I have a question for any 80's influenced guitarist on here. Remember back in the day when guitarists could play? Well the one thing that was big back then, that i could never master was the "speed-picking" that guys like Yngwie, Impelliteri, Ed(somewhat), etc. used to do. I've gotten somewhat, out-of-the-loop as far as guitar playing goes, so i'm not sure if it's called by another name, or guys are still doing this. I haven't heard that type of playing/speed for awhile. Anyway the question is, how's it done? I've tried many techniques(with lots of practice) but just couldn't get up to speed. Any info? http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/mad.gif http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/mad.gif

Yep. There is a technique for speed picking and it can only be achieved with LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of practice. First of all you need a fairly stiff pick. Secondly, when you pick your notes, only use the very tip of the pick and pick very lightly. DO NOT use half the pick to play one note...only the very tip should be used. Thirdly, relax your picking hand. If you are tense, you will be sloppy. Forthly, your hand should not move hardly at all when you are picking. Most of your motion (which should be very slight) should come from your wrist and forearm. My girlfriend is always comenting that when I pick it looks like I'm barely moving my picking hand. That's the way it should be. Less unessessary movement = more speed. Fifthly, your fret hand should not grip the hell out of the neck. Your wrist should be turned up a bit until you can easily reach the top strings. It will feel uncomfortable at first, but it will improve your speed BIG TIME. Lastly, If you can't do something slowly, you have no business trying to do it fast. Do your licks slowly and cleanly at first and GRADUALLY increase your speed as you become more proficiant at them. Practice Practice Practice. Does that help?

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"I feel like a shining example, but I'm not sure what of." - Dave
"We're not in the music business, we're in the business of making music." - Edward
"Yeah, I saw a yard gnome once...it didn't scare me." - Space Ghost

elvh, there's nothing wrong with some hand movement. Every one develops their own style of speed picking. What you should remember is to angle the pick so you're not flat picking. As the pick angles it will slide back and forth over the string easier. the actual amount of angle will depend on what works best for you. Practice until it feels right, and the pick moves smoothly.

You know what I found helped the most when I was working on speed was a metronome.

I would start painfully slow and execute ascending/desending/intervals/agpagieos/single/double picking. Not randomly but I would make sure that all techneques were on par with each other before I moved up, with the speed.

Like everybody else has said, practice practice. I also found that at the end of a practice session I would clock myself and write down my best accurate time, and try and beat ithttp://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

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Baluchitherium

Wanna learn how to pick fast? Get the first Paul Gilbert insructional video. I wish I had when I was first learning to play.

thank God Eddie came from the 70s!


the 80s http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/rolleyes.gif thank God that's gone!

oops,,, THE tag of course!http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gif

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Eat Us and Smile ;>~

feelin' it down to my knucklebonez

Well, there's one thing for sure, I'll never break any speed records on guitar. Don't get me wrong I can hold my own, but Yngwie I ain't.

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Eat Us And Smile!!!!!

"I won't go down in history, but I will go down on your sister!"...David Lee Roth

what's speed without some nice single note bends??... you gotta mix it up!



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Eat Us and Smile ;>~

feelin' it down to my knucklebonez

You may want to consider the intro to an Extreme song called "He Man Woman Hater" on the bands second record "Pornograffitti" Someone in here has to know what I mean!

2711

Hey Swollen Princess. . . "The Flight Of The Wounded Bumblebee" intro to Extreme's "He Man Woman Hater" really isn't too difficult to play. You set your digital delay to 200 milliseconds and play against the echo. It's the same idea as Cathedral, but at a faster tempo. The harmony at the end happens naturally with the echo (pretty amazing when your hear it come in!) Check it out, it's a great technique. . .and pretty easy at that!

Yeah Jape I know I AM Extreme. I have an amp with delay on it I practice with but my Marshall doesn't so I play each not straight thru the amp. You know when you are just rowdy and warmed up.

2711

2711 — School bus — Hot For Teacher!

For having a cool speed picking you first have to learn the scales in normal fast pick , practise till your right hand is independent , then starts with legato scales ! ... for the speed picking then you have to practice a lot , a lot , it means hours a day believing in what are you doing ! I have passed two years studying till night for get a cool speed picking !
Ovially I'm not like Paul Gilbert , but I have made a lot of progerss in that way in the last 3 years ! ... First thing of all is believe that you can do !!! ... you can and stop , then study a lot !!!

Eddie_italian from Italy

Thanx to all! I'll work with the advice given. I guess like anything else, over time, perfect practice makes perfect. Hain as far as guitarists go, what was so bad about the 80's? (This isn't a criticism, just a question, and it can be answered by anyone). I personally feel there isn't one guitarist today(good guitarist), that can't say he/she wasn't influenced in a positive way from 80's hard rock and metal music. With the exception of some of the hair bands, what was so bad about the 80's? I hear this all the time and i don't understand. tribb, where/when are your PA dates?

[This message has been edited by elvh (edited May 04, 2000 at 01:45 PM).]

You damn well right all these guitarists of todays music scene were influenced by '80's music. They just won't admit it cuz they're afraid it will jeopardize their career.

http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gifBecause we all know that nothing good came out of the '80's http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gif

I agree with everyone!!! especially Steven B. Paul gilberts Video definately helped me out. Metronomes are great but sometimes it sounds like you are a machine: too perfect..but it does build up speed. Also the song everyone should definately listen to is Extremes "Mutha, Don't wanna go to school", It is actually harder to play than Wounded bumble bee. String Skipping Mania!! Also try out the intro to Mr. Bigs "Colorado Bulldog" Very terrifying!!!!!!

Mutha always reminded me of Unchained. I liked it a lot though!

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Baluchitherium

Speed mechanics for Lead guitar is a great book if you are interested in that style. Its well worth its $20 price
Check it out www.stetina.com (http://www.stetina.com)
I'm working on Flight of the Bumblebee from that book.

For real Speed Picking mastering, get Frank Gambale's Speed Picking videotape. He's really the master. But if you're a lover of alternate picking, there are guitarists at an incredible level of complexity. Playing arpeggios with alternate picking is even more complex than playing them with speed picking. If you get the point, check John Petrucci's Rock Discipline or Steve Morse's Power Lines. Or check the great Al DiMeola...