How To Play Fast - Hyper Speed Picking

How do players like Yngwie Malmsteen, Al Di Meola, Steve Morse and Paul Gilbert pick so quickly and cleanly? Hyper speed picking abilities are the product of a logical, pragmatic technical approach based on economy of movement-playing the most notes with the least amount of effort. This primer will help you think in these terms. With this mind-set, you'll be able to build an arsenal of smooth, fast, picking licks that you can execute even on your worst day.

To get started, grab a freshly-minted plectrum (pick) and hold it between your thumb and index finger with the pointed end facing the strings. Even though this standard grip seems the most logical way to hold the pick, some speed demons do it differently: Eddie Van Halen holds the pick between his thumb and middle finger; James Hetfield and Steve Morse use a three-fingered grip (thumb, middle and index); and Pat Metheny picks with the rounded side of the plectrum. If you play better using an unorthodox grip, go ahead-you can't argue with success.

Now rest the heel of your palm on the strings in front of the bridge. This technique is called "palm muting". The more pressure you apply, the "chunkier" your sound will be. For lightning runs, a light pressure will allow the strings to ring, but will cut unwanted noise. Where you pick is also important: picking right in front of the bridge produces a trebly twang, whereas picking closer to the neck creates a softer, mellower tone.

The angle at which you attack the strings also effects your sound. Holding the pick parallel to the strings and plucking produces the clearest attack. "Slicing" the string at an angle yields a less-defined attack. If you're sitting down, anchor your right forearm to the guitar's body for added control and stability. If you're standing up, the angle between your wrist and arm will depend on the length of your strap. Adjust your strap to where you're the most comfortable. Don't put the guitar lower than you can handle: no matter how cool you look walking out on stage with the guitar around you knees, the spell will be broken the moment you try to play something in that awkward position.

You can also anchor your pinky on the pickguard to help maintain stability and provide your hand with a close point of reference. Experts disagree about the benefits of anchoring your hand in this way, so if it doesn't feel right, don't do it.

Now that you've achieved the perfect picking posture, you're ready for the two basic alternate-picking moves" the upstroke and downstroke. The moves are easy, but getting them to flow quickly and smoothly is the trick to attaining warp speed. Some players favor the stiff-wrist approach, which restricts all movement to the elbow joint. The circular motion approach, employing only the thumb and index fingers, is another technique. But most players get the best results by initiating all movement in their wrist. Use the technique that feels the most natural to you and always remember to keep your wrist relaxed.

If you feel any pain during a workout, stop immediately. Pain is your body's way of telling you that you're doing something wrong. Stop and rest. If the pain or soreness persists, see an orthopedic specialist to make sure you aren't developing tendinitis.

The most effective alternate-picking exercises are short, repeating patterns that focus on one particular type of maneuver. Figure 1 is a good beginner-level exercise for developing a smooth coordinated tremolo picking technique. Practice this exercise at a moderate tempo (80-100 beats per minute) with a drum machine or metronome and try to keep the picking motion on an even, back and forth plane without leaping over the string. Relax your right hand as much as possible while gradually increasing speed. Watching your picking in a mirror is a bio-feedback technique that can really help you relax.

Gradually increase the tempo as you get better. You're smokin' if you can perform this exercise at 160 beats per minute. Don't forget to always use a clean tone (no distortion).

h  - hammer on
p  - pull off
\  - slide down 
/  - slide up
tr - trill
u  - upstroke
d  - downstroke

Figure 1:
  d  u  d  u  d etc
||-0--0--0--0--3--3--3--3--4--4--4--4--7--7--7--7-|
||------------------------------------------------|
||------------------------------------------------|
||------------------------------------------------|
||------------------------------------------------|
||------------------------------------------------|


|-8--8--8--8--11--11--11--11--12--12--12--12--15--15--15--15-|
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------------------|


|-16--16--16--16--15--15--15--15--12--12--12--12--11--11--11--11-|
|----------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------------|

|-8--8--8--8--7--7--7--7--4--4--4--4--3--3--3--3------||
|-----------------------------------------------------||
|-----------------------------------------------------||
|-----------------------------------------------------||
|-----------------------------------------------------||
|-----------------------------------------------------||

Figures 2-4 are some cool, easy-to-execute, single string speed licks, designed to help improve your left/right hand synchronization. As you become familiar with each one's fingering pattern, try moving in onto another string. Every string feels different-not only are they different thicknesses, your pick attacks them at different angles. These kinds of licks are not only easy to pick at high speeds, they also sound (and look) impressive. Once you feel comforatble performing them quickly, you're ready for string-crossing.

Figure 2:
  d u d u etc
||-4-3-2-1-5-4-3-2-6-5-4-3-5-4-3-2-|-6-5-4-3-7-6-5-4-8-7-6-5-7-6-5-4-|
||---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
||---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
||---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
||---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
||---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
 

|-8-7-6-5-9-8-7-6-10-9-8-7-9-8-7-6-|-10-9-8-7-11-10-9-8-12-11-10-9-11-10-9-8-||
|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------||
|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------||
|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------||
|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------||
|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------||


Figure 3:
  d u d u
||-0-1-3-4-1-3-4/6-3-4-6/7-4-6-7/9-|-6-7-9/10-7-9-10/12-9-10-12/13-10-12-13/-15-|
||---------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
||---------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
||---------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
||---------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
||---------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|


|-15-13-12\10-13-12-10\9-12-10-9\7-10-9-7\6-|-9-7-6\4-7-6-4\3-6-4-3\1-4-3-1-0-|| 
|-------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|| 
|-------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|| 
|-------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|| 
|-------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|| 
|-------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|| 

Figure 4:
  d u d u etc
|-4-0-2-0-5-0-2-0-7-0-4-0-9-0-5-0-|-11-0-7-0-12-0-9-0-14-0-11-0-16-0-12-0-||
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------------||
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------------||
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------------||
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------------||
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------------||

All the previous exercises, involve picking on a single-string-a fairly simple technique to master. String crossing is substantially more complicated. The goal is to arrange all the string crosses so they feel natural and comfortable. The number of notes to be played on each string and the direction of your first picking stroke (up or down) determine how easy or difficult a pattern is to pick. With a bit of thoughtful experimentation, you'll be able to find those patterns that work well for fast alternate picking-and weed out those that don't.

