I have talked to a lot of technically great guitarists
who are unaware of what i am about to tell you
I often hear "I'm having a bad guitar day"or "I can't play for shit today"
and this is because they are unaware of the importance of warmups
Think about it;
You get home from work, pick up your guitar
and try to play some super fast guitar solo
It just Isn't going to happen, no chance
If you warm up correctly every day before playing
you will be able to play faster and more
accurate than f you did not
There is no such thing as a "bad guitar day,
only days where you do not warm up correctly
ortry to play something that is beyond your skill level
If you play some good warm up excercises;
everyday will be a great day for your playing
Q. Why does warming up make me play better?
A. A good warm up will make you play better because;
1. It will increase the amount of blood flowing through your hands
2. It will help synchronise your left and right hands,
making your playing more accurate
3. It will relax stretch all the muscles and tendons you use playing guitar
Warmup Excercises:
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
l-5-6-5-6-5-6-5-6-5-6-5-6-----
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
Play this lick slowly and accurately using finger groupings;
1 and 2, 2 and 3, 3 and 4
there is no need to even attempt speed here,
your goal is to increase accuracy and blood flow, nothing else
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
l----7-----7------7------7-------
l--------------------------------
l-5-----5-----5------5----------
l--------------------------------
Play this lick slowly and accurately using finger groupings;
1 and 3, 2and 4, 1and 4
also play different chords you know to help warm up
and most importantly relax :)
Thursday, 30 November 2006
Sunday, 26 November 2006
Learn to Shred part nine : basic music theory
Basic Music Theory
Music theory is an essential part of songwriting;
without it all you can really do to write songs is
mess about with chords and hope you strike lucky.
With theory you can choose a key, then write a riff using a scale
in the same key thenmess with the iming of your riff to make it unique
There are many methos of songwriting using theory, so lets go over the basics
The Major Scale
A scale consists of a series of pitches arranged in ascending order,
spanning an octave.
The major scale follows a strict pattern of tones and semi-tones
(tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone)
In the key of C there are seven notes in the scale; these are (in ascending order of pitch)
CDEFGAB
these notes are referred to by numbers
C is the root note (someimes called the 1st)
The conventional music term for this is the Tonic
D is the Second
The conventional music term for this is the Supertonic
E is the Third
The conventional music term for this is the Mediant
(this is becaus it is halfway between the tonic and dominant notes)
F would be the Fourth
The conventional music term for this is the Subdominant
G is the Fifth
The conventional music term for this is the Dominant
A is the Sixth
The conventional music term for this is the Submediant
B is the Seventh
The conventional music term for this is the Leading Tone
(this leads back to the tonic/root note)
Harmony guitar
You can play a guitar harmony
by having another guitar part playing in unison with you in Perfect Harmony
Perfect intervals are the unison(same note),
fourth, fifth, and octave.
Perfect intervals are formed in the major scale
when the lower note is the tonic(root note)
Music theory is an essential part of songwriting;
without it all you can really do to write songs is
mess about with chords and hope you strike lucky.
With theory you can choose a key, then write a riff using a scale
in the same key thenmess with the iming of your riff to make it unique
There are many methos of songwriting using theory, so lets go over the basics
The Major Scale
A scale consists of a series of pitches arranged in ascending order,
spanning an octave.
The major scale follows a strict pattern of tones and semi-tones
(tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone)
In the key of C there are seven notes in the scale; these are (in ascending order of pitch)
CDEFGAB
these notes are referred to by numbers
C is the root note (someimes called the 1st)
The conventional music term for this is the Tonic
D is the Second
The conventional music term for this is the Supertonic
E is the Third
The conventional music term for this is the Mediant
(this is becaus it is halfway between the tonic and dominant notes)
F would be the Fourth
The conventional music term for this is the Subdominant
G is the Fifth
The conventional music term for this is the Dominant
A is the Sixth
The conventional music term for this is the Submediant
B is the Seventh
The conventional music term for this is the Leading Tone
(this leads back to the tonic/root note)
Harmony guitar
You can play a guitar harmony
by having another guitar part playing in unison with you in Perfect Harmony
Perfect intervals are the unison(same note),
fourth, fifth, and octave.
Perfect intervals are formed in the major scale
when the lower note is the tonic(root note)
Saturday, 25 November 2006
learn to shred : part eight; finger independence
Working on your finger independence is a good way to improve your playing
and make your playing tight and accurate.
These licks will feel difficult to play and akward, but play them nice and slow as the goal is to have four fingers that are strong and can play technically akward passages
EX 1
l----------------4--5-----------------
l-------------5--------4---------------
l----------4--------------5-----------
l-------5--------------------4--------
l----4--------------------------5------
l-5--------------------------------4----
Play this excercise with your thumb on the back of the neck and with your third and fourth fingers on the 4 and 5th frets respectively; make sure there is little tension in your hands and that your playing is nice and slow.
