Tremolo Picking

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'Tremolo Picking' (Trem-el-o Picking) is a method of picking usually used in metal genres whereby you pick notes very fast using the Alternate Picking technique.

How to Tremolo Pick

• Use the very tip of the pick. (For best technique don't let more than 1mm drop below the strings)
• Angle the pick slightly, do this by slightly bending your thumb. This helps it move across the strings easier.
• Use your arm rather than your wrist to pick, using your elbow as a pivot.
• Make sure your muscles and arm are relaxed, tensing the muscles in your arm causes you to not pick as fast and may increase the likelihood of injury.

Many guitarists find it hard to tremolo pick due to them needing to maintain a steady alternate picking pattern at a high speed. To aid them with tremolo picking many guitarists anchor thier pinky finger on the body of the guitar, this helps them maintain a steady rhythm and increase speed.

To tremolo pick, pick down on the string then immediately pick up, then immediately pick down, then up, then down then up etc. very fast. Start off by practicing it slowly then gradually build up speed.

Tablature Notation

E|--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--|
B|-----------------------|
G|-----------------------|
D|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|
   d u d u d u d u d u



E|--0-0-3-0-0-5-0-0-7-0-0-5-0-0-3-|-0-0-3-0-0-5-0-0-7-0-0-5-0-0-3-|
B|--------------------------------|-------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------|-------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------|-------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|-------------------------------|
    d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d   u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u

Example Video

• Dragonforce - Through The Fire And Flames

The intro

                                              2x
e|--11-11-11-11-8-8-11-11-11-11-8-8-11-11-8-8-|
B|--------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------|

                                                    2x
e|--15-15-15-15-11-11-15-15-15-15-11-11-15-15-11-11-|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|

                                              2x
e|--13-13-13-13-8-8-13-13-13-13-8-8-13-13-8-8-|
B|--------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------|

e|--11-11-11-11-8-8-11-11-11-11-8-8-11-11-8-8-|-8-10-11-13-10-11-13-15-/11--/13--/15~----|
B|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|