Alternate Picking Speed Options

[Ayen]

So I've been practicing guitar more and more every day, sometimes around four hours a day, and lately I've realized my Alternate Picking is terrible. I can't maintain too fast of a speed, or I'll start hitting strings as I'm going down, or miss the string altogether. I've used a metronome, slowed down greatly, and I've started working on Alternate Picking patterns, especially tough ones that I've had trouble with. Every now and then I'll get bored, so I'll try to do a quick speed run of say:

-17-15-14-------------------------------------------------------------------------17-19-20-----
------------15-14-12-15-14-12---------------------------------------15-17-18----------------
-----------------------------------15-14-12---------------14-15-16-----------------------------
----------------------------------------------12-14-15---------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I do hope that's not impossible to read, it's the only tab I've ever written.

Anyway, say about halfway through that, at 12-14-15, I'll start losing my place and hitting and missing strings I dont want to. I know what you're thinking, use the Metronome, but I have. I've spent over an hour on this pattern alone today, going from 40bpm to 140bpm, and yet I still have the same issue at full speed.

I've even tried changing picks. I used to use Clayton .50's, and I went out and bought some Jazz III picks, and while I'm noticing a big difference, I still have the same issue.

Has anyone had this issue? Am I expecting too much too soon, or do I have to do something other than what I've done so far?



I'll try recording something first thing tomorrow morning, by then my camera's batteries should have recharged.

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This post has been edited by Ayen: Feb 6 2008, 09:09 AM