Move on to using your second and third fingers instead and the your first and second fingers
EX 2
l-----------------4--6-----------------
l--------------6--------4---------------
l-----------4--------------6-----------
l--------6--------------------4--------
l-----4--------------------------6-----
l--6--------------------------------4----
Repeat as before but using second and fourth fingers and then first and third
EX 1
l----------------4--5--4-----------------
l---------4--------------------4----------
l------------5-------------5--------------
l-----5----------------------------5-------
l--------------------------------------------
l-4------------------------------------4----
Use finger groupings 3 and 4, 2 and 3, 1 and 2
and play accurately and slowly
and make your playing tight and accurate.
These licks will feel difficult to play and akward, but play them nice and slow as the goal is to have four fingers that are strong and can play technically akward passages
EX 1
l----------------4--5-----------------
l-------------5--------4---------------
l----------4--------------5-----------
l-------5--------------------4--------
l----4--------------------------5------
l-5--------------------------------4----
Play this excercise with your thumb on the back of the neck and with your third and fourth fingers on the 4 and 5th frets respectively; make sure there is little tension in your hands and that your playing is nice and slow.
Move on to using your second and third fingers instead and the your first and second fingers
EX 2
l-----------------4--6-----------------
l--------------6--------4---------------
l-----------4--------------6-----------
l--------6--------------------4--------
l-----4--------------------------6-----
l--6--------------------------------4----
Repeat as before but using second and fourth fingers and then first and third
EX 1
l----------------4--5--4-----------------
l---------4--------------------4----------
l------------5-------------5--------------
l-----5----------------------------5-------
l--------------------------------------------
l-4------------------------------------4----
Use finger groupings 3 and 4, 2 and 3, 1 and 2
and play accurately and slowly
Tuesday, 21 November 2006
learn to shred part 6 : harmonics
Harmonics
The best way to learn to play harmonics is to understand what they are
harmonics are notes that are created using the wave physics of the string.
There are many, many incredibly complicated equations that prove how hey work,
beleive me I know of them from my advanced higher physics in school,
but just take my word for them. ( http://superstringtheory.com/basics/basic4a.html )
Q. What are harmonics
A. Well, each string has areas called nodal points; where the string length is equally divisible by the length between the next node
The fundamental is the length of the string that vibrates (ie from the bridge to the nut)
if you lightly touch the string directly over a nodal point you split the vibration of the string in 2 directions both moving away from your finger, this increases the frequency of the vibration and
this increases the pitch you hear made by the string
The amount of pitch increase can be determined
by what nodal point you create the harmonic from;
look at the above image and notice
that every second node has no vibration in the middle of the string;
These nodes will produce a note that is an octave of the origonal note ie nodes 2, 4 and 6
on an open string these points are above the frets;
12th fret (node 2 one octave above open string)
5th and 24th fret (node 4 two octaves above open note)
fret 3.2 and above middle pickup (node 6 three octaves above fretted notes)
now you understand what a harmonic is here is how to play them:
all harmonic types require a light touch above a nodal point to sound them
pinch harmonics:
A lot of people have trouble learning these and that is because they do not understand what their hand is supposed to do to play them;
how to learn them:
pick an open string; let it ring for a second or two
then touch above the 12th fret with the side of the thumb still holding the pick and create a harmonic;
This is what your hand is doing when creating a pinch harmonic it just does it with one motion instead of two,
now hold your thumb close to the tip of the pick and try to play a harmonic at the 12th fret of the open string with one pick motion clipping the nodal point with your thumb when picking
congratulations that was a pinch harmonic
Fretted pich harmonics: these are slightly different because whe you are fretting a note the fundamental length is changed from the bridge to the nut, to the fretted note to the bridge
This changes the position of the nodes,
the 2nd node now will be 12 frets above the fretted note,
try and discover more nodes yourself
How to show off:
play an open string and the touch the 5th fret node with your tounge to create a harmonic,
take your time and make it look sexy on stage making sure that any girls in the audience see your tounge impliying oral sex; this is a great move to get the girls; tried and tested ;)
oh and btw
artificial harmonics are just picking a fretted note and then using a right hand finger to touch the node
The best way to learn to play harmonics is to understand what they are
harmonics are notes that are created using the wave physics of the string.
