Crosspicking ...what is it?

PolarityMan

Someone metnioned it in the context of Robert Fripp, anyone got a good link to an example?

Lewy

Don't know about Robert Fripp but generally the term is used to describe using a flatpick to play roll patterns on (usually) adjacent strings.

longshins

Bluegrass/folk term for using a plectrum to pick across the strings.

impmann

I thought it was this:

Or maybe this:

dafuzz

So it's just another term for sweeping?

steamabacus

'Fracture' is Fripp's archetypal crosspicking workout. 16'30" for the actual piece ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EieyT6aHztI

And the man himself playing the full track ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrB-V5pkEAQ

The 2000 King Crimson's updated version ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z-nsEFgAFc

Lewy

dafuzz said:

So it's just another term for sweeping?

No, because you do it with alternate picking - even if you're only going in one direction across the strings.

Originally, the style emerged on mandolin using an 8th note picking pattern of down-down-up-down-down-up-down-up to simulate forward banjo rolls across 3 adjacent strings, so (the numbers are strings not frets): 

4-3-2-4-3-2-4-2

d-d-u-d-d-u-d-u

As tempos increased, more modern players started to do the same thing but with alternate picking.

4-3-2-4-3-2-4-2

d-u-d-u-d-u-d-u

The trick in either approach is how you weave in melody notes to create interesting accents and syncopations.

dafuzz

Cheers @Lewy - couldn't see that vid you posted earlier cos I was at work