Originally Posted by: pinfinityHi,
I know I am late posting but I just joined and your question just stood out at me. You might try changing your string gauge. If you play 9's try switching to 10's or even 11's. Your fingers will be sore for a few days but you get used to it. Also, try a really thick guitar pick; like the thicker dunlop purples or the Yngvie whites (like 1.5 mm?) It really does work because you don't have to try so hard with your pick hand it will naturally relax and ...Boom, your nailing Exodus's Fabulous Disaster and any/all Meallica using all down strokes the way the song was intended to be played (sorry dude who posted earlier, alt. picking DOES make the song sound different if it's not picked properly ;-(. Give it a try and you may never go back.

Here's the deal: I have a Jackson Dinky with a floyd rose, so forget going up a gauge with that. It's set up for 9s. Then, I have a strat with 54 11s beefy strings on it and I can bend those like hell. I use the small dunlop purples as well. Maybe this kinda thing just comes with practice...