getting up to SPEED!

Squonk · 2013-10-11T10:43:54+00:00

I have just realized that I have been wasting my time with acoustic guitar and need to become a shredder ? Not quite, but I have been listening to Petrucci...

getting up to SPEED!

NorioDS

Psean wrote: Norio, could you please share the link? I can't find it with the search function. Thanks

It's actually in every issue of the newsletter - go check out today's copy ?

Psean

Oh, THAT software! Cool ?

Stoffeltoo

Thanks ~~ShilliwillyBob~~ Shibbilibilybob! Now I am going to be in trouble again. Reading and Practicing.

PaulJ

I have the Andy James "Shred in 6 weeks program" let me know if you want it.

=

Squonk

PaulJ wrote: I have the Andy James "Shred in 6 weeks program" let me know if you want it.

Andy James is good stuff!

BMU

Squonk wrote:
PaulJ wrote: I have the Andy James "Shred in 6 weeks program" let me know if you want it.

Andy James is good stuff!

Oh yeah?!! Then why do I get so sad and jealous when I listen to him? "Good stuff" gmmf!!!

?

Squonk

Get home and go straight to alternate tunings...this is going to take some discipline.

Going to have to change my mindset completely.

Shibbibilybob

And? How did it go?

NorioDS

I think, from past experience, the hardest part about this is committing to at least 1 hour of daily FOCUSED, precise practise with a metronome. If you can do that every day for a month, you'll see HUGE improvements but it can be so boring. That's why I never really got far.

That said, if you look at your idols, each one is particularly good at (and fond of) one area of speed. Joe Satriani is a legato god (and that's my preference too), Frank Gambale is a sweep picking god, Petrucci picks a billion notes a second, etc.

My point is that there's nothing wrong with focusing on just one area that is your favourite. You will find it easier to make progress and you'll enjoy yourself more.

So if I had to try and improve speed again (it's been years since I've practised diligently), I'd probably focus about 60% on legato, and 10% on the other methods (for variety but knowing full-well that I won't excel in all methods).

NorioDS

PS: I also think it's helpful to take this approach when you're not a teenager with 4-10 hours every day available to practise. ie: Someone with a full-time job, and little time to dedicate to music. My point is that, if you have the time, and the desire, go ahead and practise ALL methods of speed. I just don't think it's viable for ME to do - there's just no time.

Squonk

Shibbibilybob wrote: And? How did it go?

It's not as easy as I thought. After years of been rather undisciplined, I find I have quite a bit of hard work ahead.

I first fell into the trap of trying to find a good tone to practice with, something that will sound like Andy James etc. So I wasted time trying to dial in a workable tone. I then I fiddled with delay vs reverb ???

Eventually got down to business and discovered that I wasn't holding the pick comfortably, I must stress that the last few years I have been concentrating on fingerstyle, so plectrums are foreign things to me!

I watched couple of lessons that Ben Badenhorst had uploaded on holding the plectrum and I practiced the G major scale(Only in one position) and it was good stuff.

The Jazz III seemed the best for more accurate picking.

Early days yet, but thanks for pushing me

BMU

Norio wrote:...but it can be so boring.

Lol I always say this: key to shredding is an abnormally high threshold for tedium! Or a very focused personality type, whatever... same thing.