Figures 5A-C show three different ways to pick the same lick. The first way (fig 5A) is the most laborious for the right-hand-it requires the pick to make four awkward string crosses. Figure 5B shows a much smoother, easier way to pick the same run. Notice that there are only two string crosses. Figure 5C is the easiest. The E note moves over to the 3rd string and the whole pattern begins with a downstroke, enabling you to best accent the downbeats for a strong, forcefull attack.

Figure 5A (laborious):            
||----------------------------||  
||---------------8------------||  
||-----7--9--10-----10--9--7--||  
||-10-------------------------||  
||----------------------------||  
||----------------------------||

Fig 5B  (easier):            
||-------------------------||
||-------5--6--8--6--5-----||
||-5--7-----------------7--||
||-------------------------||
||-------------------------||
||-------------------------||

Fig 5C (Easier):
||-------------------------||
||----------6--8--6--------||
||-5--7--9-----------9--7--||
||-------------------------||
||-------------------------||
||-------------------------||

The exercises in Figures 6-10 are designed to improve you string-crossing technique. Practice them with a metronome and concentrate on keeping your right hand as relaxed as possible while increasing speed gradually. Try your own variations on these exercises and incorporate them into your warm-up routine.

Figure 6:
||-------------------------------------------------||
||-------------------------------------------------||
||-7--5--------7--5--------7--5--------7--5--------||
||-------7--5--------7--5--------7--5--------7--5--||
||-------------------------------------------------||
||-------------------------------------------------||


Figure 7:
||-------------------------------------------------||
||-------------------------------------------------||
||----------5--7--5-----------------5--7--5--------||
||----5--7-----------7--5-----5--7-----------7--5--||
||-7-----------------------7-----------------------||
||-------------------------------------------------||


Figure 8:
||------------------------------------------------------||
||--------------10-------------------------8------------||
||--------7--8------8--7-------------7--8-----8--7------||
||-7--10------------------10--7--10-----------------10--||
||------------------------------------------------------||
||------------------------------------------------------||


Figure 9:
||-------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
||-------------------------------------|-------------------------5--8--5----|
||-------------------------------------|-------5--7--5-----5--7-----------7-|
||-------------------------5--7--5-----|-5--7-----------7-------------------|
||-------5--7--5-----5--7-----------7--|------------------------------------|
||-5--8-----------8--------------------|------------------------------------|


|-------5--8--5-----------5----------|------------------------------------|
|-5--8-----------8--5--8-----8--5----|-------5----------------------------|
|----------------------------------7-|-5--7-----7--5-----------5----------|
|------------------------------------|----------------7--5--7-----7--5----|
|------------------------------------|----------------------------------7-|
|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|


|-------------------||
|-------------------||
|-------------------||
|-------5-----------||
|-5--7-----7--5-----||
|----------------8--||


Figure 10:
||------------------------------------------------|--------------------------|
||------------------------------------------------|-------------5------------|
||-------------------------------------5----------|-------5--7-----7--5------|
||-------------5-----------------5--7-----7--5----|-5--7-----------------7---|
||-------5--7-----7--5-----5--7-----------------7-|--------------------------|
||-5--8-----------------8-------------------------|--------------------------|


|--------------------------------------5----------|
|-------------5------------------5--8-----8--5----|
|-------5--7-----7--5------5--7-----------------7-|
|-5--7-----------------7--------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------|

|-------5--8--5----------------------------------|
|-5--8-----------8--5-----------5--8--5----------|
|----------------------7--5--7-----------7--5----|
|----------------------------------------------7-|
|------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------|

|------------------------------------------------||
|------------------------------------------------||
|-------5--7--5----------------------------------||
|-5--7-----------7--5-----------5--7--5----------||
|----------------------7--5--7-----------7--5----||
|----------------------------------------------8-||

Most teachers and method books instruct you to practice major, melodic-minor and harmonic-minor scales and their various modes in positions. Though this fingering approach may look like it makes the most sense, it often proves to be very awkward for fast, alternate picking-especially when descending. I've found that during the descent, most seven-note scales can be picked more smoothly and easily by employing an alternate left-hand fingering. Let's use the G major scale as an example. Figure 11 depicts its standard two-octave, fingering pattern. If you're like me, your picking hand probably gets tied up in knots when trying to quickly descend this pattern.

Figure 11:                          -------------awkward------------------
||-----------------------------3-5-|-7-5-3---------------------------------||
||-------------------------5-7-----|-------7-5-----------------------------||
||-------------------4-5-7---------|-----------7-5-4-----------------------||
||-------------4-5-7---------------|-----------------7-5-4-----------------||
||-------3-5-7---------------------|-----------------------7-5-3-----------||
||-3-5-7---------------------------|-----------------------------7-5-3-----||

Instead of attempting to overcome this stubborn obstacle through dogged repetition-I'm sure you could think of better ways to spend your practice time try the fingering pattern in Figure 12. The ascending pattern is similar to that in Figure 11. The descending pattern, however, is quite different. Note the use of finger slides and position shifts. Even though this may seem, like an odd way to finger a scale, you'll find that it enables your right hand to maintain a smooth, alternate-picking motion without having to muscle across the strings.

Figure 12:
||-------------------------------5-|-7-5------------------------------------||
||-------------------------5-7-8---|-----8-7--------------------------------||
||-------------------4-5-7---------|---------9-7-5\4------------------------||
||-------------4-5-7---------------|-----------------7-5--------------------||
||-------3-5-7---------------------|---------------------9-7-5\3------------||
||-3-5-7---------------------------|-----------------------------7-5-3------||

This same alternate-fingering approach can help you pick many other types of scales more quickly. Figure 13 is a chromatic scale pattern that uses finger slides on the 1st and 6th strings to maintain a smooth picking pattern. Note that the entire fingering pattern is shifted up one fret on the descent.

