Downpicking
Encyclopedia
Downpicking is the technique used by musicians that perform on plucked string instruments in which the plectrum
, or pick, is moved in a downward motion, relative to the position of the instrument, against one or more of the strings to make them vibrate.
s of hard rock
genres will often use downpicking as much as possible to create a "heavier" sound than the one created with alternate picking
, which is a downstroke followed by an upstroke or vice versa.
Downpicking tends to be slower than alternate picking, but is often easier for beginning guitarists to use. Downpicking can also be faster than alternate picking using a technique called sweep picking or 'raking'. It should be noted, however, that a strictly downpicked cross-string sequence of notes will have a choppy, staccato sound (0:50-0:52 of the Metallica
song Master of Puppets
), whereas those same notes sweep picked will sound fluid and continuous.
Downstrokes picking is a guitar
playing technique made famous by punk
guitarist Johnny Ramone
which used only downstrokes in playing, not upstrokes.
Effective downstrokes picking requires a strong wrist
to make all the movements as tension-free as possible. Picking downstrokes makes the guitar sound tighter, more aggressive and fuller. It also creates the impression that songs played by picking downstrokes are fast even when they're not. Down stroke picking is a common technique in metal and thrash rhythm playing, notably exemplified by Metallica's
James Hetfield
, Megadeth's
Dave Mustaine
, Slayer's
Kerry King
, and Anthrax's
Scott Ian
among others.
The nature of downstroke picking more than doubles the exertion of the right hand. For long or extended passages, endurance becomes the focus, because as many inexperienced players begin to 'feel the burn', the quality of the music suffers, becoming choppy and disconnected sounding. The popular, easily recognized guitar work of Metallica's "Master of Puppets
" is almost entirely played using downstroked eighth notes at a tempo of 212 BPM.
A "down(ward) stroke" is a furious, repetitive fast ballistic downstroke. Immediately after strumming all the strings, the pick's trajectory converts to a positive vertical velocity. During the time it is moving upward, the tip of the pick never comes in contact with the strings. This cycle can be repeated however many times is necessary.
Plectrum
A plectrum is a small flat tool used to pluck or strum a stringed instrument. For hand-held instruments such as guitars and mandolins, the plectrum is often called a pick, and is a separate tool held in the player's hand...
, or pick, is moved in a downward motion, relative to the position of the instrument, against one or more of the strings to make them vibrate.
The style
GuitaristGuitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
s of hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
genres will often use downpicking as much as possible to create a "heavier" sound than the one created with alternate picking
Alternate picking
Alternate picking is a guitar playing technique that employs strictly alternating downward and upward picking strokes in a continuous run, and is the most common method of plectrum playing...
, which is a downstroke followed by an upstroke or vice versa.
Downpicking tends to be slower than alternate picking, but is often easier for beginning guitarists to use. Downpicking can also be faster than alternate picking using a technique called sweep picking or 'raking'. It should be noted, however, that a strictly downpicked cross-string sequence of notes will have a choppy, staccato sound (0:50-0:52 of the Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
song Master of Puppets
Master of Puppets (song)
"Master of Puppets" is a song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It is the title track and was released as the first single from their album of the same name....
), whereas those same notes sweep picked will sound fluid and continuous.
Downstrokes picking is a guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
playing technique made famous by punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
guitarist Johnny Ramone
Johnny Ramone
John William Cummings , better known by his stage name Johnny Ramone, was an American guitarist and songwriter, best known for being the guitarist for the punk rock band the Ramones. He was a founding member of the band, and remained a member throughout the band's entire career...
which used only downstrokes in playing, not upstrokes.
Effective downstrokes picking requires a strong wrist
Wrist
In human anatomy, the wrist is variously defined as 1) the carpus or carpal bones, the complex of eight bones forming the proximal skeletal segment of the hand;...
to make all the movements as tension-free as possible. Picking downstrokes makes the guitar sound tighter, more aggressive and fuller. It also creates the impression that songs played by picking downstrokes are fast even when they're not. Down stroke picking is a common technique in metal and thrash rhythm playing, notably exemplified by Metallica's
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
James Hetfield
James Hetfield
James Alan Hetfield is the rhythm guitarist, co-founder, main songwriter, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering a classified advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler,...
, Megadeth's
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
, Slayer's
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
Kerry King
Kerry King
Kerry King is an American lead and rhythm guitarist. He is best known as the lead guitarist and cofounder of American thrash metal band Slayer. He co-founded the band with Jeff Hanneman in 1981 and has been a member ever since...
, and Anthrax's
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
Scott Ian
Scott Ian
Scott Ian Rosenfeld , better known by the stage name Scott Ian, is an American musician, best known as the rhythm & lead guitarist for the heavy metal band Anthrax. Ian is also the guitarist and a founding member of the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death...
among others.
The nature of downstroke picking more than doubles the exertion of the right hand. For long or extended passages, endurance becomes the focus, because as many inexperienced players begin to 'feel the burn', the quality of the music suffers, becoming choppy and disconnected sounding. The popular, easily recognized guitar work of Metallica's "Master of Puppets
Master of Puppets (song)
"Master of Puppets" is a song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It is the title track and was released as the first single from their album of the same name....
" is almost entirely played using downstroked eighth notes at a tempo of 212 BPM.
A "down(ward) stroke" is a furious, repetitive fast ballistic downstroke. Immediately after strumming all the strings, the pick's trajectory converts to a positive vertical velocity. During the time it is moving upward, the tip of the pick never comes in contact with the strings. This cycle can be repeated however many times is necessary.