How to Master Downpicking

by Alec Plowman, May 7, 2019 . 5 min read

How to Master Downpicking

Want to learn metal guitar? Sooner or later, you’ll need to get to grips with downpicking. Downpicking is what makes the James Hetfield guitar part in Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” sound so meaty, and makes Killswitch Engage’s “Rose of Sharyn” so brutal.

But what is downpicking?

As the name suggests, downpicking, or down-stroke picking, is a technique in which the guitarist moves the pick in a downward motion against one or more strings, without the addition of upstrokes (as in alternate picking). In genres like punk and thrash and speed metal, rapid speed (180bpm+) eighth-note downpicking is fairly common.

But, why would you want to remove those upstrokes – and effectively double the effort for your picking hand – when performing a rhythm part. We’ll let Revocation’s Dave Davidson (via Guitar World) answer that one for you:

“Although one could more easily perform [a song] using alternate (down-up) picking, the uniform attack created by the use of consecutive downstrokes is much more in line with what thrash metal guitar is all about—intensity.”

When mastered, downpicking can make for a seriously beastly rhythm guitar sound. But, it ain’t easy! Many guitarists have thrown in the towel when it comes to downpicking, put off by the sheer endurance it requires. But, it is possible to emulate the likes of Hetfield, Mustaine and Johnny Ramone. And today we’re going to tell you how to do it!

Start Off Slowly

Fast downpicking is an endurance, and you’re not going to be able to hit those Metallica/Megadeth high speeds straight away. This is where our old friend the metronome comes in.

If you’re learning a piece like “Master of Puppets” (tab) or “Hangar 18,” (tab) start off slow – maybe at 40 or 50% of the original recording speed, and build up from there day-by-day. Only move on to a faster tempo once you’re confident performing at the slower speed.

This might seem like a hassle, but it’s worth doing for two reasons. Firstly, attempting to play at fast speeds without this kind of training will either not work, or cause you some kind of injury down the line. Secondly, starting slow and building up will make you a much more precise player. Metal downpicking is all about precision, after all – a sloppily downpicked riff kind of misses the point!

Reduce Resistance

When downpicking, it’s tempting to really dig in with the pick while you’re playing. It’s a rapid-fire sound you’re striving for, after all, and that implies maximum force.

That, though, is a surefire way to crash and burn when it comes to downpicking. As decidedly unmetal as it might seem, you want to exert as little resistance and as little effort as possible when playing. By doing that, you allow yourself more stamina and speed, which means you can keep the unrelenting chug up for longer.

Graze the pick against the string with minimum resistance. Avoid tilting the pick upwards or downwards and lock your picking hand’s thumb rather than flexing it for more control over your playing.

Oh, and thick, pointed picks are a must when it comes to downpicking. So put that Hercoflex away! A Tortex of .88 mm and upwards is your friend in this instance.

Meet The Roadie Coach, The Personal Music Tutor

If you want to have the perfect aid for your guitar learning journey, check out Roadie Coach. This fantastic tool can track your progress in several ways and help you get better on the guitar. It features a high-quality recorder where you can record yourself for immediate feedback. Additionally, Coach also comes with a library of songs that you can add to your repertoire later.

Reduce Distance

The more distance you create between your right hand and the guitar strings, the harder you’re making it for yourself when downpicking. To avoid this, make sure you have only a few millimeters of the pick sticking out from your hand – ideally as little as possible.

Also, remember that you need to keep things tight and controlled and should be picking from the wrist rather than the hand or forearm. You don’t need much distance, the motion should be very slight, and you don’t want your picking hand to be drifting away from the string.

The same thing goes for your fretting hand, as it happens. Keep them hovering over their fretboard positions at all times and don’t let them jump away from the string during those bottom E string chugs – you’re just making more work for yourself.

What are your experiences with downpicking? And what advice would you give any budding metal rhythm players out there? Share your thoughts in the comments!

 

(Main photo credit: Kreepin Deth)



Subscribe to Gain Access to our Alternate Tuning Library & Accompanying E-Book Guide
Discover the origin of the most popular tunings, some less-known facts, AND most importantly, learn how to play songs in your desired tunings.

