I want to play fast, write better songs (my songs suck), and be a better lead guitarist. What should I be practicing? Should I practice scales, so I can solo better? Should I practice writing stuff because eventually it will stop sucking? Should I be practicing songs like the type of songs I want to write?

listen and practice the music you want to write. If you listen and play different genres, it will rub off on you. Nothing bad, just might not be what you want. To get faster just learn a bunch of solos and keep getting faster and faster with them. For song writing just keep practicing, eventually you'll get better.

__________________

practice scales, go as fast as you can, BUT while keeping your notes sounding clean. and when you're learning riffs, learn chord combinations that they use. then transpose it anf use it for yourself

__________________

when you want to learn to play fast, dont jump into some jason becker or yngwie malmsteen shit, instead try more basic stuff like the scorpions....i learned some scorpions stuff and iron maiden and it really helped me develop faster licks when i want to play shred stuff. hope that helps

__________________

i've writen about a gig's worth of midi files of my own songs.
only about 7 are any good.

__________________

i say practice scales because then u'll learn good sounding combanations and while ur doing that ur gaining spead.

Listen different genres, try to do solos listenin' careful to the song, as metal=life said, don't waste time with complicated and unuseful solos, you will learn to make them easily (if a day you'll decide to kill yourself with them of course, eheheh), start with Iron, Scorpions, Nightwish, Hammerfall and so on...
For the songs... well, be the most unique possible and don't have limits, write what you fell
Good luck jaguar,

Irish

__________________

Practice everything from scales to chords...even lead guitarists play chords and all...but focus on open not barr chords for a higher lead type of sound...and allot of good solos do not use scales so be careful when you want to make your own solos or they will get dull fast...

what do u mean dont practice barr chords!?

if u dont learn barre chords u will just deprive yourself as a guitarist from not being able to play summtin.

look at it this way. take your fav. guitarist and try to play like them try everthing.

scales, chords(barre and power and reg. struming ones), just do anything really your fav. guitarist knos those chords so u knowing them is one step closering to playing like them

__________________

Piper!!! I dont mena dont learn them..just a lead guitarist mainly does open chords....it takes a day to learn barr chords...learn them and keep them in your inventory....but you should work allot on your open chords because they will give you the more lead guitarist type of sound