What is Cross-Picking?

What is Cross-Picking?

Well, I think the answer to this can vary depending on who you ask. To me, cross-picking is the technique of using a flatpick/plectrum to pick across two or more strings (though typically three), hence the cross in cross-picking. The technique is used to emulate the sound of finger picking with a flatpick.

The debate about what cross-picking is tends to hinge around the type of picking technique used to cross-pick. There are two different ways to achieve cross-picking. One is the use of economy picking, and the other is the use of alternate picking. Here are some examples:

Economy picking uses successive down, or up strokes to cross-pick a passage, and alternate picking does, well, just that, continues to alternate with down strokes on the beat, and up strokes on the off-beat. The way that you pick across the string does not, to me, define it as cross-picking or not, but the act of picking across the strings constitutes cross-picking.

Next we’ll be working on Cross-Picking in Getting Started With The Forward-Roll.

Thanks for reading, and if you enjoyed the post, or know someone who might benefit from it please pass it on, and like us on Facebook.

Happy Picking!