ALTERNATE PICKING LICK – C MAJOR

This alternate picking lick in C Major is an essential exercise for any guitarist serious about developing right-hand speed and precision. Alternate picking — strict down-up picking on every note — is the foundation of all fast rock, metal, and shred guitar playing.

About This Lesson

Clean alternate picking is not about speed — it is about consistency, relaxation, and accuracy. This C Major lick builds those qualities in a musical context, using a real scale pattern that can be applied directly to solos. Mastering this exercise opens the door to everything from fast scale runs to complex shred phrases.

What You Will Work On

• Strict alternate picking — consistent down-up on every single note
• C Major scale application — a musical context for the technique
• Right-hand relaxation — tension is the enemy of speed and precision
• Metronome discipline — only increase tempo when the pattern is perfectly clean
• Cross-string picking accuracy — maintaining consistency when changing strings

Tips for Learning

• Start at 60 BPM and do not increase until the lick is spotless at that speed.
• Record your picking hand from above to check for unnecessary movement.
• Practice in short focused sessions — 10-15 minutes daily beats one long unfocused hour.
• Use a light pick grip — the pick should almost fall out of your hand.