There are many, many incredibly complicated equations that prove how hey work,
beleive me I know of them from my advanced higher physics in school,
but just take my word for them. ( http://superstringtheory.com/basics/basic4a.html )
Q. What are harmonics
A. Well, each string has areas called nodal points; where the string length is equally divisible by the length between the next node
The fundamental is the length of the string that vibrates (ie from the bridge to the nut)
if you lightly touch the string directly over a nodal point you split the vibration of the string in 2 directions both moving away from your finger, this increases the frequency of the vibration and
this increases the pitch you hear made by the string
The amount of pitch increase can be determined
by what nodal point you create the harmonic from;
look at the above image and notice
that every second node has no vibration in the middle of the string;
These nodes will produce a note that is an octave of the origonal note ie nodes 2, 4 and 6
on an open string these points are above the frets;
12th fret (node 2 one octave above open string)
5th and 24th fret (node 4 two octaves above open note)
fret 3.2 and above middle pickup (node 6 three octaves above fretted notes)
now you understand what a harmonic is here is how to play them:
all harmonic types require a light touch above a nodal point to sound them
pinch harmonics:
A lot of people have trouble learning these and that is because they do not understand what their hand is supposed to do to play them;
how to learn them:
pick an open string; let it ring for a second or two
then touch above the 12th fret with the side of the thumb still holding the pick and create a harmonic;
This is what your hand is doing when creating a pinch harmonic it just does it with one motion instead of two,
now hold your thumb close to the tip of the pick and try to play a harmonic at the 12th fret of the open string with one pick motion clipping the nodal point with your thumb when picking
congratulations that was a pinch harmonic
Fretted pich harmonics: these are slightly different because whe you are fretting a note the fundamental length is changed from the bridge to the nut, to the fretted note to the bridge
This changes the position of the nodes,
the 2nd node now will be 12 frets above the fretted note,
try and discover more nodes yourself
How to show off:
play an open string and the touch the 5th fret node with your tounge to create a harmonic,
take your time and make it look sexy on stage making sure that any girls in the audience see your tounge impliying oral sex; this is a great move to get the girls; tried and tested ;)
oh and btw
artificial harmonics are just picking a fretted note and then using a right hand finger to touch the node
learn to shred part 7 : sweep picking
Sweep picking
Sweep picking is when you play two or more notes on adjacent strings by using all upstrokes or downstrokes. when playing a sweep you should push your guitar pick lightly through the strings so that you essentially make only one movemant for all the upstrokes or downstrokes that are transcribed next to each other. It is important to note that each note when playing a sweep is played seperately and not as a chord; you have to lightly relase each note so that it does not rig out before you play the next note.
sweep picking is different to any kind of picking you may have done before,
in fact it will probably feel closer to strumming than picking
EX 1 sweeping over two strings
l-------12--15p12-------------------------
l--14---------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
the most important part of this excercise is how you pick it; the first two notes should be played with one donwards picking motion that sounds both the b and e strings seperately, an upstroke is then played on the 15th fret of the e string and the a pull off to the 12th fret. This is a common rock speedlick used on many famous guitar solos that should be a very usefull tool to use when improvising
EX 2 sweeping over three strings
ex 2a donwards sweeping
l----------12--15---------------
l------13------------------------
l--14----------------------------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
The first three notes should be played with one donwards picking motion that
sounds the strings seperately, an upstroke is then played on the 15th fret of the e string
ex 2b upwards sweeping
l--15--12------------------------
l-----------13-------------------
l---------------14---------------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
the first note should be played with a downstroke,
then the last three notes should be played with
one upwards picking motion that sounds the strings seperately
EX3 the Steve Vai sweep
l----------12--15----------------
l------13----------13------------
l--14------------------12-------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
This should be played by downward sweeping the first three notes
and upward sweeping the last three notes,
essentially this lick plays six notes with only two pick motions.
This will allow you to play with amazing speed if you slowly synchronise your hands with a metronome (see learn to shred part two).
I call this the Steve Vai sweep because if you see Steve play liveand having a solo trade-off with another guitarist like Tony McAlpine he will always use this lick as a last resort if he feels he is being outplayed; because this is the fastest thing Vai can play whilst improvising
he will usually play this and move up the neck chromatically
Ex4 5 string dmajor sweep
1 4 2 2 2 1 4
l------------5-10------
l----------7------------
l--------7--------------
l------7----------------
l-5-9-------------------
l-----------------------
how to play: Start by upstroking the first note , the sweep down the next 5 notes
(from the 9th fret of a to the 5th fret of e) and finish by upward picking the 10th fret
I have included the fingering above the tab; you will notice that 3 notes in a row are played with your 2nd finger you do this by rolling your finger in a "rubber stamp motion" to mute he notes after you play them
EX5 a 6 string dmajor sweep
1 3 3 2 1 1 4
l------------------10-14------
l--------------10-------------
l-----------11----------------
l--------12-------------------
l-----12----------------------
l-10--------------------------
This should be played by sweeping the firs six notes the picking the last note,
also note that this is the same arpeggio as ex 5 but is a completely different sweep shape
What Now? Take the right hand sweeping patterns and apply different chord shapes, try playing them by sweeping both upwards and downwards.
