Paul Gilbert Lesson: Right-Hand Warm-Up Exercises [Shred Alert 2, Holiday 2008]

Why are the first two notes both upstrokes while the third is a down? This throws off my alternate picking technique that was burned into my brain some 30 years ago.

I think he said because it takes more effort, thus requiring more control. It's a warm up exercise, not an alternate picking one.

Economy of movement. The first two notes are upstrokes because the destination is the third string. The last stroke is a down stroke, simply because the pick has to travel back to the first string, which is the most economical use of movement. He didn't have an explanation in the video, probably because it is already ingrained is his brain.

KILLER JOB PAUL!!!IM A GUITAR TEACHER BUT I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM YOU.AND IT'S STUFF THATS EASY TO DO AND SOUNDS KILLER!!! ITS STUFF THAT YOU WANNA HIT YOURSELF IN THE HEAD FOR CUZ WHEN YOU FIGURE IT OUT YA JUST THINK 2 YOUR SELF,"Y DIDNT I THINK OF THAT???"LOL I SEE HOW THIS CAN REALLY HELP YOUR PICKING AND STRENGTHEN UP YOUR PICKING HAND!!!AND DID I MENTION IT SOUNDS FRICKIN SWEET???!!! KILLER JOB, KEEP THE GOOD STUFF COMIN!!! YOUR A GUITAR GOD IN MY EYES MAN!!!

!!!THE BEAST!!!

Oddly enough I naturally do this with some arpeggiations.