Guitar Picking Exercise - Cascade

Cascade is a guitar picking exercise utilizing alternate picking. Alternate picking is using a pick down-up-down-up-down-up. For this exercise, you could also fingerpicking using pim, or ima.

In this guitar picking exercise, you will pick down-up-down, up-down-up on the 3, 2, & 1 strings.

First, practice picking on open strings, then add the fretting hand.

Keep in mind that a pick has 2 sides (thumb/finger), and 4 edges (thumb-left/right and finger(s)-left/right).

When we pick, we can get better tone from using edges rather than 'sides' [it's difficult to actually use the sides].

Don't push the strings, use the motion of the strings to your tonal advantage. Find out how you set in string motion influences how you approach it next time.

Also, consider the leave. The leave is where your pick ends up (where it is left) after you pick a tone. Build the leave location into the previous articulation. Always be a step ahead.

The shapes selected for the fretting hand in this exercise are simply suggestions. You can chage the shapes or string set while experimenting with the picking pattern (down-up-down, up-down-up).

Ultimately, we are building a mental map of the guitar in whatever tuning we are using. Cascade is a good of example of using a repeating picking figure: down-up-down, up-down-up, while building a map for the fretting hand, & making music.

A figure is a repeated melodic, rhythmic, harmonic idea; technical device, or articulation. Figures are often sequenced (repeated at a new pitch level). One of the most basic picking figures is down-up.

You could use the same picking figure, but utilize a different set of strings, & fretting shapes. Get creative.

Guitar picking exercise: octaves