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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Hardest Shred Technique To Master?
Posted by: jimijames Mar 26 2013, 11:47 PM
In your opinion what is the most difficult shred technique to master? Sweeping, string skipping, speed picking? Or anything else not mentioned. If you can give your reasons in depth that would be great. Thanks guys! 
Posted by: leonard478 Mar 27 2013, 12:19 AM
Of course i cant speak for everyone but to me Alternate picking has always been a huge struggle, but right now im doing todd's shred bootcamp so it wont be a struggle for much longer 
. I'd say in about a years time i should be able to alternate pick fairly comfortably.
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Mar 27 2013, 05:20 AM
Good question! I suspect that the most difficult one is the one that you practice less. However I could say that AP can be the one that requires more practice to master all the different possibilities.
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 27 2013, 11:53 AM
Gabe has started on the right foot here, so i will continue carrying the flag - the technique which you practice less is the most difficult. They are all different and involve different approaches.
If you take the right time to practice one technique and see all its facets you will eventually become better and better, but the same ritual/ approach should be applied for each technique.
I think that guitarists such as Guthrie Govan, who are proficient in any technique - literally, Guthrie can do it all, right? - are first and foremost very focused on practicing correctly from the very beginning and paying attention to getting the right details into their routine. When I say routine, I don think about practicing triplets, 16th notes etc, but the way they hold the pick, the way they are able to relax without stopping in the middle of a phrase and so on. These should be the things to pay attention to when thinking of your routine of practice.
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Mar 27 2013, 01:26 PM
If you take the right time to practice one technique and see all its facets you will eventually become better and better, but the same ritual/ approach should be applied for each technique.
I think that guitarists such as Guthrie Govan, who are proficient in any technique - literally, Guthrie can do it all, right? - are first and foremost very focused on practicing correctly from the very beginning and paying attention to getting the right details into their routine. When I say routine, I don think about practicing triplets, 16th notes etc, but the way they hold the pick, the way they are able to relax without stopping in the middle of a phrase and so on. These should be the things to pay attention to when thinking of your routine of practice.
Thanks Cosmin! You could go deeper in a very good way. Good examples!
Posted by: Blister Mar 27 2013, 01:38 PM
It is a good question & unexpected, yet brilliant answer that makes perfect sense! There are so many techniques when comes to "guitar artistry", it is really difficult to practice everything on a regular basis.
This negates my last line
. Guthrie always seems so nice & cool. He seems to be a genuinely nice guy. Truly amazing guitarist!But to answer the original question, for me and I consider myself beginner/intermediate, would probably be sweeping. While I do practice alt picking nearly every practice, it is hard enough to sync picking styles as it is, but syncing with precision needed for sweeping would be my nemesis.
Posted by: Darius Wave Mar 27 2013, 02:42 PM
Ha ha! I fell of my chair!
No better, possible punchline The one we practise less I still think it's alternate picking cause it's needs good control, synchro and strength from both hands
Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Mar 27 2013, 03:15 PM
My vote goes to alternate picking and tapping. Both techniques require a very good level of control that later on translates to other techniques like string skipping etc. Advanced tapping incorporates legato technique and finger independence so it might be the hardest one IMO.
Posted by: klasaine Mar 27 2013, 05:55 PM
Being 'musical' with whatever technique(s) you choose - ?
That technique actually seems to be pretty elusive to many.
Posted by: TreyDeschamp Mar 27 2013, 06:54 PM
Legato or string skipping for me.
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 28 2013, 08:55 AM
That technique actually seems to be pretty elusive to many.
1 - 0 for Ken
Very, very good point man!Thank you Gabe!
Posted by: klasaine Mar 28 2013, 05:51 PM
'Intent' within a musical pursuit generally facilitates the need and the ability to master (whatever that means - ?) a particular technique.
EVH wanted to emulate Allan Holdsworth. But he couldn't do it with Allan's specific legato technique, huge hands and truly bizarre right hand approach ... so he figured out another way - tapping. It was in the pursuit of a musical goal that got him where he needed to be.
An old jazzer once told me, "if you know where you're going, you'll usually get there".
OK, enough of the esotericism.
For me it's always been 16th note triplets within any tempo over 100 bpm. I'm finally getting better at it for two reasons:
1) Two of Ben Higgin's challenge licks (thank you Ben and GMC!).
2) I'm finally hearing it in a musical context that pertains to me and what I hear and want to do.
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 29 2013, 09:40 AM
It is indeed important not to go crazy over mastering all the techniques but focusing on becoming proficient in some which you are naturally inclined towards.
Ken's example regarding EVH is very good, as he realized that he and Mr. Holdsworth are different and trying to emulate his technique would not lead towards any really great personal achievements.
So now, I'm thinking that the natural question would be... -> http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=48390
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