The Most Common Picking Mistake (And How to Fix It)
Is Your Picking Inconsistent?
One of the most common problems I’ve seen in students over the years is inconsistent picking.
I call this “Random Picking”—when you accidentally throw in an extra downstroke or upstroke, usually when crossing strings from a lower (in pitch) string to a higher one.
Most players who do this have small pick motions, so they don’t even realize it’s happening.
Why This Is a Problem
You might be thinking, “Isn’t this just economy picking?”
Yes and no.
Both alternate picking and economy picking are great techniques—but they aren’t random. They follow a system.
If you’re unintentionally mixing the two, your timing and synchronization will suffer, making fast and clean playing much harder.
How to Fix It
If you struggle with random picking, here’s how to clean it up:
✅ Use Larger Pick Strokes – Exaggerate your picking motion so you can see and feel when you accidentally repeat a downstroke or upstroke. This won’t slow you down long-term—it’s just a way to reprogram your technique.
✅ Practice with 8th Notes – Play two notes per beat with a metronome. If you start on the beat with a downstroke, every beat should also land on a downstroke. If you accidentally double up somewhere, you’ll immediately notice your strokes aren’t lining up anymore.
Try It and Let Me Know!
Give this a shot in your next practice session, and let me know how it goes—I read every email.
Talk tomorrow!
Best,
Jon
P.S. Ready to take your playing to the next level? Here are 3 ways I can help you:
1️⃣ The Guitar Personal Training Program: Get a personalized roadmap and one-on-one guidance to reach your goals faster.
2️⃣ Alternate Picking Mastery: Build unstoppable picking speed and precision with a proven system.
3️⃣ Playing What You Hear: Learn how to turn ideas in your head into actual music on your guitar.
👉 Click on the links above to learn more or reply to this email if you’re not sure where to start—I’m here to help!