Guitar Speed Exercises
 

Hi. Does anyone have any exercises they use to build speed for fast-paced shredding? Thanks

Take speed.

lol

Or, alternatively you could learn arpeggiated chords, alternate picking, and even some tapping techniques. Plenty of video's out there to help. Build up slow and use proper form to condition your muscle memory. It takes quite a bit of practice, but you'll get there if you put in the work.

'Kay cool thanks

Think most people would say start extremely slow with a metronome. 60 BPM. And do those 1 2 3 4 or 4 3 2 1 patterns.

Definitely want to take it slow at first as psychedlic mentioned, to make sure your form is good and you aren't learning bad habits.

on the other hand if you're a punk just strum the chords fast because nobody cares if you're sloppy

Practice, practice, practice till muscle memory takes over.

Miserlou by Dick Dale. And the picking style in that song. Practice 16th notes a bunch of times on a single note. Then change the note with as smooth a transition as possible. For right hand learn solos you like. Sweet child of mine isn't too hard I think. Depending where you are.

There's a book called Speed Mechanics for Lead Guitar by Troy Stetina. Don't get hung up on whatever genre or musical examples are in the book. It's all about refining your technique at the "atomic" level in order to get speed, and this book helped me more than probably any other at improving my speed/technique.

This is definitely something I need too lol

there are a lot of ways you can try to build up speed, but i would advise to not forget about the actual sound that you produce, a lot of shredders are quite laking tone wise. Practice a lot, record yourself, practicing, also the metronome is your friend, also i advise trying to practice with accoustic guitar, if it's ellectric - dont use too much effects when you're practicing technique (the effects should augment your sound, not obscure it, unless you're doing it on purpouse)

i started practicing 2 months ago, i do practice 3 days a week. but every time i start practicing it seems like i know nothing (i need 30 minutes to be in the same level i was in in a session before) i think i need to practice daily, but does anyone experienced the same thing im going through?

Hi, my first real post. I am not sure what instrument you play. I have experienced this like you with playing the guitar. I would practice chords and then scales. Do them every day even if it is for 10-15 minutes. As long as you have 2 or 3 days of heavy practice where muscle memory is made and that takes at least an hour minimum. The days of just 10 mins will still help reinforce the muscle memory being made.

Break up any lack of concentration buy alternating between playing chords and scales.

You need to start increasing the tempo only after you can play melodies without a glance and feel confident. Only after that, you can add new rhythms

Best speed exercise is to play slow

And then slowly up the tempo

A metronome helps, but is not necessary

Alternate Picking Exercises:

Practice playing scales, arpeggios, or simple patterns using alternate picking (down-up motion). Start slowly and gradually increase the tempo as you become more comfortable.
Three-Note-Per-String Scales:

Play scales using three notes per string, which can help improve your picking speed and accuracy. Practice these scales using alternate picking and focus on playing smoothly and evenly.
Economy Picking Exercises:

Economy picking involves using a combination of alternate picking and sweep picking to play notes more efficiently. Practice arpeggios and scale patterns using economy picking to build speed and fluidity in your playing.
String Skipping Exercises:

Practice skipping strings while playing scales or patterns to improve your accuracy and speed. Start slowly and gradually increase the difficulty by skipping more strings.
Legato Exercises:

Legato playing involves using hammer-ons and pull-offs to play notes, which can help you build speed and dexterity. Practice playing scales and patterns using legato technique to improve your overall speed and fluidity.
Metronome Practice:

Use a metronome to practice these exercises and gradually increase the tempo as you become more comfortable. Focus on playing cleanly and accurately, even at higher speeds.
Short Burst Exercises:

Practice short bursts of fast-paced shredding followed by brief rests. This can help you build endurance and control at higher speeds.
Focus on Relaxation:

It's important to stay relaxed while playing fast. Tension can slow you down and lead to sloppy playing. Focus on using minimal effort and staying relaxed in your hands and arms.

If you are a beginner, you can start playing with A minor pentatonic Scale.

Alternate Picking: Practice playing scales, arpeggios, or patterns using alternate picking (down-up-down-up) to build speed and accuracy.

Scales: Work on scales like the minor and major scales, as well as the modes (like the Dorian mode you mentioned) using a metronome to gradually increase speed.

Chromatic Exercises: Play chromatic scales (all 12 notes in a row) using different finger combinations to improve finger independence and speed.

String Skipping: Practice skipping strings while playing scales or patterns to improve accuracy and agility.

Legato Technique: Work on hammer-ons and pull-offs to create smooth, fast lines without relying solely on picking.

Economy Picking: Incorporate economy picking (a mix of alternate picking and sweep picking) for faster, more efficient playing.

Cross-Picking: Practice cross-picking patterns to improve picking across strings.

Sweep Picking: Practice sweep picking arpeggios to improve speed and accuracy when playing arpeggios.

Use a Metronome: Always practice with a metronome to gradually increase speed and maintain accuracy.

Focus on Relaxation: Keep your muscles relaxed while playing fast to avoid tension, which can slow you down.

Start slowly and focus on clean and accurate playing, gradually increasing speed as you become more comfortable. It's also important to warm up properly before practicing to avoid injuries.