Figure 13:
||----------------------------|-----------------4-5-6-7/|
||----------------------------|---------5-6-7-8---------|
||----------------------------|-5-6-7-8-----------------|
||--------------------6-7-8-9-|-------------------------|
||-----------7-8-9-10---------|-------------------------|
||-8-9-10-11------------------|-------------------------|


|8-7-6-5------------------|---------------------------------||
|--------9-8-7-6----------|---------------------------------||
|----------------9-8--7-6-|---------------------------------||
|-------------------------|-10-9-8-7------------------------||
|-------------------------|----------11-10-9-8--------------||
|-------------------------|--------------------12-11-10-9\8-||

By using quick position leaps, an impressive, three-and-one-half-octave chromatic scale becomes easy to finger and pick (Figure 14). Pay particular attention to the left-hand fingerings provided beneath the tablature.

Figure 14:
|----------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------|---------------------10-11-12-13-14-15--|
|----------------------------------|7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14--------------------|
|-----------------4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11|----------------------------------------|
|-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8------------------|----------------------------------------|
  1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2  3  4 1 2 3 4   1  2  3  4  1  2  3  4  1  2
 
|------|------------------------17-18-19-20-21-20-19-18|17-16-15-14----------|
|------|14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21------------------------|------------18-17-16-|
|-16-17|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|------|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|------|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|------|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------|
  3  4   1  2  3  4  1  2  3  4  1  2  3  4/ 4  3  2  1  4  3  2  1  4  3  2

|---------------------------|----------------------------------|-------------|
|-15-14-13-12-11------------|----------------------------------|-------------|
|----------------14-13-12-11|10-9-8-7--------------------------|-------------|
|---------------------------|---------11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4--------|-------------|
|---------------------------|---------------------------8-7-6-5|4-3-2-1------|
|---------------------------|----------------------------------|--------5-4--|
  1  4  3  2  1  4  3  2  1   4 3 2 1  4  3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3

|--------||
|--------||
|--------||
|--------||
|--------||
|-3-2\1--||

 2 1\1

Figure 15 is a two-and-one-half-octave, whole-tone scale pattern that ascends three-notes-per-string and descends, alternately, two-notes-per string and four-notes-per-string with finger slides.

Figure 15:
|--------------------------------------11|13-11-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------10-12-14---|------14-12-10\8------------------|
|---------------------8-10-12------------|-----------------10-8-------------|
|--------------7-9-11--------------------|----------------------11-9-7\5----|
|-------6-8-10---------------------------|----------------------------------|
|-5-7-9----------------------------------|----------------------------------|


|-----------||
|-----------||
|-----------||
|-----------||
|-8-6-------||
|-----9-7-5-||

Figures 16 and 17 depict two easy-to-pick fingering patterns for the diminished scale (half-whole).

Figure 16:
||-------------------------------3|5-3-------------------------------||
||-------------------------4-5-7--|----7-5---------------------------||
||-------------------3-5-6--------|--------8-6-5\3-------------------||
||-------------4-5-7--------------|----------------7-5---------------||
||-------4-6-7--------------------|--------------------9-7-6\4-------||
||-5-6-8--------------------------|----------------------------8-6-5-||


Figure 17:
||-------------------------------------|------------11-12-14-12-11\9---------|
||-------------------------------------|10-11-13/14------------------13-11---|
||----------------------------8-9-11/12|-------------------------------------|
||------------------7-8-10/11----------|-------------------------------------|
||---------6-7-9/10--------------------|-------------------------------------|
||-5-6-8/9-----------------------------|-------------------------------------|


|----------|---------------------------||
|-10\8-----|---------------------------||
|------11-9|8\6------------------------||
|----------|----10-8-7\5---------------||
|----------|-------------9-7-6\4-------||
|----------|---------------------8-6-5-||

Figures 18-20 illustrate extended, four-note-per-string major, melodic-minor and harmonic-minor scale patterns arranged for fast alternate picking. Note that each scale pattern takes a different fretboard path coming down. Again, this is done for the sake of maintaining an easier, smoother string crossing pattern for the picking hand

Figure 18:
|------------------------------------------|------------16-17-19-17-16\14---
|------------------------------------------|14-15-17/19---------------------
|-------------------------------11-13-14/16|--------------------------------
|--------------------9-11-12/14------------|--------------------------------
|----------7-9-11/12-----------------------|--------------------------------
|-5-7-9/10---------------------------------|--------------------------------


------------------|------------------------------||
-17-15-14\12------|------------------------------||
-------------14-13|11\9--------------------------||
------------------|-----12-11-9\7----------------||
------------------|---------------11-9-7\5-------||
------------------|------------------------9-7-5-||

Figure 19:
|------------------------------------------|------------16-17-19-17-16\14---
|------------------------------------------|13-15-17/19---------------------
|-------------------------------11-13-14/16|--------------------------------
|--------------------9-10-12/14------------|--------------------------------
|----------7-9-11/12-----------------------|--------------------------------
|-5-7-8/10---------------------------------|--------------------------------


------------------|-------------------------------||
-17-15-13\12------|-------------------------------||
-------------14-13|11\9---------------------------||
------------------|-----12-10-9\7-----------------||
------------------|---------------11-9-7\5--------||
------------------|------------------------8-7-5--||


Figure 20:
|------------------------------------------|------------16-17-19-17-16\13---
|------------------------------------------|13-15-17/18---------------------
|-------------------------------10-13-14/16|--------------------------------
|--------------------9-10-12/14------------|--------------------------------
|----------7-8-11/12-----------------------|--------------------------------
|-5-7-8/10---------------------------------|--------------------------------


------------------|-------------------------------||
-17-15-13\12------|-------------------------------||
-------------14-13|10\9---------------------------||
------------------|-----12-10-9\7-----------------||
------------------|---------------11-8-7\5--------||
------------------|------------------------8-7-5--||

The easiest way to quickly pick an ascending-descending arpeggio without sweeping is to finger only two notes per string, and use quick position shifts to transport your hand up and down the fretboard (lateral motion). This creates an optimum string-crossing pattern for the right hand, enabling you to soar through several octaves while conserving precious picking energy.

