HoneyboyHart

I'm not into leads with a lot of notes per say. Flash does nothing for me. But I'd like to be able to play faster for swing and jazz types of leads. Any suggestions?

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Geldin

The secret to playing fast is playing relaxed.

Basically, you want to make relaxed, economical motions muscle memory in your picking and fretting hands. Your question is really broad, so that's the best answer I can provide.

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bangoodcharlote

To clarify, you don't care about speedy guitar work, and you want to play faster, correct?

You will need the following tools:



Start slow. Gradually increase the tempo as you are able to play cleanly whatever it is that you're practicing. Don't increase the tempo until you have mastered (when you stop screwing up) the passage at the slower tempo.

There are a lot of ways to practice your technique. I like finger exercises: practicing the technique(s) in every situation you can surmise.

Make sure that if nothing else, you can alternate pick.

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kemingt

^this

Try working hard on alternate picking too. It has a more agressive and speedy feel in comparison to economy/legato.

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Zaphod_Beeblebr

So of course for jazz and swing playing that's exactly what TS should be doing

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mdc

For quick bursts of speed in jazz, learn how to sweep over 3 strings. Jazz uses a lot of arpeggios, and although sweep picking is viewed as a shred technique by many, it's actually very common in jazz for squeezing in a few arpeggio lines.

Barney Kessel sweep picks quite often.

For other techniques, Pat Martino uses a lot of alternate picking at ridiculous tempos. Don't forget he had to learn guitar all over again due to a brain embolism.

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Sweet

Another Won

practice. with a metronome very slow. Thats all.


that is honestly the secret to achieving any speed your heart desires.

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Zaphod_Beeblebr

Not on its own it isn't. You need to make sure your movements are small and relaxed as well, that's the hard part.

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macashmack

Don't forget to warm up before you start practicing. It's one of the most important parts. Stretch your arms and fingers a little bit, then just do a couple chromatic 1-2-3-4 1-3-4-2 etc. patterns for 10 minutes to get warmed up.

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Modes and scales are intelligent and useful. Start learning them. Seriously.

mdc

That's a good one, especially when using legato.

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Sweet

AnthonyatSNB

General advice when trying to play faster--alternate playing fast and slow.

Truly practice what you are playing; play it slow, where you can play it perfectly. The next time through, play at the intended speed. Play faster if you can already play your licks at the proper speed perfectly.

I've found this gives you great balance--you don't stray from the development of technique or from the development of skill

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Anon17

Also remember that while it isn't too hard to get to grips with alternate picking compared to other techniques, it's probably the technique that you'll need to spend the most time on to get it really good. Relaxation, as others have said, is absolutely key and personally I believe is the hardest part of getting great alternate picking because when you speed up your body tries to help you do that by tensing up which is exactly the opposite of what you want.

Eventually it'll all work out though if you put the work in.

\m/MorteEtDabo.

masturbation is the best way to play guitar faster

-Daron Malakian