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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ How Many Patterns?

Posted by: steve25 May 11 2008, 03:34 PM

I was wondering how many patterns you'd recommend to practice when trying to improve on a technique. So for example picking patterns, you're obviously going to start off with an easy picking pattern, should you stick with that patter nuntil you nail it then go on to other patterns or should you practice multiple patterns with different ways of picking?

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic May 11 2008, 08:38 PM

Well, I would say you made a very general question and the answer must be general too. When you practice certain technique (whatever it may be), be sure to practice the things you don't feel comfortable first. Generally when you practice, it is not good to practice one thing at a time as it may get boring. It is better to practice 4 mini patterns in an hour than 1 big pattern per hour. i tend to practice 4 mini patterns and brake up the main thing I'm am working on during the whole hour, so 5 minutes in slower tempo on 1 pattern, 5 on the other patterns, 3rd and 4th, then I speed up the tempo and go around in circles until I get them all fast enough.

BTW, there is no such thing as "limited number of patterns for a technique" - you can make countless combinations, and do your best to work through them as precise and fast as you can.

Posted by: Hisham Al-Sanea May 11 2008, 09:43 PM

in general would be best.

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic May 11 2008, 09:59 PM

As Ivan said...Don't get stuck on one very particular thing , try several at a time - it will be a much more productive and fun practice session smile.gif

Posted by: Marcus Siepen May 12 2008, 01:44 PM

I am 100% wih Ivan here.

Posted by: steve25 May 12 2008, 06:58 PM

Ok cool i only have 1 pattern that i practice at the moment. I thought it would be better to nail one first then go onto something harder but it's ok for me to go nuts and have loads of patterns for a technique as long as i spend equal amount of time on them? I really want to get my picking down so i can practice lots of patterns?

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic May 12 2008, 11:48 PM

If you draw that 1 pattern or make audio sample of you playing it I can advise you much better on how to improve you current practice session.

Posted by: steve25 May 13 2008, 12:40 PM

Would you like me to give you my entire practice schedule or just the picking technique? I practice other things like legato, sweeping and tapping as well as other stuff.

Posted by: steve25 May 14 2008, 11:58 AM

Ok so last night i made a few more but i think there's still a lot missing so here it is at the moment

Picking
---------

E--15-14-12-------------
B-------------15-14-12--
G--------------------------
D-------------------------- Repeated and played as triplets
A--------------------------
E--------------------------

E---------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------
G------7-----7----7-------------------------
D--10----10---10---10-9-7-9-10-9-7-9----
A---------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------

I also practice Kris' small picking motion excercises which is here on GMC for picking excersises as well. Everything is done with strict alt picking.


Tapping
-----------

E---(17)-15-14-12-14-15-------------
B---------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------- All played with legato
A--------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------

The second tapping pattern i do is basically the same but i move the shape up and down the E string according to the scale. And the last one i day is the same as the second picking pattern i did there but with tap sliding and stuff on the 14th and 15th fret.


Legato
--------

E---------------------------------
B-------12-14-15-14-12--------
G---14--------------------------
D--------------------------------
A--------------------------------
E--------------------------------

E------------------------------
B------------------------------
G------------------------------
D---9-12-9-10-12------------
A------------------------------
E------------------------------

One other legato pattern i do is i'll take the first A minor pentatonic box and play up and down that using all legato, other than that that's all i do for legato.

Sweeping
------------

E--------------12-15-12----------------
B-----------13-----------13-------------
G--------12-----------------12----------
D-----14------------------------14------
A--15------------------------------15---
E-----------------------------------------

I only have one sweeping excercise, which i got from one a Pavel lesson.

So that's basically it, i'm trying to learn Hallowed Be Thy Name by Iron Maiden as well. And i do a few GMC lessons now and then like a few solos but there's a lot i want to do. I try to improvise over a backing track or a metronome a bit more nowadays but to be honest it's very off putting and i end up getting fed up within a few minutes with that. I used to just doodle but i've been told that's bad. I feel like my soloing isn't improving at all and i want to put something in my practice that'll help it because i feel like i don't improve in that area at all. So yeah i think that's about it.

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