hey guys. im a beginner, as i posted here a couple 'o days ago. guitar practice is still going great.
currently im working on alternate picking, my favourite picking method. i been hearing this really speeds up ur playing, so im quite interested in learning this ASAP.
my questions are, 1) the pick obviously affects alternate picking, so which 1 would u recommend for me, a beginner? a thin pick or a medium pick? i currently use a 0.73mm pick. it seems kinda stiff, but OK, while my 0.50mm pick seems too thin and uncomfortable. so i use the 0.73mm one. it will do. but which one is recommended for the average beginner?
2) alternate picking seems real hard. i choke the pick off most (leaving little exposed) and i also use that angling thing (not keeping the pick parallel to strings), but still, how long will it take to get a good hand at alternate picking?
any suggestions? thanks!...

sounds as though you are too "stiff".   Loosen up a bit and lighten up with the pick. It's all in the wrist control. Try not to move too far in either direction. It's about "economics". move the pick in the shortest strokes possible.  google search it and watch a few folks, you'll see what I mean.  I let the pick protrude a bit more that what you are doing and let it just graze across the string.

As far as picks go, I almost always use a .50 for just about everything. But that's just my personal preference.  Use what feels best for you.  At first, a thinner pick is a bit more forgiving for alternate picking until you master it.

In all it's just going to take practice to get efficient. It's a common theme you will hear a lot in your quest for guitar mastery.

I googled and found this:  not a bad instructional video.
http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl= … p;resnum=4

hey thanks! your "loosening up" strategy helped a LOT! i realized I WAS actually stiff...very much stiff....the moment I loosened up and relaxed during my picking, alternate picking seemed a lot easier. thanks for the video links!

glad I could help. You should also check out the chat feature on this site.   Lots of experience in there from people that are always happy to help..

Yeah petey has the right idea here. It's all about economics when you are alternate picking. Personally I prefer heavry picks for this cuz you can go faster. A thin pick kinda snags the strings if youknowwhat I mean. Iusually use .83 gauge or 1.0 for everything but especially alternate picking. it helps me to rest either my wrist on the top of the guitar or my ring and middle fingers on the pickguard area as it helpsme maintain an even picking motion.

I would saay that there are two big things to remember when alternate picking. One is to pick efficiently. Alternate picking requires a very small movement which is all I reapeat all. In the wrist. The second it to maintain an even picking speed. Start slow witha metronome or by tapping your foot and start with quarter notes then eights then speed up the metronome until you can play sixteenths to thespeed your heart desires.

Great comments and wow, the Paul Gilbert link is an awesome video for advanced alternate picking. For a beginner, one thing you can learn is the aternate picking exercise shown in video lesson number two at GuitarMore.com.

I recommend a stiff pick. I use a 1.0 to 1.14 mm pick. Its awkward at first, but ultimately, I like the picking energy you get with a stiff pick.

http://www.GuitarMore.com/