Crosspicking

Crosspicking is a technique for playing the mandolin or guitar using a plectrum or flatpick in a rolling, syncopated style across three strings.

[1]Using "D" for down" and "U" for "up" (and slashes to indicate groups of three), mandolin player Jesse McReynolds used a crosspicking roll of creating a repeating pattern of notes that expresses the melody.

Though crosspicking is most associated with bluegrass music, it was first introduced by jazz guitarist Nick Lucas during the 1920s, most notably on his 1929 recording of Painting the Clouds with Sunshine.

After Napier left the band in early 1960 to work with Charlie Moore, George Shuffler moved from upright bass to lead guitar and began developing his crosspicking style.

Such guitarists as Junior Blankenship, Ralph Stanley II, and James Alan Shelton continued crosspicking in styles influenced by Shuffler and Napier.