tip: Try doing a six string donwards sweep and then play some finger-tapping in the same key
Sweep picking is when you play two or more notes on adjacent strings by using all upstrokes or downstrokes. when playing a sweep you should push your guitar pick lightly through the strings so that you essentially make only one movemant for all the upstrokes or downstrokes that are transcribed next to each other. It is important to note that each note when playing a sweep is played seperately and not as a chord; you have to lightly relase each note so that it does not rig out before you play the next note.
sweep picking is different to any kind of picking you may have done before,
in fact it will probably feel closer to strumming than picking
EX 1 sweeping over two strings
l-------12--15p12-------------------------
l--14---------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
the most important part of this excercise is how you pick it; the first two notes should be played with one donwards picking motion that sounds both the b and e strings seperately, an upstroke is then played on the 15th fret of the e string and the a pull off to the 12th fret. This is a common rock speedlick used on many famous guitar solos that should be a very usefull tool to use when improvising
EX 2 sweeping over three strings
ex 2a donwards sweeping
l----------12--15---------------
l------13------------------------
l--14----------------------------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
The first three notes should be played with one donwards picking motion that
sounds the strings seperately, an upstroke is then played on the 15th fret of the e string
ex 2b upwards sweeping
l--15--12------------------------
l-----------13-------------------
l---------------14---------------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
the first note should be played with a downstroke,
then the last three notes should be played with
one upwards picking motion that sounds the strings seperately
EX3 the Steve Vai sweep
l----------12--15----------------
l------13----------13------------
l--14------------------12-------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
This should be played by downward sweeping the first three notes
and upward sweeping the last three notes,
essentially this lick plays six notes with only two pick motions.
This will allow you to play with amazing speed if you slowly synchronise your hands with a metronome (see learn to shred part two).
I call this the Steve Vai sweep because if you see Steve play liveand having a solo trade-off with another guitarist like Tony McAlpine he will always use this lick as a last resort if he feels he is being outplayed; because this is the fastest thing Vai can play whilst improvising
he will usually play this and move up the neck chromatically
Ex4 5 string dmajor sweep
1 4 2 2 2 1 4
l------------5-10------
l----------7------------
l--------7--------------
l------7----------------
l-5-9-------------------
l-----------------------
how to play: Start by upstroking the first note , the sweep down the next 5 notes
(from the 9th fret of a to the 5th fret of e) and finish by upward picking the 10th fret
I have included the fingering above the tab; you will notice that 3 notes in a row are played with your 2nd finger you do this by rolling your finger in a "rubber stamp motion" to mute he notes after you play them
EX5 a 6 string dmajor sweep
1 3 3 2 1 1 4
l------------------10-14------
l--------------10-------------
l-----------11----------------
l--------12-------------------
l-----12----------------------
l-10--------------------------
This should be played by sweeping the firs six notes the picking the last note,
also note that this is the same arpeggio as ex 5 but is a completely different sweep shape
What Now? Take the right hand sweeping patterns and apply different chord shapes, try playing them by sweeping both upwards and downwards.
