building up stamina for THRASH

[Ace]

I built up my right hand technique with the secret: practice. When I started playing, nearly 15 years ago, my goal was to be FAST. My hero was Jeff Hanneman. I tried playing along to Slayer albums for a few years, then along came death metal and bands like Krisiun. I tried to play along keeping up with those albums. Krisiun's "Creation's Scourge" is still a good song to try and learn for right hand speed. Then maybe 5 years ago I started doing drum machine goregrind. We would set the drum machine for maybe 230-240bpm and go for it!! Now that I'm a in a pretty serious band, rehearsing several times a week and playing 3 or 4 shows a month, I practice all the time. And without trying to sound like I'm bragging, well, let's just say I can hold my own when it comes to playing fast...

[bratfink]

yep, get his DVD called "Speed kills" if you can

I have it, he plays right handed in that. Is this a case of someone who is a lefty but plays right handed anyway?

[Nazgul]

I have it, he plays right handed in that. Is this a case of someone who is a lefty but plays right handed anyway?

yes. he also plays piano so I guess it's easier for him.

[Black Mariah]

The most important piece of advice I ever heard about playing fast for extended periods of time is to RELAX! Don't stress yourself trying to go faster. Keep your forearm and hands LOOSE. You're not playing the blues with 12's, you're playing metal with 9's or 10's.

Why does it look so effortless when guys like Batio or Loomis are tearing up a neck? Because they're not putting much effort into it.

[zeegler]

I played along to all the Slayer I could when I was learning, not to mention all the other thrash & death I could get my hands on. This was back when I was 15. A few years ago, I was playing lame, slower stuff, and when I recently got back into playing the faster stuff, I realized how out of shape my picking arm was. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get the speed back. I've been playing a lot of Slayer again, and I'm happy to report that I'm faster than ever!!!

[Nazgul]

so sonicsamurai...a month has passed...do you have anymore stamina for thrash metal now?

I know that when I was learning master of puppets I got the first part of the song until the slow part down in about a week or two all downpicking. i can't play it anymore .

[sonicsamurai]

hehe yeah my stamina has been improving steadily bveen playing lots of strapping young lad as well which has helped

[RacerX]

so sonicsamurai...a month has passed...do you have anymore stamina for thrash metal now?.

"When you can take the pebble from my hand, it will be time for you to leave" -Master Kan

[slash-ed]

I have it, he plays right handed in that. Is this a case of someone who is a lefty but plays right handed anyway?

Yup. He says in the video that he's actually lefthanded.

[Nazgul]

Yup. He says in the video that he's actually lefthanded.

we already now that .

[PallarAndersVisa]

practice practice practice. Im lucky to have started playing guitar when I was getting into heavy metal, especially Iced earth, so Jon Schaffer's right hand really rubbed off on me.

surprisingly my speed riffing has gotten worse over the years, But i think it has to do with just learning children of bodom solos for like 3 years straight and not doing anything else

[horns666]

Thrash is what I do 90% of the time..nothing but..

It's easy for me now..

because that's all I do..

that's why it's easy..

so my BEST advice is..just keep thrashin until it becomes well..easy.

just like anything else in life..if you do something long enough it becomes like second nature.

[PallarAndersVisa]

it doesnt hurt to have heavier strings than you would normally use. tighter and more responsive. also, experiment with different picks to find the one that moves the best for you.

[King Kabong]

Feel the burn!! Definitely have to just keep at it and work through the pain, IMO. Try to stay relaxed. I was in a Slayer Tribute band for 3 years, we were at the point where practice was 3ish hours. (17+ songs) There were points where I'd think I couldn't possibly play another song. But we'd do it and it definitely got easier over time. And once you're on stage with your adrenaline pumping, it gets easier..