horse with no name" (it was fun working that out to fit). Thanks Uncle Benny Bob, For always keeping it fun and educational. You are appreciated.

[@Mixolydio]

Super entry today Ben

[@eljhonnyrroca137]

Thanks Uncle Ben-Jammin! 🎸💪🏼

[@Targon999]

We all need an Uncle Ben!

[@LiveLaughJordan-oi6tg]

I love it! Trying these today

[@mestengo22]

Tkx Uncle Ben

[@shalomshalom735]

GREAT exercise man!!!

[@jimmyskatevids7791]

New to your channel but I gotta say I love your videos they are so helpful thank you so much.

[@MikeWiest]

Thanks Uncle Ben!

[@waynegram8907]

Ben Eller, make a lesson about SLASH's ascending and descending note groupings because he often will "insert" a backwards or forward a LEAP note which is 3 or 4 notes behind or ahead. Really look into this watching a lot of live GNR and Slash Snake pit concerts to get this LEAP Notes which running up and down scalar note groupings

[@BenEller]

hey man, can you give me an example of where I could hear this in action?

[@waynegram8907]

@@BenEller Its all over the first GNR album its just goes by so fast you don't hear the "inserted LEAP notes" out of nowhere. SLASH does it all the time in the live GNR concerts. This guy has picked up a few CLICK here kzbin.info/www/bejne/lV6Vo4xrr5iUfNE

[@waynegram8907]

@@BenEller Robert Baker lesson is about how SLASH adds in the Minor 6th/m6 scale degree to the MAJOR Pentatonic scale. It would be nice if you can find examples of SLASH using the MAJOR pentatonic scale adding in the m6 note to make a video lesson about because I'm confused how SLASH uses the MAJOR pentatonic and inserting a minor 6th scale degree. CLICK here to watch it kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIHTYpWwrbB2m6M

[@mattc8723]

Im trying to add some 'Tarnation' to my playing. Do you have any ideas for that?

[@BenEller]

Have you tried hoopin’ and/or hollerin’???

[@metalboy5150]

@@BenEllerTN represent!!

[@sheriewart8100]

Thanks uncle, my stepmom says you are so smooth!

[@cjgutz78040]

Alright meow… Nice touch!

[@skeeterbodeen8326]

Another great one, and yerp I see you've got an amp on today.

[@ZombieCoGaming]

I knew the leave it in joke was otw as soon as the first one came out. 😂 Well played, as a new guitarist this video helped me. Thanks!

[@BenEller]

Hahahaha I’ve become too predictable!!!

[@bowers8242]

Just demystified something I've struggled with for my entire guitarring life, fuck's sake and cheers!!!

[@cheenu711]

1:16 completely the opposite. I consider alternate picking wuite easy but give me a Hetfirld or Mick Mars riff and I dont know where to start. Help me Uncle Ben.

[@BenEller]

Start by learning an entire Ramones album all downstroke!! Starting with simple power chords means you can make the motion BIG and reckless while building your endurance. Build the accuracy and shrink the motion down to single strings later.

[@cheenu711]

@@BenEller thank you so much

[@tomtherhythmplayer]

I would love to play this to a metronome, what time signature should I set it to?

[@binkywarren21]

Uncle Ben, what happens if I focus on side strokes? Will I go blind?!?

[@jasonlamar6347]

Outstanding lesson. I have a bad habit of tightening up when switching. Also..... She Wolf

[@djabthrash]

Same :(

[@metalboy5150]

I don't think She-Wolf. That's all gallops. Great song though. Thing he's playing sounds more like Metallica to me, "Eye of the Beholder," maybe.

[@Wyldwulf]

All right meow, baby it's a all right meow.

[@mastercreaux]

I have to really agree with the comments saying downstroking is easier to learn early. It was the the first thing I really learned and it's mostly how I play after 40 yrs unless the song demands the upstroke. I learned from other players mostly and learned lots of bad habits....

[@DrMattWalton]

Thanks Uncle Ben that was smoothlier

[@YouTubeHandlesAreMoronic]

8:08 made me so uncomfortable that I had to avert my eyes from his gaze...

[@chrisragan9309]

Surprise ‘Kill the King’ had me grinning the dumbest grin. You just got a new patreon sub Edit: GUITAR PRO FILES FOR WANKSHOPS 😍

[@inperf3ct]

Thanks Benjamin! My stepmom says hello and wishes you come around again

[@ischi8368]

This exercise is so damn satisfying, once you get the 'leaving it in' part down. At least that's what she said.

[@allboutthemojo]

Great lesson. Thanks 👍 BTW, I cannot find a single video on the entire " interweb " explaining how EVH made all his screaming harmonics. Maybe a video idea 💡 for you . I'm sure it will make everyone happy!

[@metalboy5150]

Uncle Ben, make this guy a video!! Having said that (and really wanting to see the video), look for a video where Dimebag Darrell explains how he does his. That will probably help you some. He dumps the bar, grabs like a 4th fret Gstring harmonic, and then pulls way up on the bar, and just squeals it. That may or may not be what you're looking for, I dunno.

[@metalboy5150]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoGZeH6If52mbM0si=gBIF__xkTssxtheV That's one of the Dime videos I was talking about.

[@spacedout_bae]

Opening line 😂😂😂😂 unce Ben is the funniest bro

[@bligh1156]

3:32 'meow'

[@ClassicPass_]

I never do the "Reset and Eject"... always just Leave it In.

