Guitarists: Do you use alternate picking?

Question:Hello, I've been playing the electric guitar for about 1 year (I play rock), self-taught. I have always played single notes all down strokes. Now recently I've signed up for guitar lessons and my teacher says I should get used to alternate picking. I don't get why though, all downstrokes are much easier for me. Whenever I try to do alternate picking, it is very hard for me because I have so used to just using downstrokes. Isn't playing the guitar about doing what easiest for you? Please answer these questions to help me out:

Do you use alternate picking?
How often do you use alternate picking?
What is the point of alternate picking?

Thanks for helping me out fellow guitarists!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Hello, I've been playing the electric guitar for about 1 year (I play rock), self-taught. I have always played single notes all down strokes. Now recently I've signed up for guitar lessons and my teacher says I should get used to alternate picking. I don't get why though, all downstrokes are much easier for me. Whenever I try to do alternate picking, it is very hard for me because I have so used to just using downstrokes. Isn't playing the guitar about doing what easiest for you? Please answer these questions to help me out:

Do you use alternate picking?
How often do you use alternate picking?
What is the point of alternate picking?

Thanks for helping me out fellow guitarists!

Yes I use alternate picking,whenever it is neccessary to continue the piece I'm playing.thats 2 answers in one.
The point of alternate picking is to basically save time and hand movement so that you can play some sections of a solo,or even some rhthym sections fluidlly and consistiently.
That being said,alternate picking is a great tool to add to your arsenal,but you should also practice your downstroke single picking.because you will notice that by playing sections with all downstrokes,many times the sound you get cannot by reproduced with alternate picking.
This is why bands such as Metallica,practice rapid downstroke picking,the palm muted lines to their music would,and don't sound as heavy and authoritive with alternate picking,however they do still use alternate picking in other sections of the same song,I hope I have helped you with this,keep jamming,never give up,and learn every guitar technique you can,even if its something you don't think you'll ever use,because it will only make you a better guitar player in the future.Peace

i use it but only when i have to....im like you im so used to strumming down that ill stick with that if i can....but sometimes notes need to be played in rapid succession that youll have to use alternate picking so u will have to llearn it eventually

usually your supposed to alternate but a band like metallica down picks everything its good thing to be able to alternate pick the long u play i found out the hard way

you definitely need altedrnate picking if you want speed. Otherwise, forget it. Alternate picking is used all the time and sometimes, you can just push the pick onto the following strings but continue alternate picking. This is called economy picking and quite effective. Just slide the pick from one string to the next and alternate pick each note on the string you land.