Figure 21 is a monstrous, two note-per-string F major arpeggio that transports your left hand from the 1st to the 20th fret and back. Beginning with an upstroke, proceed slowly at first and concentrate on shifting your left hand smoothly while maintaining a strict alternate picking motion.

Figure 21:
|--------------------------17-20-17---------|-----------------||
|--------------------13-18----------18-13---|-----------------||
|--------------10-14----------------------14|10---------------||
|---------7-10------------------------------|---10-7----------||
|-----3-8-----------------------------------|--------8-3------||
|-1-5---------------------------------------|------------5-1--||

Figure 22 is an exercise designed to teach your left hand the fretboard pattern while increasing your right-hand picking fluency. Once you memorize the pattern, you sould be able to increase your left/right hand coordination and picking speed with practice.

Figure 22:
|-------------------------|------------------------------------|------17-20-
|-------------------------|------------------------13-18-13----|13-18-------
|-------------------------|------10-14-10----10-14----------14-|------------
|----------------7-10-7---|-7-10----------10-------------------|------------
|----3-8-3---3-8--------8-|------------------------------------|------------
|1-5-------5--------------|------------------------------------|------------


-17----------17----------|----------------------------------|--------------||
----18-13-18----18-13----|-------13-------------------------|--------------||
----------------------14-|-10-14----14-10---------10--------|--------------||
-------------------------|----------------10-7-10----10-7---|-----7--------||
-------------------------|--------------------------------8-|-3-8---8-3----||
-------------------------|----------------------------------|-----------5-1||

Four-note arpeggios-minor seven, dominant-seven, diminished-seven, etc. -are easier to finger two-notes per string than three-note arpeggios, and require fewer finger stretches and position shifts. Figure 23 is a cool- sounding, three octave Amaj7b5 arpeggio that's easy to both pick and finger. Try playing other four note arpeggios and their inversions using two-note-per string fingering patterns.

Figure 23:
|---------------------9-11-9-------|---------------||
|----------------9-10--------10-9--|---------------||
|------------6-8------------------8|6--------------||
|--------6-7-----------------------|--7-6----------||
|----4-6---------------------------|------6-4------||
|-4-5------------------------------|----------5-4--||

Most solos are comprised of short licks strung together, as opposed to long, straight-out-of-the-textbook scales and arpeggios. The exercises in Figures 24-26 are based on short, easy-to-pick patterns shifted up and down the neck. Use these exercises as picking warm-ups and as inspiriation for your own speed licks.

Figure 24:
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|----3-6
|---------------------------------|---------------------3-6-----6-8-|3-6----
|---------------------------------|-----3-5-----5-7-3-7-----5-7-----|-------
|---------------------3-5-----5-8-|-3-5-----5-8---------------------|-------
|-----3-5-----5-8-3-5-----5-8-----|---------------------------------|-------
|-3-6-----6-8---------------------|---------------------------------|-------

                                                         2
----6-8------8-10-------10-13-|-------13-15-------15-18-18b--rb13~--||
6-8-----8-11------11-13-------|-13-15-------15-18-------------------||
------------------------------|-------------------------------------||
------------------------------|-------------------------------------||
------------------------------|-------------------------------------||
------------------------------|-------------------------------------||


Figure 25:
|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------------
|-5-4-----8-5-----9-8-----12-9------|-13-12-------16-13-------17-16---------
|-----5-4-----8-5-----9-8------12-9-|-------13-12-------16-13-------17-16---
|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------------
|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------------
|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------------


-------------|-----------------------------------------------|--------------
-20-17-------|-17-16-------16-13-------13-12-------12-9------|-9-8-----8-5--
-------20-17-|-------17-16-------16-13-------13-12------12-9-|-----9-8------
-------------|-----------------------------------------------|--------------
-------------|-----------------------------------------------|--------------
-------------|-----------------------------------------------|--------------


---------------------||
-----5-4-----4-1-----||
-8-5-----5-4-----4-1-||
---------------------||
---------------------||
---------------------||


Figure 26:
|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------------
|------9-12-------12-15-------15-18-------12-15-|-------15-18-------18-21---
|-9-10------12-13-------15-16-------12-13-------|-15-16-------18-19---------
|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------------
|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------------
|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------------


-------------------------||
-------15-18-------12-15-||
-15-16-------12-13-------||
-------------------------||
-------------------------||
-------------------------||

Sometimes a certain fingering pattern works well for an ascending lick, but proves awkward when you try to pick the lick backwards (descending), or vice versa. The trick is to find a fingering pattern that enables your right hand to flutter back and forth with a minimum of effort. The ascending and descending triplet licks in Figures 27 and 28 are a perfect example of this concept. The easiest way to pick the ascending lick (fig 27). is to alternate between playing three consecutive notes on the 2nd string and three notes on the 1st string. The descending lick (fig 28), however, is more easily picked by alternating between two notes on the 1st string and four notes on the 2nd string. Note the use of finger slides on the 2nd string.

Figure 27:
|-------1-3-5-------3-5-7|------5-7-8--------7-8-10|--------8-10-12----------
|-1-3-5-------3-5-6------|5-6-8-------6-8-10-------|8-10-12---------10-12-13-
|------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------
|------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------
|------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------
|------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------


-10-12-13|---------12-13-15-----||
---------|12-13-15----------13~-||
---------|----------------------||
---------|----------------------||
---------|----------------------||
---------|----------------------||


Figure 28:
|-15-13-------------13-12-------------|12-10------------10-8-----------|8-7-
|-------17-15-13\12-------15-13-12\10-|------13-12-10\8------12-10-8\6-|----
|-------------------------------------|--------------------------------|----
|-------------------------------------|--------------------------------|----
|-------------------------------------|--------------------------------|----
|-------------------------------------|--------------------------------|----


----------7-5---------|5-3---------3-1------------||
-10-8-6\5-----8-6-5\3-|----6-5-3\1-----5-3-1-0-1~-||
----------------------|---------------------------||
----------------------|---------------------------||
----------------------|---------------------------||
----------------------|---------------------------||

Comments

[AxeMan88uk]

hmm, i came on expectin sum uber tachnique called hyper speed picking, instead it was ur stereotypical alternate pickin lesson with sum simple excercises, not so bad i spose

[levelord]

Where the heck did you find the time to write all of this??? Did you copy this from somewhere else?

