Speed exercises vs Alternate Picking

[wishface]

I prefer to rake, it's more comfortable.

However when practising exercises to build up speed, should I use AP?

I ask because I've seen a number of such exercises that say yes.

[DaveFry]

Whatever gives you Peace Of Mind .🙂

[Newfoundfreedom]

It's alternate picking when you can't decide between a P bass and a Jazz bass? 

[TKenrick]

For me it's always alternate picking whenever I'm playing a line that ascends across adjacent strings and raking whenever I descend.

I know this wasn't part of your question, but the phrase 'speed-building exercises' always worries me. If there's a piece of music that you can't get up to speed then just practise the music, don't waste time practising exercises that divorce technique from musical content or focus on mindless technique for technique's sake.

 

[wishface]

I find I can play more using strict alternating. However it's more comfortable to rake; my hand and wrist tends to curl away from the instrument when i alternate. If I rake, I can lay may hand more comfortably across the strings. It's a weird paradox. I prefer the raking posture, however my fingers move more economically when I alternate. If that makes any sense.