Check out some other similar articles

Knowing how to repair your guitar at home can be a valuable skill for any musician.

Rodrigo Sanchez
May 8, 2023 . 3 min read

Today we’re going to look at how to play “A Horse with No Name” on guitar.

Rodrigo Sanchez
May 1, 2023 . 4 min read

If you want to learn guitar and/or learn ukulele, you’ve come to the right place!

Rodrigo Sanchez
Mar 14, 2023 . 6 min read

Today we’re going to learn how to play Until I Found You by Stephen Sanchez. We will explore two different manners of playing

Rodrigo Sanchez
Feb 13, 2023 . 5 min read

Today we’re going to learn how to play Californication by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers on guitar.

Rodrigo Sanchez
Oct 24, 2022 . 3 min read

Welcome to our complete guide to learning guitar. In this article, we’re going to go over the most important aspects to get you started with guitar. 

Rodrigo Sanchez
Oct 7, 2022 . 29 min read

Today we’re going to give you 7 tips for teaching your child guitar. Learning an instrument is a fantastic way for your child to develop a series of abilities that can be of great use later in life.

Frederik Nielsen
Sep 12, 2022 . 5 min read

There are two kinds of bass players: the born ones and the converted ones.

Frederik Nielsen
Aug 26, 2022 . 5 min read

“Stolen Dance” is a song by German pop duo Milky Chance. It was released in 2012 and became a viral hit on YouTube (it presently has well over half a billion streams).

Rodrigo Sanchez
Jul 4, 2022 . 5 min read

There is a lot of confusion regarding head voice vs chest voice. What are those and how do they differ? What about falsetto? Is that the same as head voice?

Rodrigo Sanchez
Jan 3, 2022 . 4 min read

Today we’re going to learn how to play Good Riddance by Greenday on guitar. To start, let’s address the obvious: this song has a bit of a confusing name.

Rodrigo Sanchez
Oct 25, 2021 . 3 min read

The voice of Hawaii, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, blessed us with his cover mashup of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and What A Wonderful World.

Frederik Nielsen
Oct 4, 2021 . 3 min read

Today we’re going to learn how to play Shape of You by Ed Sheeran on ukulele. This song was written by the British superstar alongside Steve Mac and Johnny McDaid.

Rodrigo Sanchez
Oct 1, 2021 . 3 min read

Today we’re going to learn how to play Layla by Eric Clapton on ukulele. This song was written by the legendary guitarist along with drummer Jim Gordon.

Rodrigo Sanchez
Sep 10, 2021 . 4 min read

Today we’re going to learn how to play Lovesong by The Cure on ukulele. “Lovesong” is the biggest hit by this British band and has been covered by other high profile artists.

Rodrigo Sanchez
Sep 3, 2021 . 3 min read

Today we’re going to learn how to play One by U2 on Guitar. “One” was released as the third single from U2’s seventh album entitled Achtung Baby.

Rodrigo Sanchez
Aug 27, 2021 . 4 min read

Today we’re going to learn how to play Chandelier by Sia on Ukulele. This song was a massive hit that was included in Sia’s 2014 album entitled 1000 Forms of Fear.

Rodrigo Sanchez
Aug 9, 2021 . 6 min read

Today we’re going to learn how to play I See Fire by Ed Sheeran on guitar. This song was commissioned for the film The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and placed in the closing credits.

Rodrigo Sanchez
Jul 19, 2021 . 6 min read

Today we’re going to learn how to play Driver’s License by Olivia Rodrigo on ukulele. This song put her on the map, and at the time of this writing, it is still one of the most played tracks in the world.

Rodrigo Sanchez
Jul 5, 2021 . 3 min read

Today we’re going to learn how to play Mr. Jones by Counting Crows on guitar This song was a massive hit and the first single from the band’s first album August and Everything After.

Rodrigo Sanchez
May 31, 2021 . 4 min read
We'll be bringing you recommended tabs and plenty of interesting quotes from guitar legends along the way!