Speed, Accuracy, Strength, Dexterity, Technique, etc.

[Drache713]

Hi everybody. I've been playing for over 2 years, and given that yes, I have gotton good at palm muting, simple one-string speed riffs and Zakk Wylde like pinche harmonics, I still cannot gather any sort of speed when playing. When running through a scale, arpeggio, solo, riff, or anything basiclly, I cannot go very fast before a. I screw up, or b. one of my hands gets ahead of the other. Can any of you offer advise as how to increase my speed? Also, when I get very bold and daring (or just plain frustrated), I'll ATTEMPT to play a solo somewhat fast, and while my fingers are sometimes up to speed, I miss notes and sound so bad that I barely sound better than a typical White Stripes song. Any advise on accuracy/precision work? AS WELL (getting annoyed yet?), my string bending and vibrato is lacking. I can get a pretty good, fast vibrato or pitch bend pushing the string UP, but it is a completely different story when I try to pull a string DOWN or try to do a super-bend, my fingers will hurt. Any suggestions? I have a fairly good grasp of the mental part of guitar (theory), I just fail at the physical aspect. Overall, I guess I'm just asking for help on how to become a faster, more accurate, precise, flexible, stronger player! Thanks.

[dcord]

The best way to build speed and stamina is to start slow. Buy a metronome if you don't have one. To build speed, set it so that you're playing 16th notes with the beat as fast as you can without mistakes. Accuracy is most important at this stage. Try to increase the metronome by 5-10bpm every ocuple of days. You'll be flying before you know it!

[BrianH]

yea, you aren't going to get anywhere without a metronome or drum machine. Also you must use alternate picking. You need a hard pick(no light guage picks in the speed camp). When using the metronome you must play cleanly, no mistakes!!! If you are making lots of mistakes slow it down.

[nvn]

Sempetra7621, I too consider my theory to be ahead of my mechanical skills...light years ahead in fact. Anyway, the answers regarding speed building are enough said on that matter - play accurately using a metronome. As for vibrato, that's a good thing to practice using a metronome too; practice vibrating the string in, for example, even 8th's. This is a good way to achieve control over your vibrato. You could practice bends in a similar manner.

I'd like to point out that when practicing vibrato and bends, it might be a good idea to have a reference tone. If you have a synthesizer, pin down a key on it and use like for instance a bass drone - with such a clear reference, you'll directly hear if your vibrato/bend sounds "off" - even if very little so. Just a tip. As Vai states in the vibrato lesson of his "mini lessons -84" available on his website, intonation is a very important thing to watch, so take precautions.

You say your fingers hurt when doing certain bends and such. What string gauge are you using? If you're into like 12's I understand you. But I guess you're not...so just start practicing under controlled circumstances, and start with small bends (all over the neck) and work your way up to larger intervals. Strength will come with time, just make sure you do it right from the beginning. That's where I failed, and I'm still working to correct that. Good luck.

[Vai the god of Sound]

Originally Posted by Sempetra7621

I miss notes and sound so bad that I barely sound better than a typical White Stripes song.

Yikes and Jack White recently said in guitar world that Stevie Ray Vaughan "ain't no big thing, man"

[BrianH]

Originally Posted by Vai the god of Sound

Yikes and Jack White recently said in guitar world that Stevie Ray Vaughan "ain't no big thing, man"

jealousy can make ppl say the darndest things...

[Vai the god of Sound]