Picking Problem !

I have used what i thought wos economy picking and i have become quite a fast player as a result but only with certain licks, sum licks wil tie me in knots, but i later found out my picking is a mix of economy and outside picking which my guitar teacher recomended me not to do jus to stick to one of them, but im not sure of the difference, i kno economy picking is the closest route to the next string but how about if ur doin a scale 5-8, 5-7, 5-7, 5-7, 5-8, 5-8, acordin to economy picking rule shudnt that mean down strokes startin from low E? and am i right in sayin outside picking would be basic up down?

lets say you are playing a note on the high e string and then the b string then e again, down pick the e, up pick the b, down pick the e, thats inside picking( staying inside the strings)
if you up pick the e, down pick the b and up pick the e again, thats outside picking( jumping over the string in order to pick it)
inside picking is more economic

Economy picking is a term used to describe a technique used for odd number of notes per string scales ... It's like a sweep between two strings.
An example is going up the scale in 3 notes per string pattern , picking should be like this : D U D D U D D U D ,etc .
When going up the scale , use U D U U D U ,etc.

Inside and outside picking are situations you face when you use strict alternate picking technique ... For odd number of notes per string , you'll be facing inside and outside picking alternately when you change strings.
For even number , you'll constantly find yourself doing either inside or outside picking ... For exercising , you should focus on outside picking since it's much harder , but for playing it's wiser to choose inside picking (for the pentatonic scale you typed , start with an upstroke to go on inside picking).

i know most of u out there can help me with this question... i've been playing the guitar for 7 years, but until now, i can't even pick up down stroke perfectly..... i know all the techniques needed. Pick should be hold tight is a vital rule.. however whenever i tried to hold it tight and do the picking stuffs, the pick tends to drift. This thing is quite funny since there was time i was able to hold it tight and practise for 10 to 20 minutes without stop, but the next time i would not be able to do that again. I've wasted a lot of time with my guitar.... hope u guys could do me a favor... :mad:

theres picks that have little star shaped holes in them so they dont slip. invest in some, theyre like 20 cents each or whatever. same price as most ordinary picks. you could find them in pretty much any guitar shop, im guessing. i dont use them, but my friend does who has the same problem as you. works fine, it doesnt slip. word.

Pick should be loose, and bend as you hit the strings so that force is disappated away and directed down. If you hold it tight, and hit the string at a 90 degree or so angle the force will diffinlty push your pick away.

Originally Posted by: CW14Find the person who told you this and slap them over the head. Quite hard.

I agree!! I hate getting taught bad habits. It can seriously mess up your playing!