tip: Try doing a six string donwards sweep and then play some finger-tapping in the same key
Friday, 17 November 2006
learn to shred part 5 : tapping
Finger tapping
fingertapping is perhaps the most versatile technique you can use on the electric guitar
the most common tapping style is linear tapping; tapping notes along one string
building a good tapping technique will take time,
but will ultimately be hugely beneficial for you
the best way to use conventional tapping would be with the middle or ring finger ( anular )
on your right hand as this will allow you to still hold your guitar pick
one finger tapping (finger tapped notes are bold text)
l---12-5-7-12-5-7-12-5-7-12-5-7-----
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
take this pattern and apply it to a scale over all six stings
and practice it slowly for a hyper speed fluent soloing technique
two finger tapping ( middle finger is red and ring finger is green)
l-21-14-16-17-19-17-16-14----
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
three finger tapping ( index finger is blue, middle finger is red and ring finger is green)
l--------10-------------10---------------10---------
l---13-----------------------13----------------------
l------------12-----------------------12-------------
l---------------10---------------10------------------
l--------------------12-----------------------12-----
l------------------------------------------------------
fingertapping is perhaps the most versatile technique you can use on the electric guitar
the most common tapping style is linear tapping; tapping notes along one string
building a good tapping technique will take time,
but will ultimately be hugely beneficial for you
the best way to use conventional tapping would be with the middle or ring finger ( anular )
on your right hand as this will allow you to still hold your guitar pick
one finger tapping (finger tapped notes are bold text)
l---12-5-7-12-5-7-12-5-7-12-5-7-----
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
take this pattern and apply it to a scale over all six stings
and practice it slowly for a hyper speed fluent soloing technique
two finger tapping ( middle finger is red and ring finger is green)
l-21-14-16-17-19-17-16-14----
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
l--------------------------------
three finger tapping ( index finger is blue, middle finger is red and ring finger is green)
l--------10-------------10---------------10---------
l---13-----------------------13----------------------
l------------12-----------------------12-------------
l---------------10---------------10------------------
l--------------------12-----------------------12-----
l------------------------------------------------------
learn to shred part 4 : legato
Legato
The word legato translated literally means smoothly. Legato on the electric guitar involves three techniques: hammering on, pulling off and slides
hammer-ons are played by hitting a fret with the tip of your finger without using any picking
pull-offs are executed by pulling a finger off from a fretted note creating another note either an open string or a lower note on the same string
Legato will probably be your most used technique on stage when improvising solos
because it is genneally easier to play than alternate picking when nervous
Legato Development
to have fluid and fast legato licks you will need to build stamina in your left hand
Building stamina
practice the legato lick below slowly and evenly and after a while you will feel a slight cramp or
"burning sensation" in your hand play for 5 seconds after you feel the burn and then stop.
Do not play more than 5 seconds after the burn as you may injure yourself play this lick twice a day using the 5 second burn method and in a few days it will take 5 seconds longer before you start to feel the burn. Repeat this and you will gradually be able to play for longer and longer periods of time and you will also get faster
l------5h6p5h7p5h8p5h9p5-------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
legato licks
lick 1:
l-----------------------------------------
l-------5h7h8p7p5------5h7h8p7p5------
l--------------------8---------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
lick 2:
l-------------12h14h15p14p12-----------
l--12h14h15--------------------15p14---
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
lick 3
l---8p5h7h8p7p5-------------------------
l-------------------8p5h7h8p7p5---------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
The word legato translated literally means smoothly. Legato on the electric guitar involves three techniques: hammering on, pulling off and slides
hammer-ons are played by hitting a fret with the tip of your finger without using any picking
pull-offs are executed by pulling a finger off from a fretted note creating another note either an open string or a lower note on the same string
Legato will probably be your most used technique on stage when improvising solos
because it is genneally easier to play than alternate picking when nervous
Legato Development
to have fluid and fast legato licks you will need to build stamina in your left hand
Building stamina
practice the legato lick below slowly and evenly and after a while you will feel a slight cramp or
"burning sensation" in your hand play for 5 seconds after you feel the burn and then stop.
Do not play more than 5 seconds after the burn as you may injure yourself play this lick twice a day using the 5 second burn method and in a few days it will take 5 seconds longer before you start to feel the burn. Repeat this and you will gradually be able to play for longer and longer periods of time and you will also get faster
l------5h6p5h7p5h8p5h9p5-------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
legato licks
lick 1:
l-----------------------------------------
l-------5h7h8p7p5------5h7h8p7p5------
l--------------------8---------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
lick 2:
l-------------12h14h15p14p12-----------
l--12h14h15--------------------15p14---
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
lick 3
l---8p5h7h8p7p5-------------------------
l-------------------8p5h7h8p7p5---------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
l-----------------------------------------
Thursday, 16 November 2006
learn to shred part 3 : alternate picking
Before you undertake this lesson I reccomend you undertake my learn to shred lessons part 1 and 2; as they will help significantly here
Alternate picking
Alternate picking is picking with a downstroke followed by an upstroke repeatedly.
There are two main types of alternate picking; inside picking and outside picking
Inside picking is when you are crossing strings whilst picking and your pick travels in-between two strings. Inside picking generally feels more akward than outside picking
Outside picking is when you are crossing strings whilst picking and your pick travels over the next string and hooks around it> Outside picking is generally considered the most economical way of picking (except economy picking which i will explain later)
Alternate Picking Technique
Always pick by moving your wrist up and down not your elbow.
You should hold the pick at a slight angle to the string so it feels like you are slicing the string.
this is important as it encourages two things to happen
1. It will make you pick with a smaller amount of the pick (mainly just the tip) and pick lighter
2. It will stop the joints of your right finger and thumb from moving.
This is CRUCIAL if you want to pick really well and fast
I have created a lick for musically building speed and technique for outside picking that is made of the three
most important alternate picking patterns
l-------------------------------------------------------------------------
l-------------------------------------------------------------------------
l-------------------------------------------------------------------------
l----------7------------------7-8-7-------------------7-9-10-9-7---
l-7-8-10---10-8-7-8-10-----------10-8-7-8-10------------------
l-------------------------------------------------------------------------
use the metronoming technique from learn to shred part two
and build the speed as high as you can
Alternate picking
Alternate picking is picking with a downstroke followed by an upstroke repeatedly.