[Hipp4all]

Do you got any tips for a noob rythem gituarist?
IF so please let me know also nice lesson i like it alot

[western]

;

[The_Strat_Man]

Not bad. I kinda' liked it a lot. It was very interesting, and the licks part helped a little on my alternate picking.

[k0i_pitch]

very nice,,i hope it help me to be a good guitarist someday,,,thnxxxx 4 the lessons.....

[Bilzzard_of_Ozz]

The tab is a bit screwed, easy to fix, but I'm tired ;P

Do you got any tips for a noob rythem gituarist?
IF so please let me know also nice lesson i like it alot

If you play rythm you won't need to look in the hyper-speed-section.

Good lesson, by the way

[lsw444]

Looks familiar. A Guitar School article from the early nineties perhaps? It rings a bell with me, especially the Laborious, Better, diagram, etc.

[Ash_Lawrence]

Average...

[nickvictory88]

i will try it dude~juz copy your file to my pc ..it seem cool to me yo~ ***..

[Mosher]

noice lesson, even though i dont have the time to go through the whole thing

[PsycicPillow]

ya... pretty neat... just clean up the tab parts because those are a little messed up

[SixEightSix]

I tried holding the pick with the 3 fingers... so much more faster THANK YOU! im also doign all the excersizes too its a good guide

[technocheese]

nice work!

[skatersic666]

what about if you want to pcik as fast as James Hetfield does on Master Of Puppets? cause the intro is all downstrock picking

[Laquer_Head]

nice lesson..how does eddie hold is pick and sh-it in Eruption?

[damn_punks]

^who ***in' cares? probably with his middle finger and thumb like usual, then held it in the joint of his middle finger during all of the tapping.

[stainless_steal]

thanks for the tips

[Epiphone_G_EX]

Dis info isn't the best ive seen. Fast picking doesn't come from back and forth, it comes from rolls in the hands and vonding your thumb into a perfect slide

[nathangudeman]

tooo.. long! but it might help, i'll try

[OminousX]

^^ lol, I don't know about you, but these exercises will help me with soloing, so i'm off to practice! The nice thing about this is that theres lots of exercises on one page. Now I don't have to stop for 3 minutes to find another exercise on the same site.

[FadeToBlack1]

i liked the lesson, thanks very much bud. my friend referred me to this lesson and now my used-to-be-shitty-alternate-picking is starting to get better. ty

[gomezisastud07]

good article although i just donwnstroke everything thats not a power chord or chord so il get used to that but anyway for noobs out there check out away from the sun for a decent picking technique good article

[ManOfMetal]

Nice Lesson...2 Thumbs Up!!

[Kerfuffle]

Good lesson, very helpful.

[marley_man]

nice article,you described everything good and it helped me alot except i dont know how fast i go cause i dont have a metronome,boo hoo!

[cccmtech]

skatersic666:
what about if you want to pcik as fast as James Hetfield does on Master Of Puppets? cause the intro is all downstrock picking

Through repetition, the only way you can truly get fast at any solo or speed rhythm. Almost all of Metallica's speed licks, with the exception of Master of Puppets are alternate picked. I consider myself a decent alternate picker, it gets easier with practice. These type of exercises do help your left hand coordination with alternate picking, although repetition will teach best.

[bezu]

Great article. I've never been a very fast player, because I worked from the elbow too much. Playing to mandolin taught me to work from the wrist more. A combination of both seems to work best. I get more control by including some wrist action. Also, I've learned to apply pressure downward on the strings. You've got to make them vibrate vertically to the guitar top, not laterally across the guitar.

[metOLIca]

ok artilce all simple stuff thought..... i was expecting, an extremly deltailed thing lke how to hold your pick and stuff... nothing special but good for beginners..... but i think i could think of somehting better to do rather than writting out all that.....

[Lick_Soloist]

160, hmmm.., not that hard, but hey, keep going with it and you can get to 180 in no time!! hahahahaha, good excercises!!

[steaknife]

freshly-minted plectrum... i love it

[slayerbizkit]

I wish this lesson gave me some pointers on how to pick correctly D:

[Tony_Iommi]

Screw shredding.....its cool and i can do it to SOME extent, but my style is SABBATH SABBATH ALL THE WAY, YOU GOTTA LOVE THAT BLACK SABBATH SOLO WITH THE WAH PEDAL IN THE BACKROUND WOOO HOOO!!!..

[yeller56]

skatersic666:
what about if you want to pcik as fast as James Hetfield does on Master Of Puppets? cause the intro is all downstrock picking

Its called practice, It's not that hard.

[Rock 101]

Shut up Scorpia! I'm new to the guitar and I appreciate what he's done. But you little Ritalin children can't sit on your asses for 5 minutes and do something productive.

[LucyDiamonds]

hey!... nice one! rock on!

[jcwear]

funny I hold the pick with three fingers, and always have done... I never knew that hetfield did that too. Makes me smile

[CandyCaneChild1]

for all yall who want a special tip on how to hold the pick when "hyper picking," i hold with my thumb slightly curved and with my pointer and middle fingers tips on the guitar for good control yet good speed and strength. i have heard this is how EVH holds, but i dunno. ive never met the guy. ;D

[ystl]

do you want a better way to hold the pick, grab it with both hands and raise it above your head and hit the ground like there is no tommorow.

