2021‐07‐09
During alternate picking, use a very small, rubbing motion, similar in feel to writing with a pencil, the size of the motion not much larger than the thickness of the string. Always keep the tip of the plectrum close to the plane of the strings. The talk about holding the plectrum very loosely all the time doesn’t quite apply, or you wouldn’t get any volume out of the instrument, but you can still stay relaxed overall if you pinch the plectrum at the very moment you strike the string, and then immediately relax the grip. It is preferable to keep your fingers together, slightly curled, and with the pinky side of your palm gently resting against the bridge or strings as a picking depth reference, and to mute lower, unplayed strings (and, with a minor adjustment, the played string). Move your hand from string to string in order to keep the posture as similar as possible on every string. Don’t make any extra sideways motion with your hand in order to reach the next string, but move your hand and arm together. Try to imagine you’re playing on the same string all the time.
This, I have realized, is more or less the only way to achieve maximal precision in all circumstances.
For an example of extremely economical and efficient alternate picking, check out the beginning of this video from the Alternate Picking YouTube channel.