Economy picking



This lesson covers a few examples of a technique called economy picking. Economy picking involves playing passages using the least number of pick movements while still picking most or all of the notes.

First lets start with something simple in D pentatonic minor:

Ex. 1

E -13-10-------13-10-------
B -------15-10-------13-10-
G -------------------------
D -------------------------
A -------------------------
E -------------------------
   d  u  u  d  d  u  u  d

This can be played with either the 1st and 3rd fingers or the 1st and 4th fingers. Notice how once you start repeating this pattern you are playing two notes per pick stroke yet ever note is picked. This will feel strange for quite a while but with practice it will become more and more comfortable until you reach the point where you are seriously shredding with minimal right hand effort.

Here’s an extended run using this technique all the way up the neck. Note the fingerings indicated: I used the most efficient fingering possible, however some parts may feel quite uncomfortable. You can try changing the fingering but I would recommend you persevere with these ones as they give the added benefit of increasing you right hand fingers independence of movement. Ultimately this will be the most comfortable fingering. This time we are using E pentatonic minor:

Ex. 2

E -5--3--------/-/-/--7--5--------/-/-/--10-7--------/-/-/--12-10-------/-/-/-
B -------5--3--/-/-/--------8--5--/-/-/--------10-8--/-/-/--------12-10-/-/-/-
G -------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/-
D -------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/-
A -------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/-
E -------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/-
   d  u  u  d         d  u  u  d         d  u  u  d         d  u  u  d  
   3  1  3  1         3  1  4  1         4  1  4  2         3  1  3  1


E -15-12-------/-/-/--17-15-------/-/-/--19-17-------/-/-/--22-17-------/-/-/-
B -------15-12-/-/-/--------17-15-/-/-/--------20-17-/-/-/--------22-18-/-/-/-
G -------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/-
D -------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/-
A -------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/-
E -------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/--------------/-/-/-
   d  u  u  d         d  u  u  d         d  u  u  d         d  u  u  d  
   4  1  4  1         3  1  3  1         3  1  4  1         4  1  4  2

You can opt to repeat each phrase 4 times as is shown here or you can increase or decrease the repetitions to suit your own taste. Try throwing in an exaggerated slide as you shift up each position or try reversing the whole lick to create a descending run.

Here’s a final example of economy picking that demonstrates how effective it can be at playing a three note per string diatonic pattern. This example is in the key of A Major:

EX 3.

E ----------------------------------------------7--9--10-
B -------------------------------------7--9--10----------
G ----------------------------6--7--9--------------------
D -------------------6--7--9-----------------------------
A ----------5--7--9--------------------------------------
E -5--7--9-----------------------------------------------
   d  u  d  d  u  d  d  u  d  d  u  d  d  u  d  d  u  d  

E -10-9--7-----------------------------------------------
B ----------10-9--7--------------------------------------
G -------------------9--7--6-----------------------------
D ----------------------------9--7--6--------------------
A -------------------------------------9--7--5-----------
E ----------------------------------------------9--7--5--
   u  d  u  u  d  u  u  d  u  u  d  u  u  d  u  u  d  u

Remember with all these exercises, practice at slow, medium (and when you are able) fast pace with a metronome and always concentrate on the accuracy and consistency of each note.

Have fun.