A pick is usually held between the thumb and index finger.

A downstroke is moving the pick down and an upstroke is moving it up. Moving the pick up and down on the strings is called alternate picking because the pattern alternates between up and down.

Alternate picking usually begins with a downstroke. Strict alternate picking is very percussive as you can hear the attack on every note. You can smooth this sound out and become more efficient by using small sweeps where the pick covers two or more strings in the same stroke.

Often you will be using a right-hand technique which doesn't use a pick such as finger tapping and finger picking. If you are also using a pick during the same song you can hold the pick between your fingers so you don't have to put it down.

Example 1a

Example 1b

Example 1c

(All strings have been detuned a whole tone making DGCFAD)

Example 1d

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