This lesson can open for you a secret of high-speed guitar
playing. If take the given technique for 2-3 weeks you'll
feel progress in high-speed playing of complex passages.
The given principle of development of techniques "was tested"
not by one generation of guitarists and not only guitarists...
In this lesson we shall concern high-speed technics. Skilled
guitarists alredy know that the basic brake in development
of guitar high-speed technics is the right hand. Therefore
when playing the most ultra-high-speed passages for simplification
guitarists play legato (i.e. the right hand does not take
some notes, it is done with fingers of the left hand by receptions
pull-off, hammer-on).
How to achieve speed?
For this purpose it is necessary for guitarist to develop
technics of the right hand - fast alternation of pick stroke
upwards-downwards (a variable stroke). The more quickly the
right hand will make alternating strokes, the quicker the
playing will be.
It is necessary to begin from the most usual tremolo (fast
recurrence of one note). Triplets are the most effective way
of learning to play a tremolo. Try to begin each of your lessons
with a tremolo. It develops (and well warms up) the right
hand. The tremolo notes must sound dynamically equal (all
sounding notes of equal loudness) and with equal tempo.
For example, you wish to learn a high-speed passage. I offer
the following simple blues phrase in "A" as an example:
First you need to learn in slow tempo and in convenient key
with rational pick strokes. After you've done it, play a tremolo
of each note, i.e. each note in a passage it is necessary
to take three times (if it is the eighth) like this:
The tremolo should be loud (a silent tremolo does not make
effect). Play thus 10 - 15 minutes (with small breaks) up
to feeling of weariness in your right hand. The weariness
speaks that muscles work as they must do. In my experience
each student playing given technique, develops his own nuances.
The right hand as though itself finds the most convenient
position while playing, - it is only necessary " to force
it to work". When you are good at playing this passage with
tremolo, try to play it in the original.
I often hear a question: " How many it is necessary to be
engaged so that to come to high speed?" - It's individually.
For someone it's necessary 2 hours, for another 2 days, and
for someone it is not necessary at all (i'm kidding :-) .
Here introspection is necessary, that is you should feel improvement
of technics. Clearly one, that the most effective way - "gold"
exercise for the right hand.
Play your own passages by this principle, solos, improvizations,
rock, jazz and blues phrases... If you have great patience,
you will see huge advantage of this technique and feel the
results. If you do not see any result most likely you were
engaged either incorrectly or insufficiently long. Though
it is possible to play legato or tapping, but it sounds less
brightly and energetically.
About The Author
Yuri Nikitin – guitar instructor, music writer and webmaster.
Find more free guitar lessons in varios styles at http://www.guitar-lesson-online.net.