[SpaTula666]

Good lesson.....Can anyone suggest a good song so i can improve my skills besides metallica?...

[so_not_emo]

kool article.

[my_last_hero]

it was dece. didnt really help me at all but it was an interesting read.

[_Thomaz9_]

looks good, i'll try it out later

[Slazzurus]

SpaTula666:
Good lesson.....Can anyone suggest a good song so i can improve my skills besides metallica?...
[POSTED: 23 November 2004 - 22:49]|

For 'hyper speed picking' (kinda misleading), try Guns n' Roses' Sweet Child o' Mine. Well, the intro. It's moderately fast, definitely crisp, and fun to learn and play. Then again, I'm a GnR junkie. Try ito ut, though.

[damn_punks]

STERIOGRAM134... wow dude you're queer. You're probably some ***ed up goth black metal dick. You know nothing of practice. most guitar players don't. Can you read music at all? Do you know your modes and scales? do you know what the Circle of fifths is? what's the differance between C# and D flat? that'll throw you through a loop. there's no differance it's called enharmonic equilvalence. So when you say shit be able to back it up alright dumbshit?
I know more than you ever will. ***in' enjoy the music, don't be so ***in' competitive. you're gonna lose in the long run anyways.

[damn_punks]

lol ^that was fun. theory kicks ass.

[sergiogt]

good lesson

[nonazisinpunk]

i think Eddie only holds the pick like that when he taps cause i have seen him hold it with his index finger

[DownDark]

i already know how to do this!

[raph8r]

this person is a genious

[Dlawso]

He is GOOD!!!

[tom_nik]

great tips. the reason your nto suposed to rest your pinky on the pick guard is cos it stiffens up your pniky finger.. like permenantly.

[mtl's_god]

this is pretty good but to long

[IlIkE2plygUItAr]

la dee da dee- wut? oh. nice arcticle.

[Vinura]

thats awesome man

[an_daniel]

yea 2 long 4 sum veterans..2 short 4 beginners..
any wld suggest sum songs wic can help me improv my playing oter thn scorpions n silverchair?

[mexican_boy666]

It's a good lesson, but i think you copy from another page, you're a copy man but is good

[Bonsaischaap]

Good lesson, but it must have taken you hours to make it (or minutes to copy it)

[CSguitarvocal]

Not bad, this will help me greatly.. Good lesson!

[oak_trees_float]

good lesson...saved under my favorites...it'll help my retarded fingers.

[wanna_lick_me?]

for some of u dudes that wanna imrpove speed and coordination playing other stuff rather than metallica, try the picking at the end of "shine on you crazy diamond, pt I" (i'm going by the original wish u were here album). apart from making u instantly popular and cool (yeah right hhehe...)it will make u a better guitarrist

[shizaman]

dude too long but i will practice it but fix the tabs cause their all messed up! GO GREEN DAY!!!

[beatle]

nice work . K+S

[AC/DC rules-CB]

it helped me some.

[AC/DC rules-CB]

i need help with tabs !!!..

[NO_BRAINS41]

wow tht had actuallii helped me i use the fat side of pick does any1 think tht the guitarist of sum 41 is good? (listen to the new album or song like mr.amsterdamn)

[lessthannothin]

jk and no_brains41 amen to sum41

[pineapple_500]

NO_BRAINS41:
wow tht had actuallii helped me i use the fat side of pick does any1 think tht the guitarist of sum 41 is good? (listen to the new album or song like mr.amsterdamn)

umm....guitarist of sum 41. I am ashamed to own their album to be honest. Waste of time.

[cp16net]

i found THRICE to be a fast picking band. like the songs "deadbolt" and "blood clots and black holes" check those songs out you mite be impressed.

[cp16net]

^good lesson btw

[blu9999]

good

[stratguy08]

its kool

[metal_man12]

umm....guitarist of sum 41. I am ashamed to own their album to be honest. Waste of time.

Buy chuck. Listen to the bitter end. Its a Battery rip off, but it has decent leads in it. 0_o

[ObscuredByLight]

*clap*

[Karlt321]

My little finger always hurts, i have a slightly smaller index finger so when trying to play lagato Frets 3, 5, 6, i have to stretch it out all the way.

Is the big bump coming from my little finger normal?

[guitar-n00bxor]

your fingers will limber up the more you play

[musicfreak10789]

i have to agree lessthannothing. its a great cd. and you should get american idiout by green day if you dont have it already

[nhakz]

i can do that.... i'm a pro.. itz easy

[928081]

Man y does it take some1 a lesson to learn this shit,
i just cruz these lessons to see wat i missed out and this is the shit i learned my 2nd month of playin, and i havent taken ne lessons u pieces of shit

[hank shermmann]

good stuff but it didnt make me faster even after practising it for a week

[Benesyed]

If i practice this an hour a day ny when would i bcome good, and how long did it take you before you couls do this suucesfully?

[Josué]

what about if you want to pcik as fast as James Hetfield does on Master Of Puppets? cause the intro is all downstrock picking
I saw in a magazine, in which master of puppets was tabbed, that it is all altentaning picking. it helps the notes pop out more, and it's true i know, this is how i play it. it's harder than all downstrokes, as it is a wierd pattern in between changing between the sixth and 5th strings. But, if it says any where else, that it is all downstrokes or whateve, please email me. in fact, i ask for and information on playing not only this song, but speed picking, soloing etc. [e-mail]

[Josué]

what about if you want to pcik as fast as James Hetfield does on Master Of Puppets? cause the intro is all downstrock picking

I saw in a magazine, in which master of puppets was tabbed, that it is all altentaning picking. it helps the notes pop out more, and it's true i know, this is how i play it. it's harder than all downstrokes, as it is a wierd pattern in between changing between the sixth and 5th strings. But, if it says any where else, that it is all downstrokes or whateve, please email me. in fact, i ask for and information on playing not only this song, but speed picking, soloing etc. [e-mail]
hilary duff would be good to ***. and lidnsay lohan too.

