Hey guys,

ive been watching a few lessons, and im getting the hang of the licks, but i can't get anywhere near to the speed. I know speed is not a god given talent, and that you need to practice ALOT, but I don't know what to practice on. Could someone give me some good exercises to build up my speed (and clarity of notes), and if possibel, don't give me the chromatic one, because, i feel it doesn't really help me.

Thanks GMC

Dan

I am by means no expert but I have found that pure repetition of basic chromatic and pentatonic scales have doubled by speed in about 6 months. I only know this because I practice using my G2 metrodome and have been recording my progression all along. I started out at 40 bpm and now can hold about 80 doing 16th notes (4 notes per beat) with decent sound. I have found that using the 5 pentatonic boxes for speed practicing KILLS 2 BIRDS WITH 1 STONE. ALso practicing chromatc scales force you to work that dreaded little pinkey that has a mind all its own.

I know that scales are boring but I feel they are crucial for speed building and are giving me the ability to advance in my skills!

^ good advice

This obviously such a big topic/common request I am planning on a practice routine serie to sort things out...

/Kris

hey, thanks for the replies.

i have been practicing the 5 pentatonic boxes for a few days now, im still in the midst of learning them (1 more to go ) , but i havent been practicing with a metrononme, maybe i should start to do that.

Thanks guys, more suggestions are welcome aswell

A metronome is of most importance when you are learning guitar. Especially if you are doing scale work, and trying to get the speed up. A metronome will give you a strict, unflattering time structure, which you must fit your notes into correctly. If you can't do it, you need to slow down. If you improve your accuracy, once the speed comes into your playing, you'll sound great. If you don't, once you get some speed, you'll sound sloppy and all over the place.

And the idea behind the chromatic exercise is not only to improve your picking, but also your left hand finger independence. Eventually what you want, is a light touch with your fretting fingers, so that you can just place any of them down on the fretboard quickly, and effortlessly, without any of the other fingers wanting to go down as well. I'd suggest not to spend hours over it, but use it as a good warmup exercise at the start of your practice session, go up 12 frets or so, and back again.

/T

I have found the best way to get your seed up is a metrodome
I use a Boss DB-90 which has every thing you need plus more.
they used to be around $180.00 but now around $83.00 or less. It does not come with a power supply wich is around $20.00 or just use 9v batteries

Your speed will improve.

I know scales are boring but they have help me improved in all kinds of ways.

just like the others have said, you will improve.

The Best way to get on the right track is get a good metrodome

i currently am using Crystal Metronome which a few people on other forums have recommended. i am not really wanting to pay for a metronome since i am in the midst of paying for new equipment anyway.

Here's a couple of tips I picked up over the years.

1. Stay Relaxed. Pay close attention to muscle tension. (If you watch other guitarists, you'll notice that *good* guitarists seem to be totally relaxed when playing)

2. Use the lightest touch on the strings as possible. - Only press down enough to sound the note. The object is not to drive the string through the other side of the fretboard.

3. SLOW DOWN! - In order to play fast, you need to be able to play slowly and clean! If you play something 100 times perfect..then the 101st time will usually be perfect too. This way as you speed up the playing stays clean.

4. Watch your hand positions - Watch the vids of Kris and pay attention to his hand positions. You'll notice that depending on what he's playing, he uses 2 different fret hand positions.

Hope that helps everyone.

Those are four good points. Especially 1 and 3 for me. Relaxing was THE biggest thing that helped me work on getting my speed up. Of course you have to go slow before you can go fast but going faster is easy when your hand isn't all tense... that's a big one in my books.