There are two main types of alternate picking; inside picking and outside picking
Inside picking is when you are crossing strings whilst picking and your pick travels in-between two strings. Inside picking generally feels more akward than outside picking
Outside picking is when you are crossing strings whilst picking and your pick travels over the next string and hooks around it> Outside picking is generally considered the most economical way of picking (except economy picking which i will explain later)
Alternate Picking Technique
Always pick by moving your wrist up and down not your elbow.
You should hold the pick at a slight angle to the string so it feels like you are slicing the string.
this is important as it encourages two things to happen
1. It will make you pick with a smaller amount of the pick (mainly just the tip) and pick lighter
2. It will stop the joints of your right finger and thumb from moving.
This is CRUCIAL if you want to pick really well and fast
I have created a lick for musically building speed and technique for outside picking that is made of the three
most important alternate picking patterns
l-------------------------------------------------------------------------
l-------------------------------------------------------------------------
l-------------------------------------------------------------------------
l----------7------------------7-8-7-------------------7-9-10-9-7---
l-7-8-10---10-8-7-8-10-----------10-8-7-8-10------------------
l-------------------------------------------------------------------------
use the metronoming technique from learn to shred part two
and build the speed as high as you can
Wednesday, 15 November 2006
learn to shred part 2; The metronome
welcome to part two in my learn to shred lessons.
Today we are going to learn how to use a metronome .
A metronome is a timekeeping device that keeps a beat
for musicians to play along to.
We can play in different time signatures by playing a different number of notes to each click;
Each time the metronome clicks you should play a note at the same time and optionally more notes; either one, two, three, four or six notes per click.
Make sure to play the note that lands on the click of the metronome slightly louder to accent the beat.
Building speed with the metronome:
The metronome is a fantastic thing that can help make you a faster guitarist if you understand the principles of speedbuilding;
Take the chromatic excercise below and play it at four notes per click
at a speed of 66 beats per minute.
Play as accurately as you can with your left thumb behind the neck and with your
guitar pick at an angle, so it slices through the strings (repeat this excercise over and over)
l----------------------------------------------------
l----------------------------------------------------
l------------------------------------5-6-7-8-------
l-------------------------5-6-7-8------------------
l---------------5-6-7-8----------------------------
l-----5-6-7-8--------------------------------------
l------------------------------------7-8-9-10------
l-------------------------7-8-9-10-----------------
l----9-8-7-6-7-8-9-10----------------------------
l----------------------------------------------------
l----------------------------------------------------
l----------------------------------------------------
l--11-10-9-7---------------------------------------
l---------------11-10-9-7--------------------------
l----------------------------11-10-9-8-7-8-9-10--
l----------------------------------------------------
l----------------------------------------------------
l----------------------------------------------------
l----------------------------------------------------
l----------------------------------------------------
l--9-8-7-6-----------------------------------------
l------------9-8-7-6-------------------------------
l------------------------9-8-7-6-------------------
l-----------------------------------9-8-7-6--------
Base Speed:
This is the fastest speed you can play accurately straight after you pick up the guitar
Working speed:
This is the fastest speed you can play accurately after playing the guitar for a while and properly warmed up
Now you understand the terminology lets get to the important bit;
How to build speed:
Take the above excercise and play it at 66 bpm ;
if you play it comfortably and accurately three times in a row then increase the metronome speed by 6bpm
if you make mistakes or feel uncomfortable decrease the speed by 6bpm
repeat this process for 30-45 minutes and write down this fully warmed up speed;
this is your working speed
repeat this everyday and you will notice that your working speed will gradually increase and you will find it easier to play faster with each day
A realistic speed after 2 months of this speedbuilding technique is 144 beats per minute and after 6 months you should hit 160-175 bpm
Today we are going to learn how to use a metronome .
A metronome is a timekeeping device that keeps a beat
for musicians to play along to.
We can play in different time signatures by playing a different number of notes to each click;
Each time the metronome clicks you should play a note at the same time and optionally more notes; either one, two, three, four or six notes per click.
Make sure to play the note that lands on the click of the metronome slightly louder to accent the beat.
Building speed with the metronome:
The metronome is a fantastic thing that can help make you a faster guitarist if you understand the principles of speedbuilding;
Take the chromatic excercise below and play it at four notes per click
at a speed of 66 beats per minute.