[busted_rock4va]

i found this really helpful and it has really helped my speed and accuracy.
brill lesson

[kh203]

[quote]what about if you want to pcik as fast as James Hetfield does on Master Of Puppets? cause the intro is all downstrock picking

I saw in a magazine, in which master of puppets was tabbed, that it is all altentaning picking. it helps the notes pop out more, and it's true i know, this is how i play it. it's harder than all downstrokes, as it is a wierd pattern in between changing between the sixth and 5th strings. But, if it says any where else, that it is all downstrokes or whateve, please email me.[/quote]

Actually, no josue, it is all downpicked. watch the close ups of james playin it on s&m and you'll see. and magazines arent always right, so dont trust them so much you dumbass.

[Zarchon]

hey, try the kids aren't alright by offspring... now thats fast. and no way thats not downpicking lol.

[kirk_rules!]

there is a guy that is named kh203. i bought the 202 just recently.

[Xaemyl]

Watching James play live, he uses all downstrokes for Master of Puppets.

[SSdraken]

here is my version of this lesson:
practse a lot playing very fast. the reason they can do it really fast is because they have practised a lot and their wrists can play very fast. I find if i use a pick it gets caught under the strings. If i play speed i never play upstrokes, just downstrokes. Otherwise my pick gets caught under the strings ... when I first started I could never play fast palm muting, now I can play it faster (16 beast a bar time in 4/4 - at least I think thats right). Its really not that hard to play the intro to master of puppets anyway.

[mobscene96]

one time i got soap in my eye, and i washed it out with soap...and it still hurt. what the hell is that from??? does anyone know??? sorry this has nout to do with alternate picking or master of puppets.

[bugmenot]

and the original plain-text copy of this lesson can be obtained from: http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Lessons/alternate-picking.txt

[deepcrane77]

very clever!!!

[Josh-buckley]

i didnt reallu like it..

[zepman74]

i taught myself how to play guitar and i already knew everything he said but it was very interesting
good job

[chanting_monk]

this sucked, i know all that...i learned that stuff in the week i started playing 3 years ago!!!!
o well

[ooblah]

im never posting a lesson on here man... no matter how good a lesson is people post that it sucks.. theres just no pleasing the people of UG.. *sigh

[ooblah]

i thought it was pretty cool

[Mr. Tommy]

i was just wondering if any1 has any advice on how to get faster once ur at about 190-195?
Ive been stuck at this speed for a month or two now and no matter wat, it seems like i cant co-ordinate my left and right any faster, any1 got any tips?

[riff_rasta]

Just a question, if so many of you are complaining about the fact that you already know all this information, how the *** can you criticise? The only reason you know this is cos you've learnt it before, and that, no matter how kick ass you are on guitar, does not make it a crap lesson. I?ve been playing for a good few years now and I recon I better than most of you hypocritical, show-offs out there. I'm not ashamed to say that I leaned from this, even if I new most of the information, its still practice, all you people that said I was shite best pack away your guitars now cos if there is no room 4 improvement through practice, then there?s not much to say 4 your skills.

If I pissed anyone off don?t hesitate to contact me [e-mail]

[high voltage]

I'm quite the guitarist myself but I might say I am impressed with your lesson. Good job!

[milk_it_good]

Why did so many people tear this article to shreds? It's a good beginners article and even if you aren't a beginner, that doesn't mean nobody should be allowed to read the article without arrogant tools calling it "too long" and shit. I thought it was a sick article. If you don't like an article, then for christ's sake, don't read it, don't comment or piss off!

[Spirit-Web]

I'm new and i think this is very helpful!
Thanks man!

[Lagi_nlang_ako]

all tabbers did a great job! longlive!! mga azTig!!
yeeehaaa! c",)

[oliverbach]

yep


I LOVE ALL OF U

[mikaz]

maan you people complain alot.. decent lession for semi-beginners...

quote: does any1 think tht the guitarist of sum 41 is good? Ive seen em live a few times, dave's solos are pretty good (not from their songs) but just improving was good, hes got talent, too bad he doest show it in their albums...

AND master of puppets is over-rated, and u can play the intro all downs or alternating its up to the player...
also, bottom line for playing fast is practice practice practice.. if u wanna play at light speed, its not gonna happen overnight.
one more thing, theory is boring, but Extremly extremly helpful. scales and shit help improv a whole lot, and its good to kno. im done.

[guitar_boi_1986]

hey man that was a ausome lesson but its a little long but whatever. Keep on writing for evereyone.

[guitarmetalchic]

I thought that this was a great lesson. It was good practice. Everyone needs to practice things wheather your good at it or suck at it. How else would you get better.

[overdrivebusta]

a bit long but very good, you guys should make a lesson like this for playing overdrive, metal, thats my style

[ElCoolMagnefico]

very helpful thank you very mucho

[guitar21@WE]

yea
just long take some time to learn
thanx tho

[marcusr2121]

am i messed up if i can descend faster than i can ascend ( i think thats the right word) all the guitar guys i talk to say they can ascend faster

[stratman101]

hey any1 know what style hendrix used?

[theartificer]

The way I learned to pick the crazy-fast 32nds on weird rhythm parts (other than lots of practice) was by trying to play a lot of Fear Factory, back when Dino was still in. He has an excellent rhythm base and can play very fast and articulately (at least on one string).

Once I got down Fear Factory, pretty well, I moved on to a lot of Death Metal stuff, particularly Morbid Angel. That's where you can start to pick up on some blinding 32nds and slower 64ths. It tends to give you a lot of stamina after a while, too.

The most I'm capable of is 64ths at about 130-150bpm or so. It's pretty fast, but, with heavy distortion, it starts to sound more like a sustained string instrument--a distorted cello, maybe. Even then, I can only do so much at that speed and it tends to hurt after a while. :-P

[AC16]

Good lesson.....Can anyone suggest a good song so i can improve my skills besides metallica?...

its a bit late for this but i improved my speed by playing doomsday Jesus by black label society during the fast part, just keep at it

[eL_NaNdO]

Sweet Lesson! Good Job

[mikedeit]

This will really help me out with those tough solo's. Thanx for the help.

