Hello everyone!
In this new video, I break down an exercise focused on economy picking. The lick is built on an ascending A minor arpeggio stretching across three octaves, with a flat 7 added at the top — taken directly from Daily Blues Lick 562 👉 Link.
The video starts with a full-speed demonstration at 90 bpm over a backing track. Then I slow it down to 50 bpm, zoom in on the left hand, and display the fingering diagram on screen.
⚠️ At this stage, don’t worry about the picking — just use all downstrokes to focus on memorizing the shape and developing solid finger placement. Once the muscle memory is in place, we shift our attention to the right hand and introduce proper picking technique.
🎯 What is Economy Picking?
Economy picking is a hybrid technique that blends alternate picking with sweep picking. The idea is to follow the natural motion of your hand: for instance, if you’re doing a downstroke on the 3rd string and the next note is on the 2nd, you keep going with another downstroke — making the movement smoother and more efficient. This is especially useful in arpeggios and scalar runs, helping you play faster with less effort.
In the second half of the video, I focus on the right hand, show the picking diagram, and explain the motion behind economy picking. I then play the lick at 65 bpm and 75 bpm, encouraging you to gradually increase speed only when you’re fully in control.
This is a powerful exercise to develop fluidity, accuracy, and speed — a must for any guitarist looking to refine their technique.
🎵 Backing track available here:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/backing-track-131251576