Play as accurately as you can with your left thumb behind the neck and with your
guitar pick at an angle, so it slices through the strings (repeat this excercise over and over)
l----------------------------------------------------
l----------------------------------------------------
l------------------------------------5-6-7-8-------
l-------------------------5-6-7-8------------------
l---------------5-6-7-8----------------------------
l-----5-6-7-8--------------------------------------
l------------------------------------7-8-9-10------
l-------------------------7-8-9-10-----------------
l----9-8-7-6-7-8-9-10----------------------------
l----------------------------------------------------
l----------------------------------------------------
l----------------------------------------------------
l--11-10-9-7---------------------------------------
l---------------11-10-9-7--------------------------
l----------------------------11-10-9-8-7-8-9-10--
l----------------------------------------------------
l----------------------------------------------------
l----------------------------------------------------
l----------------------------------------------------
l----------------------------------------------------
l--9-8-7-6-----------------------------------------
l------------9-8-7-6-------------------------------
l------------------------9-8-7-6-------------------
l-----------------------------------9-8-7-6--------
Base Speed:
This is the fastest speed you can play accurately straight after you pick up the guitar
Working speed:
This is the fastest speed you can play accurately after playing the guitar for a while and properly warmed up
Now you understand the terminology lets get to the important bit;
How to build speed:
Take the above excercise and play it at 66 bpm ;
if you play it comfortably and accurately three times in a row then increase the metronome speed by 6bpm
if you make mistakes or feel uncomfortable decrease the speed by 6bpm
repeat this process for 30-45 minutes and write down this fully warmed up speed;
this is your working speed
repeat this everyday and you will notice that your working speed will gradually increase and you will find it easier to play faster with each day
A realistic speed after 2 months of this speedbuilding technique is 144 beats per minute and after 6 months you should hit 160-175 bpm
Monday, 13 November 2006
Intermediate to advanced development
These excercises are aimed at an intermediate level player. They are focusing on building a good all round technique not just speed. This lesson is aimed at taking you from being an intermediate
player to an advanced player, concentrate on just one excercise at a time and do not move on through prematurely as you will only cheat yourself. Good Luck!
with these lessons I reccomend using a hard pick and a metronome, also set your amp to
the clean channel
All these excecises are to be repeated as clean as possible 100 times a day with a metronome for good improvement
THE THREE RULES OF GUITAR-these are your commandments, learn them
1. Speed Comes With Practice
2. Speed is a By-Product of Accurracy
3. Technique isn't Just Speed
Ex1. inside picking and string crossing acuracy
D U D U
start this playing at between 60-80bpm (slower if needed) at four notes per click making sure you start with a downstroke. build your speed with this up to 100bpm before moving on
Ex2. co-ordination whilst string skipping
l-------------------------------5-----------------l
l-----------------5-------------------------------l
l---5---------------------------------------------l
l-------7--5--7-----7--5--7-------7--5--7---l
l--------------------------------------------------l
l--------------------------------------------------l
Repeat like ex1 building to 100 bpm. Remember accuracy IS more important than speed
Ex3. The 124 and 134 finger patterns (also known as scale fragments)
l-------------------------------------------l
l-------------------------------------------l
l-------------------------------------------l
l-------------------------------------------l
l-------------------- 7--9--10--9--7-----l
l-10--8--7--8--10-----------------------l
These patterns are very very common amongst pickers and this excercise is very good for developing speed Start at 75 bpm and build to 120bpm with your metronome
Ex4. fast picking with inside and outside picking
l--------------------------------------------------------------------l
l--------------------------------------------------------------------l
l------------------------7--9--10--9--7--------------------------l
l-------------7--9--10-------------------10--9--7---------------l
l--7--9--10-----------------------------------------10--9--7----l
l--------------------------------------------------------------------l
Start at 90bpm and build to 140 making sure your picking hand is nice and relaxed
Ex5 a fast picking run with position shifting
l---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l--------------------------------------------------------------------------7--9--10---l
l-----------------------7--9--10--9--7----------------------7--9--10--------------l
l---10--8--7--8--10---------------------10--8--7--8--10-------------------------l
l--------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l--------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------------9--11--12--11--9----------------l
l-9--7--------------------------9--10--12-----------------------12--10--9--l
l--------10--9--7--9--10--12------------------------------------------------l
l--------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l------------------------------12--13--15------------------------------13--15--17-l
l---------------11--12--14----------------14--12--11--12--14--16----------------l
l-10--12--14-------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l---14---15--17--19--22--24------l
l---------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------l
Take your time and learn this slowly--making sure you're economic with your picking and that your picking is accurate. Start the metronome speed at 60bpm (yes I said 60) and build it up to 180bpm over the next 4-8 months. If you've made it this far congratulations, you are now a technically advanced player
player to an advanced player, concentrate on just one excercise at a time and do not move on through prematurely as you will only cheat yourself. Good Luck!
