What is Crosspicking?

One of the most common techniques in bluegrass guitar is called crosspicking.  What’s crosspicking?  

Today, I’ll show you how to get started with a few basic patterns.  I’ll demonstrate via open strings only and then jump to a more advanced pattern where the notes move around as you crosspick over a C major chord.

Crosspicking by design moves across multiple strings quickly. In some ways, it resembles a banjo picking pattern or something a fingerstyle guitarist would do with fingerpicks.  

Why would you do this?  It creates a lot of resonance and a fuller sound.  If you’re only playing one note at a time and lifting your fingers each time, the sound can be thin by yourself. 

Crosspicking works great when you want to bust out the guitar and play SOLO and have a fuller sound.  

Basic Crosspicking Patterns

Crosspick Pattern #1

Above the TAB, I have marked the right-hand direction.  D is for down, U is for up.  This is referred to as ALTERNATE PICKING, whereby the pick travels a different direction for each note in the pattern.  It is critical that you practice this slowly.

The strings in numbers are 4-3-2-3 and then it repeats.  This pattern works well when the melody is on the lower string (in this case, the fourth string).  The second measure is the same exact pattern, only on different strings.  This can sometimes be more difficult as the lower strings are thicker, and it takes more time for the pick to slice through the strings. 

Crosspicking Pattern #2

In our second pattern, the pick starts on a higher string and works its way down.  When do you use this?  When the melody is on the higher string.  I’ll show you a more advanced pattern in a moment that will help make this clear.  This pattern can be harder for some because the pick is almost working against gravity.  For example, the last two notes.  Your hand MAY want to play the last note as a down stroke.  Fight the temptation for now and make sure it is an upstroke.

Pattern #2 with a moving melody line

Here, I take a C major chord (not the whole thing), just the top couple of notes.  Don’t put your ring on the 3rd fret/5th string like you normally do; keep it free.  Now play the pattern from above, making sure to use the proper strokes.  When you get to last note of the pattern, your pinky will come to rest on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string.  You’ll continue with the crosspicking pattern.  It then comes back off and so forth.  This creates a beautiful C major sound that fills up lots of space.

If you would like to learn more about CROSSPICKING or flatpick guitar in general, please contact me.  I do one-on-one lessons anywhere in the world via ZOOM.  Styles include Bluegrass, Popular, Jazz, and songwriting.