what can you guys suggest that I do to build up my skill so I can start shredding? obviously one could say "get faster" but I want to know wehat YOU did that helped you acheive it.

thanks

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Not knowing your level, it's very hard to say where to start. If you're in intermediate player, I would recommend grabbing some training videos like Vinnie Moore, Paul Gilbert and Joe Satriani. In fact, I think I downloaded a few right off the internet. Those will give you strict guidelines as to proper technique to help build your speed (i.e. patterns like 1, 4, 2, 4 for example).

I used to set up a strict practice schedule: 15 minutes of warming up (strumming, alternate picking, etc.). I then would do a technique that consisted of playing the following notes: high E: 1, 2, 3, 4, then B: 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. up to the low E, then back down to the high E. Then move up one position (i.e. 2, 3, 4, 5), then on the B string: 2, 3, 4, 5 (referring to the frets). Use all 4 fingers. Anyway, do that up to the 15th fret, then go back, fret by fret (i.e. 15th fret, then start at 14th fret). When you're done, do the same thing, but 4, 3, 2, 1, etc. After you finish that one, do 3's (1, 2, 3 on E, 1, 2, 3 on B, etc.). Then 3, 2, 1 and so on.

I would then do an alternate picking excersise using the same pattern above (as far as moving up one fret at a time), but do it as: E1, E2, B1, E3, B2, G1, E4, B3, G2, D1, etc. (it's a pattern that helps your alternate picking).

These are really just two exercises of about 12 that I did. I had a lot of time on my hands at that time

I was extremely disceplined when I was younger (not sure how, lol), but the Paul Gilbert and Vinnie Moore instruction videos were two that I studied pretty thorough, and basically what I learned was to practice patterns and emphasize good technique.

Hope this helps.

good advice, also look at atifs signature he has a bunch of good practice tech's you can learn to get faster, its just practice and practice, thats the best way to get there

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dont be like me and Neglect your picking

im only in the process of correcting mine now

Sadly, I am like you. I always pick down. and im in the middle of correcting it after five years of playing. My tremolo picking is ridiculous as said by others but they think that if you can trem pick good, that you can pick alternatively good as well. but they dont see that it isnt quite true.

Thanks for the advice everyone. its greatly appreciated as always

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on top of the above techniques, i'd suggest you maybe use a small picks like a jazz 3, really good for speed

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The way i learned is by learning the song you want to play and then just playing it and coming up with different ways to play so i could play it as quickly and efficiently as possible. Dont let someone teach you how to play the guitar it only slows the mind, use your wonderful mind to come up with your own style and techniques and you will see that you come up with a lot of the same techniques that are taught everywhere else.

a few weeks of practice and my picking will be alot better


this summer i lost whatever picking talent i have when i started to do everything legato

im still working on alternate picking/economy picking, but am getting better, theres a point though were it just become tremolo, which i am pretty good at.

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do everything i never could do... learn scales, and/or take lessons. that will always help no matter how long uve been playing or how fast u r. i can play fast i just cant write ne good solos. and always remember that u can always learn something new when playing guitar. and obviously u need to practice alot, take it slow then build the speed.

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yup.

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