Let's talk about cross string picking mechanics.
I have to confess this is not a term I use
very often, but I know a lot of players do
use it, and I've learned a lot of licks and
have come up with a lot of licks that I suppose
apply to the concept of cross string picking
mechanics.
So what I wanted to do now is look at a pattern
using the low two strings of the guitar, the
fifth and sixth strings.
If I just played the first four notes of the
A natural minor scale, I think the best way
to play in that position is alternate picking,
alright.
Down, up, down, up.
So when I cross the string, check it out.
Alright, it's a down motion and an up motion,
and I can make that snappy.
Alright.
And you want as little motion as possible
in order to make it the most effective.
So when you play it fast, I can play up and
down.
Okay.
Now it's kind of interesting, if I swap positions,
if I play the exact same notes but start on
the fourth finger, I get this and for some
reason here it feels better to pick in the
same direction for the first two notes.
So here I would start on a down stroke and
play the next string on a down stroke.
It has a slightly different flavor.
Listen to the difference.
Alright.
So the alternate picking is a little more
cultist.
If I descend, to me it sounds best to do the
first two notes on the fifth string than the
other notes here, and I once again return
to alternate picking.
How you prefer to cross string mechanics really
depends on what position you're in, your left
hand frets, and the lick itself.
Let's go back to the first one, all other
picking.
Now I'm going to move that up and down 
the neck.
Here's that same lick an octave higher.
The picking is the same, it feels a little
different because I'm on the highest ones.
Back to the second position.
Here I'm starting on the picking in the same
direction.
If I do that up here...
So again it's really important to practice
all of these slowly before you play them at
that speed.
Have fun with cross string picking mechanics.
