Alternate Picking vs. Legato

Greetings, fellow guitar enthusiasts! Today, we’ll be discussing a topic that has plagued the minds of guitar players everywhere: Alternate Picking vs. Legato.

Alternate Picking

First of all, let’s define our terms. Alternate Picking, also known as “AP,” is a guitar technique that involves using an up and down motion to pick individual strings. This method is often used when playing fast, complex passages on the guitar.

It is a key component of any Shred guitarist’s arsenal. In shred guitar, alternate picking is used to play rapid, complex passages that may include rapid string changes, wide intervals, and rapid shifts between different positions on the guitar neck.

Alternate picking is particularly useful in this context because it allows the player to maintain a consistent picking motion and keep the pick close to the strings, which can help to increase speed and accuracy. Alternate picking has been used to great effect by pretty much any Shred guitarist you can think of, from Mythical Tapping Maestro Eddie Van Halen to Legendary Shred Wizard Steve Vai.

 

Robert Baker showing you some Alternate Picked Shred Licks!

Legato

On the other hand, Legato (pronounced “le-gah-toe”) is a technique that involves using the fingers to smoothly transition between notes, rather than picking each one. 

In shred guitar, legato can be used to great effect for playing rapid, fluid lines that may also include wide intervals and rapid shifts between different positions on the guitar neck. Legato is achieved by using techniques such as hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, and even finger tapping, which allow the player to seamlessly transition between notes without the need for additional picking motion.

 

Clint Tustin showing you some epic legato shred exercises and patterns!
 

 

What’s the difference?

So, what’s the difference between these two techniques? Well, it all comes down to speed and control. Alternate Picking is generally considered to be faster, as it allows the player to quickly alternate between strings. However, Legato can be more controlled, as it allows the player to smoothly transition between notes without any extra picking motion.

While alternate picking is often the go-to technique for fast playing in shred guitar, legato can be used to add a sense of fluidity and expressiveness to the playing.

But let’s not get too caught up in the technicalities. At the end of the day, it’s all about what works best for you as a player. Some guitarists swear by Alternate Picking, while others prefer Legato. Ultimately, it’s all about finding the technique that allows you to express yourself the best on the guitar. 

If you put the practice in, you’ll be able to use a combination of alternate picking and legato to achieve maximum speed while maintaining expressiveness and musicality.

So don’t stress too much about it. Just pick up your guitar (no pun achieved) and get to it!

Shred on!

-Anton