[stephen_1990]

A really good lesson but it was very long.

[jeffrothecool]

nice

[soulful_spier]

I like it! Thakns man!

[thomasma]

ive found holding my pick with three fingers much more comfortable. does anyone think this will seriously restrict my progress in the future, because i rarely see anyone use this technique. lesson is helpful tho

[julian2k4]

cool cool article man.....keep it up

[ce12872001]

Mostly simple stuff, but the exercises were helpful for practice---Thanx

[jojojo]

Like it man. Keep it up.

[elcamino6]

i thot it was good

[joshsirjoshules]

holy.....this is really good i needed this a lot

[angastig08]

thanks 4 dis lesson. it will help me a lot in playing giutar.

[Eagles3]

that was a great article. it really helped a lot. i am always happy to receive advice from other guitar players

[SabBloodySab1]

If you learn Megadeth's "Holy Wars", that will help alot in learning to play fast.. It helped me..

[trashmaniac]

[If you learn Megadeth's "Holy Wars", that will help alot in learning to play fast.. It helped me..
]

yea...it help me too.

[SkaterD2002]

Wheres Alexi Laiho when you need him

[ibanez666]

man, that lesson was great. thanks and keep up the good work.

[all that u are]

good lesson man, long, but it was really helpfull

[ween2424]

thats a good lesson. but i learned all my picking techniques by learning yngwie malmsteen riffs and practicing them till i got them down. ive been playing for 5 years and i doubled in ability within the last two months. it took some hard exercizes and a lot of practice but thats always nessecary. i highly recommend studying yngwie malmsteen's stuff for speed picking and arpegios, dimebag darrell's for some good stretching excercizes, and steve vai's for anything fancy like tapping and whammy techniques

[prs-player128]

i thought it was really good all the people who said it was shit just ignore them cos its not i found it helpfull thanks

[bassmasta96]

Glue Your pick to your finger it works ultra fast picking

[bedurnk]

Other than the already commented Title issue, this is a good alternate picking lesson.

[MetalliCarnage]

kewl

[angelcommand]

cool lesson...but too long dude, the intensity will blow

[kdo]

yawn ....on and on and aristone..not bad,

[TheGuitarWizard]

Too.....long

[TheGuitarWizard]

But good

[livestrong]

it was good, just long

[S_Vai]

I think All you guys should cut this dude some slack, he's workin his ass off tryin to make everyone a better player, and trust me, it's not an easy thing to do, i know from experience.. But for anyone looking to improve, try learning my song Juice, it's got alot of tricky position shifts and some 6 finger tapping going on, or for a real legato workout try Joe's (Satriani) Lords of Karma.. ciao

[Imchris808]

Gooo..d Stuff

[ythomit tim]

its ok

[chrisbeevor]

Master of Puppets kills at first, but it gets better. If only it was alternate picking...

[thirdbase423]

i liked it alot. good for practice

[Donkey Fly]

Wow , That Was An Amazing Lesson

Thanks So Much

[wylde_is_king]

hey St. timmy that stuff does matter dumbass. you will never make it as a real guitarist if you dont know any musical theory. and by the way äänestäjä, you didnt write this youself you pirate.

[newcomer]

no shit, study your theory, but master the scales, ans chords, get into theory when you know how to rip a bit.

[just_miasma_it]

Figure 5a is much easier than 5b or 5c.

[joseph_khalkho]

this a good lesson as i can see coz of its length only

[joseph_khalkho]

[u][i][b]this is good lesson as i can see its length ,,,its wonderfull

[yetzkie29]

cut all your fingers out!!you all are too slow compare to me.. 220bpm. your lessons will work well for starter..not bad.. thats the fundamentals

[battleaxe]

Khatra Lesson..

[virtuosox86]

itwasnt long at all.....u pussy wussys and the stuff went from beginner to pro rather quickly so u need to break it up really evryone jus go get a ****ing metronome and economy pick until u cant do it anymore evryday and ull get it down if u plan on playing guiatr rest of your life..as you should...then practice evryday by the time u die ull get it....whaoooww bia keyyyyy

[SGSpecial]

damn_punks wrote:

^who ***in' cares? probably with his middle finger and thumb like usual, then held it in the joint of his middle finger during all of the tapping.

Dont mess with EVH bitch

[karateguy29]

great article my friend

[P.Y.E FluffBall]

Great lesson. it increased my alternate picking speed, but that got me thinking...does anyone think that the intro to seperation of church and skate by NoFx would sound good using alternate picking?

[Jimmy3]

most of those scales/riffs whatever they are can be played without stretching your fingers all out, like when you said go from the third fret to the eight and back on one string you could (or i could) go from the third fret on the A string to the third fret on the D string and back.

[dboyd435]

nice lesson...thank you!

[Jetmax]

I came here to learn something new but instead I got something I'm already good at.

[batiosilver08]

Wow
Fabulous lesson man, im gonna practise this alot.
HElped me alot

[rockergurl09]

that was really good, but anything on how to get your wrist to move faster??

other than that, it kicked BUTT!!!!

[fingersofflame]

while this was a great lesson, it seemed very familiar, and then it was brought to my attention that:

dogsball
s wrote:

you just copied this whole article off Judy Letostak you lazy heap of shit!!

so, that is sorta disappointing...but nevertheless, it was helpful...

[sexybeast101]

this article basically just teaches alternate picking and nothing else.i'll probably play some of the scales though just cause i'm really bored!

[S0ulja23]

Hey this lesson's finally back! I remember I used to click on the link to this lesson and I got a page saying that this page doesn't exist

[liledman_76]

NO_BRAINS41 wrote:

wow tht had actuallii helped me i use the fat side of pick does any1 think tht the guitarist of sum 41 is good? (listen to the new album or song like mr.amsterdamn)

sum41 kicks ass! brownsounds an awsum guitarist, shame he left.
neway nice lesson

What a mess, lol.


Checked/Deleted.