Al Di Meola

• Strict alternate picking — every note picked down-up-down-up regardless of string changes. No sweeping or economy picking. The evenness of alternate picking produces the clarity in fast runs
• Flamenco right-hand influence on the electric — the percussive, snapping attack comes from applying classical/flamenco right-hand technique to the electric guitar pick
• Latin rhythmic cycles — Di Meola frequently uses 3-against-4 and 2-against-3 rhythmic superimpositions. Understand these polyrhythmic concepts before attempting his style
• The acoustic "Friday Night in San Francisco" with Paco de Lucía and John McLaughlin is essential listening — the acoustic work demonstrates the flamenco vocabulary applied to jazz
• Bright amp, no overdrive — any distortion blurs the note definition that is the entire point of the picking technique
• Heavy pick, steep pick angle — a heavy jazz pick held at a steep angle produces the sharp attack. Thin picks at a flat angle produce the wrong transient
• Practise scales with a metronome at 40bpm using strict alternate picking before increasing tempo — the mechanics must be perfect before adding speed
• Harmonic minor and Phrygian dominant scales create the Latin character over minor chord progressions
• The left hand uses very light fretting pressure with fast release — the clarity of Di Meola's fast passages requires the fretted note to release immediately after being played
• Three-note-per-string scale patterns are the foundation of Di Meola's speed — these guitar-friendly patterns divide the scale evenly across strings, enabling smooth position shifts and consistent picking speed across the neck
• The guitar's tone knob stays at 5 or below — rolling off the treble prevents fast scalar passages from turning harsh and gives the warm-but-articulate clarity that characterises the 'Return to Forever' and 'Elegant Gypsy' recordings
• Study 'Mediterranean Sundance' for the interplay between acoustic classical guitar and Di Meola's electric — his most musical moments combine chord-melody passages with scalar runs, demonstrating that his style is not purely about speed

Al Di Meola brought flamenco-influenced right-hand technique to electric jazz-fusion guitar — his strict alternate picking (never legato), lightning-speed runs and Latin rhythmic sensibility created some of the 1970s' most technically astonishing recordings.

Al Di Meola is celebrated for his right-hand picking technique — an extremely clean, fast alternate-picking approach on both acoustic and electric guitars. His career spans jazz fusion with Return to Forever to acoustic world music collaborations with Paco de Lucía and John McLaughlin.