Announcement

**dfvxc** · 03-06-2005, 01:07 PM

Re: Help w/ Sloppy technique

learn shredding and you'll be forced to end the sloppiness.

Shredding needs to be ultra precise. But Blues and stuff haha I let go of precision when I play that.
Basically if you're sloppy you can't call yourself a true shredder, imo...

Oh and when you practice. Always use pretty high gain and reasonably loud vollume. That's when it's easiest to spot your own sloppiness. Never "practice" electric stuff unplugged

**Twisteramps** · 03-06-2005, 02:25 PM

Re: Help w/ Sloppy technique

Slow down. Play as slow as necessary to keep the notes clear and distinct. Sychronization is the key between the hands, and also muting unplayed strings. Build your speed gradually, but as soon as it starts slopping out, slow down again.

Pete

**charvelguy** · 03-06-2005, 04:05 PM

Re: Help w/ Sloppy technique

It is a discipline. Both Vinnie Moore's advanced lead techniques and Petrucci rock discipline videos are good resources for learning practice techniques.

What Pete says is good advice, and it is best to apply that with a metronome once you get comfortable with certain excercises if you want build speed.

As an example, I practice triplets and partial scales (1 octive) for focusing coodination between left and right hands. Trills and hammer-ons (non tapping) to develope strength in the left hand. I don't do this daily of course.. so I lapse in focus at times. You really need to have focus on a goal objectives to obtain them and that requires steady practice till it becomes second nature IMO.

Steve Morse has a boatload of great excercises in how to become a precise player, his instruction vids are excellent as well.

There was a book on practice discipline as well...I forget who wrote it but it was by some guy at GIT I believe.(yeah, that is vague I know) Fritzriser was selling it not to long ago-3-4 months back.

**charvelguy** · 03-06-2005, 04:23 PM

Re: Help w/ Sloppy technique

it was Jamie Andreas practice priciples, looked like a good read.
You can DL those instruction vids online if you have the hard drive, just takes a while.

**youthinkyourfish** · 03-06-2005, 07:58 PM

Re: Help w/ Sloppy technique

Did I hear Long Island mentioned.?????... I ask because I am reading exactly what I wanted to write.....you and I are in the same boat....I just have not played as long..... great advice guys....

I Want a Fish

**kennslp** · 03-06-2005, 09:15 PM

Re: Help w/ Sloppy technique

Thanks for the tips guys...I appreciate the help. I understand what Pete mentioned is key; I've got to learn to slow down and focus on clean, precise notes. Just have to find the discipline to do so. It's all to easy to push up the dial on the metronome to give myself a false sense of accomplishment...got to learn to stop that.

I dug out a moth-balled copy of the Troy Stetina book today, and put some real practice time in for the first time in months. Felt pretty good, I look forward to setting up some sort of daily routine.

Fish...You're on the 'Island?! Cool...We've got enough LI folks to have our own JCF get together....

-Kenn

**charvelguy** · 03-06-2005, 09:34 PM

Re: Help w/ Sloppy technique

The way I was taught was when you start warmups such as various scales, go slow and clean, playing everything as cleanly as possible and gradually build up speed until you make a mistake. That is where your current maximum limit is.
Start with another scale. By applying the same principle daily, you should get to a point where you are comfortable enough to keep getting past areas where you start making a mistake. Don't forget to give your hands some rests within an hours time, like 5-10 minutes if you are focusing on continual playing so you aren't setting yourself up for carpel tunnel.

You chose a range of positions going up and down both linearaly and laterally. Work within a specified range..like 3rd fret to 12th and down again. Then for example 12th to 19th and down again.

**shredmonster** · 03-07-2005, 04:26 PM

Re: Help w/ Sloppy technique

Clean definitely. Also you may try a metronome as you increase speed.

This will help your timing and you will be able to increase speed while still playing cleanly.

Try going through your scales with four basic timings: like a stacatto exercise: one, then one two, then one two three and finally one two three four. Both forwards and backwards.

Experiment with using your fingertips to fret not the sides of your fingers.

**Evol** · 03-08-2005, 07:23 PM

Re: Help w/ Sloppy technique

A little tip,most people often use higher action for better tone,but I believe firmly it can do wonders for your technique as well. Try it for a week then switch back to a guitar setup with your normal action height.Bet ya anything you're picking a lot cleaner afterwards.I got so used to doing that now I use the slightly higher action all the time now and can feel and hear the difference compared to before.

**charvelguy** · 03-08-2005, 08:25 PM

Re: Help w/ Sloppy technique

That is also a good suggestion. When I first dedicated myself to practicing 'technique' it was hour minimum a day, everyday. I made a promise to myself when I was 15 to do this. I've broken that long ago. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

I used an old Sears acoustic (first guitar, cost 17.00) with typically medium acoustic gauge and started my practice regimen there. It had high action, but not unplayable. It really developed my hand strength tho.

On electric I was using Gibson sonomatics, .056-.012 with a swapped out unwound 3rd....018. in 440.

It taught me to appreciate the guy who uses a heavier gauge and higher action that can still hold their head up over the crowd...and I felt it greatly helped my playing precision.

**Ace** · 03-09-2005, 12:16 AM

Re: Help w/ Sloppy technique

I 'll tell you what works for me: smoke more pot.

**IrfaanSE801** · 03-09-2005, 05:47 PM

Re: Help w/ Sloppy technique

I'll also say just string an acoustic up with light strings so it's not impossible to play, put a strap on, and stand up and play. That's what I did and then I realized exactly how sloppy I was. It worked wonders for me. Either way, good luck

**IrfaanSE801** · 03-09-2005, 05:48 PM

Re: Help w/ Sloppy technique

Ummm...just to clarify when I say put a strap on I mean on the guitar

**Guest** · 03-09-2005, 06:31 PM

Re: Help w/ Sloppy technique

[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Announcement

Help w/ Sloppy technique

Help w/ Sloppy technique

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment