alternate picking
A guitar picking technique that strictly alternates between downstrokes and upstrokes.
In Depth
Alternate picking is the foundation of speed and efficiency in guitar playing. By alternating pick direction on every note, the picking hand travels the minimum possible distance. This technique is essential for fast scale runs, arpeggios, and single-note passages in rock, metal, jazz, and country. Mastering alternate picking requires developing even tone and volume between down and up strokes.
Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, and Paco de Lucia had a famous picking speed war in the 1980s, pushing alternate picking to superhuman velocities on acoustic guitars.