Basically alternate picking is picking each note in the opposite direction, so if you pick the first note withthe pick travelling down, then the next note is played with the pick travelling upwards. This is applied even when you change strings. Have a look at the diagram below...I have applied this technique to a basic major scale shape. The first note is picked downwards, the second note is picked upwards, the third downwards, etc...

I have also included a proactice technique which I used to learn alternate picking...It's a very, very simple technique of playing notes chromatically on each string. It doesn't sound great but does a lot of good in terms of helping picking, and also gets all of your fingers working on the fretboard (remember not to forget that pinky!). Once I get to the end of that run, I usually slide my pinky up to the 5the fret and then go back down the neck going fron the 5th to the 4th to the 3rd to the 2nd fret, and then when I get to the low E string I slide up one fret again to the 3rd fret and play 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th frets. You can do that all the way up the fretboard if you want. If the stretch from the 1st to 4th fret is too much for your hands then you can always start at a higher fret (e.g. the 12th fret) and then slowly work your way down so that you gradually stretch your fingers.

Remember to play slowly and accurately rather then fast and sloppily. You will build up speed over time...Also play alone to a metronome for coordination and tempo timing. As you become more proficient with this technique you can increase the tempo on the metronome or play without a metronome...

Enjoy! If you have any Qs feel free to mail me...info@jayparmar.com...