why not do both?

[Wyll_Watts]

Hello again..

I just wanted to say thanks to Eric V for his words on the why not do both approach. I constantly see debates between peers and students over the "right" technique to use for a lick or what is the "best" way etc.. I sincerely believe that most of these debates shouldn't be debates at all. Part od the personal experience of the guitar is developing the approach that works for you and I think it is always great to have several different picking styles, fingers etc in your bag. Anyways, I'm just glad to see such words of wisdom written so succinctly by Eric..

On a slightly related note, here is a little exercise, series of licks, or whatever it is that came out when I was doodling on acoustic guitar the other day, I added some simple bass and guitar backup for texture.. The indicated picking is just a suggestion for the first runthrough. The little arrps I use a different picking pattern for every time I play them so, find something that works, alternate, economy, sweeing, all of the above.. Later guys..

Wyll

[EricV]

Hey there,

wow, that little etude is really cool. I like it. Nice, baroque-style progression in my opinion, and I like how you play something else each time, kinda building onto the basic idea.

Thanks a lot for the comments on "Why Not Do Both". Based on the ratings we got for it within the first few days, I kinda thought "Gee, either I´m wrong, and everyone disagrees, or I messed up", cuz it had the lowest rating of all the articles for a little while.

Anyway, yeah, that´s the point... instead of discussing for hours how to play a certain lick, play it the way that´s most efficient, or most comfortable for you.
Some people focus on all alternate picking, because they like that sound and it has become part of their style, but even those guys might figure out that some parts work better with economy picking. It sure is a lot more work to work on both ways of playing it, but it definitely can make things way easier after a while.
So anyway, thanks a lot for the feedback
Eric

BTW: I´d play those arps with alternate picking at that tempo, cuz it might be more accurate timing-wise, and I get a different sound that way. If they´d be faster, I´d of course sweep them...
Thanks for sharing that exercise / etude

[Darran]

I read the 'why not do both article' just at the time when I became a little disillusioned with economy picking.

I just started practising with a drummer friend, playing 'cupid's dead' (remember this), and the economy picking just didn't cut it aggressively.

I spend the next few days, in torturous debate with myself, on which one method to use: economy or alternate picking. On the one hand economy picking is very smooth sounding especially in regards to appeggios e.g. a major 7th app in groups of four; but when it comes to Paul Gilbert lines or any agressively picked lick, alternate picking delivers the most appropriate sound.

So, and before I read Eric's article, I thought 'Why not do both'. Sonically speaking both have their advantages, and the whole point of learning any technique is to be able to express a musical idea as accurately as you hear it in your head. Why compromise?

Your article reaffirmed my decision Eric!

[SolitaryShell]

Damn good etude indeed!!! I love it!

[EricV]

Hey Darran,

thanks a lot for the feedback. Glad ya liked it.
Yeah, I do remember "Cupid´s Dead"... Extreme, right ? Yep, Nuno had a damn fast right hand. He also often used string-skipping to "simulate" sweep-licks, and for most of his runs alternate picking works better...
Thanks and
Warm regards
Eric