[@BenEller]

That’s what she said

[@shaharbar]

Hey Ben, where's the Patreon stuff brother?

[@BenEller]

Working on it now! Had to clean the kitchen hahaba

[@shaharbar]

@@BenEller take your time, that kitchen is filthy! Did you put eggs again in the garbage disposal and forgot to turn it on?

[@THEItchybruddah]

As a recovering jazzbo legato geezer, the thing that helped me the most was getting the 4 to 1/ 1 to 4 finger transition between the G & B strings smooth. Dunno if that’s how you’re doing it but seems like something I need to get to the “unconscious” level. Thanks bunches for the insight. (Also, found this going the dishes. I feel ye on the kitchen.)

[@paulnoah5]

cool thnx

[@NBTKDA]

Sleepwalker is the Megadeth song you’re thinking of 🤘🏻

[@Ou8y2k2]

8:38 Yep. 'Kill the King' by Megadeth.

[@sadicus]

~ Never gonna Speed you Up, Never gonna Slow you down Never gonna run a Riff and desert you.

[@ryanpsencik6350]

Maybe this exercise will help me subdivide gooder. I'm fine hearing eighths... but this step-dad can't hear 16ths.

[@ljkj63]

you said 5 mins a day for a week ..wonder if us 60 years old s can still pull this off .. great vid and thanks for your time

[@juggajiggawugga4665]

I'm gonna go practice this right meow

[@MrYoraco]

What niiiice guitar is that??? Must be some type of a Ibanez RG550?

[@djabthrash]

06:30 mind kinda blown

[@BenEller]

That’s right!!!

[@stefanokrivtzoff1593]

James hetfield on master of puppets tour was a savage

[@Johnnylooks_Overhead5164]

With Ozzy The Ultimate Sin tour. Back then people were like W T F is that. In that time that stuff was extremely heavy for the uninitiated . I was in Seventh grade. And talked my buddy into buying Master O.P. over Live after Death. Both just released. Buddy said I Love That. I said " I Told You ........"🤪

[@stefanokrivtzoff1593]

Hahahaha ! Same happened to me first time I listened to Creeping death

[@donvape336]

I need to pull my pinky off the guitar and free hand. That is a huge issue for me. Edit: I will be hitting this exercise. I tighten every way you described.

[@ischi8368]

I did the same, it went away on its own once I got more practice.

[@mohitrahaman]

JH vs PG.... FIGHT!

[@brucedickinson4060]

08:39 - it's Chemical Warfare by SLAYERRRRRRRR

[@lcvolt1546]

Paul gilbert is crazy fast, and he started with UPSTROCKES!

[@TheSuperGSS]

Ben: Hatfield is key

[@ShreddingFinn]

Makes sense, however fast you are at pure downstrokes, you can theoretically play twice that fast

[@BenEller]

Correct!!!

[@djabthrash]

Same for drums with double kicks or hand single strokes ;)

[@michaelkuhn402]

If you have a flexion extension wrist you CANNOT do alternate picking. When you flex instead of across the string the wrist drives the pick DOWN towards the guitar body. No amount of arm rotation will make the pick go across instead of down.

[@yusufyusuf1998]

then dont do it

[@ROOKTABULA]

The number of hours you've had to have put into be able to play that intro exercise so casually while making sly/goofy faces must easily pass 10,000 fecking hours, duder!

[@BenEller]

Practice makes perfect!

[@snow-gun2612]

Leave it in Uncle Ben 😂

[@UlfhedinnNorsk]

Dude! YOU NEED TO STOP TALKING TO MY STEPMOM! Get your own 🤨

[@kennethdaniels]

Wanted to let you know I told her you said hi.

[@BenEller]

❤️

[@travisgularte4792]

#herestoleavingthepickinthestring🍶

[@okbro1324]

Noice. Thx unc 🤝

[@timsellsted521]

more smoothlier. ima try.

[@SamBarvels]

Kill the King 8:40

[@wackojacko3962]

🤘💯

[@jamesmarkham7489]

The key for me to get the upstroke to sound like a downstroke is being strong. Lots of times peoples upstroke is too weak and it doesn’t sound as good or even. Make sure to keep them even

[@NubsWithGuns]

Mom said you left laundry.

[@juniorlupercio1470]

Would you like a liter of cola with that meow? Lmao!

[@danielshafer3227]

You said slowlier. 12:22 😂

[@mattmaugeri2486]

lol snuck a meow in there.

[@trystensmith819]

My step mom says thank you

[@Cymbaline713]

"Kill The King" by Megadeth

[@StuPedassol]

Kill da king, da king is dead Long live da king I am da king Thanks, Uncy Bang!

[@LiveLaughJordan-oi6tg]

GEARWAYS :D

[@mdeerocks6792]

If you talk to Paul Gilbert he will tell you that it's upstrokes.

[@nigelsmith721]

I’m a step dad and I am offended by your terminology. Hope you enjoyed your channel cos I’m shutting this down.

[@BenEller]

You’re not my real dad, you can’t tell me how to live my life!!! 😂😂😂

[@nigelsmith721]

@@BenEller GET TO YOUR ROOM BOY!!!!

[@chrisrosencrans]

Papa Het

[@Sparksnorthern]

My step mom sucks

[@elpablosky6300]

Hetfield is not rival for Paul Gilbert!

[@doofwop]

Have you seen my stepmom? You will run away Uncle Ben.