Alternate Picking versus Economy Picking?

[All_¥our_Bass]

^I nearly always start with a downstroke, but I know there are certain types of rhythms that are much easier if you start on an upstroke.

 

[jase]

Learn both, and also hybrid picking. And get comfortable with them to a point where each type is no more difficult than the other. At that point, you will not notice if you actually using alternate or economy picking. And you can throw in hybrid picking when you are playing something with a lot of string skipping, etc.

I don't pay attention to which technique I use when I learn/write, but I pay attention to if I am playing the riff effortlessly with the required dynamics. If not, I access my right hand and adjust accordingly.