with these lessons I reccomend using a hard pick and a metronome, also set your amp to
the clean channel
All these excecises are to be repeated as clean as possible 100 times a day with a metronome for good improvement
THE THREE RULES OF GUITAR-these are your commandments, learn them
1. Speed Comes With Practice
2. Speed is a By-Product of Accurracy
3. Technique isn't Just Speed
Ex1. inside picking and string crossing acuracy
l---------------------l
l---------------------l
l----5----------------l
l-------7--5--7-----l
l---------------------l
l---------------------l
l---------------------l
l----5----------------l
l-------7--5--7-----l
l---------------------l
l---------------------l
start this playing at between 60-80bpm (slower if needed) at four notes per click making sure you start with a downstroke. build your speed with this up to 100bpm before moving on
Ex2. co-ordination whilst string skipping
l-------------------------------5-----------------l
l-----------------5-------------------------------l
l---5---------------------------------------------l
l-------7--5--7-----7--5--7-------7--5--7---l
l--------------------------------------------------l
l--------------------------------------------------l
Repeat like ex1 building to 100 bpm. Remember accuracy IS more important than speed
Ex3. The 124 and 134 finger patterns (also known as scale fragments)
l-------------------------------------------l
l-------------------------------------------l
l-------------------------------------------l
l-------------------------------------------l
l-------------------- 7--9--10--9--7-----l
l-10--8--7--8--10-----------------------l
These patterns are very very common amongst pickers and this excercise is very good for developing speed Start at 75 bpm and build to 120bpm with your metronome
Ex4. fast picking with inside and outside picking
l--------------------------------------------------------------------l
l--------------------------------------------------------------------l
l------------------------7--9--10--9--7--------------------------l
l-------------7--9--10-------------------10--9--7---------------l
l--7--9--10-----------------------------------------10--9--7----l
l--------------------------------------------------------------------l
Start at 90bpm and build to 140 making sure your picking hand is nice and relaxed
Ex5 a fast picking run with position shifting
l---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l--------------------------------------------------------------------------7--9--10---l
l-----------------------7--9--10--9--7----------------------7--9--10--------------l
l---10--8--7--8--10---------------------10--8--7--8--10-------------------------l
l--------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l--------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------------9--11--12--11--9----------------l
l-9--7--------------------------9--10--12-----------------------12--10--9--l
l--------10--9--7--9--10--12------------------------------------------------l
l--------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l------------------------------12--13--15------------------------------13--15--17-l
l---------------11--12--14----------------14--12--11--12--14--16----------------l
l-10--12--14-------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
l---14---15--17--19--22--24------l
l---------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------l
l---------------------------------------l
Take your time and learn this slowly--making sure you're economic with your picking and that your picking is accurate. Start the metronome speed at 60bpm (yes I said 60) and build it up to 180bpm over the next 4-8 months. If you've made it this far congratulations, you are now a technically advanced player
learn to shred
welcome to the first part of my tutorial: learn to shred,
where I shall take your playing and supercharge it with the secrets and techniques of shred guitar
Q. What is shred guitar?
A. Shred guitar is a style of playing the guitar in a fast and technically profficient way
Listen to a song called Scarified by Racer X to see what correct practice can do
for your playing ( search scarified on youtube to see the song )
Q. wow that is some good playing, how can I play like that? and how long will it take me?
A. Through correct practice and patience you could learn to play like this within 6 months
Equipment list:
for these lessons you will need: an electric guitar(check the link above) , a metronome
( http://www.metronomeonline.com/ )
A heavy guitar pick (plectrum) ; I reccomend the dunlop big stubby 2mm
and 30-60 minutes a day
Introduction
Hi everyone I am John Aiton,
Through my experience of trying to find lessons on the internet for various subjects,
I have found out that a lot of the information I look for doesn't exist
so I will be creating various faq's and post them as blogs
most of my tutorials will be about the electric guitar;
lessons, advice about equipment and generaly I will go into more detail than other sources to give better advice
Another set of tutorials will be about role playing games and good resources I have found
generally reccomendations and reviews of games that are unique
Through my experience of trying to find lessons on the internet for various subjects,
I have found out that a lot of the information I look for doesn't exist
so I will be creating various faq's and post them as blogs
most of my tutorials will be about the electric guitar;
lessons, advice about equipment and generaly I will go into more detail than other sources to give better advice
Another set of tutorials will be about role playing games and good resources I have found
generally reccomendations and reviews of games that are unique
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