A Hybrid Picking Pattern For Beginners

This is a great hybrid picking pattern to get started with, if you've never tried hybrid picking before. One of the biggest benefits of hybrid picking, in my mind at least, is that you gain the ability to pick multiple places at once - something you simply cannot do with just a pick. 

Your pick is always limited to being in one place at one time, and if you want more than one string at once, you need to strum them. Sometimes, you simply can't strum the strings, like with these widespread double stops that we're playing today. 

Our pattern starts out by playing the root note at the exact same time as the second string. I love the effect this produces - it gives a lot of depth and space to the sound which is really nice. 

In the second bar we're going to change the pattern just a bit - starting off with a double stop on the root plus the first string instead. The reason for this is I wanted that note to hit right away, so your ear registers the change from the sus4 to the major. You can try playing it both ways, and let me know which one you prefer!

Play Along Examples

40 BPM

45 BPM

50 BPM

55 BPM

60 BPM

65 BPM


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  1. This is a picking pattern I've used for some time, but always with my thumb instead of a pick. I've never been comfortable using the pick as most of my picking patterns have me use my first finger that wouldn't be available if I'm holding a pick. I'll have to give it another go and see what happens. Thanks for the lesson.

  2. I can't decide which I like more, but I love the calming effect I feel from this pattern. It's reminding me of a tune i heard a long time ago and it sounds similar to this. But like so much music it haunts me, not knowing what the song is. I guess it doesn't matter in the long run. I'll enjoy learning this pattern at the different speeds. Maybe the title of the song will come to me then.

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