Upgradin my solo technique

[Immortal]

This is my first thread in this section. Wonderful. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

You are very skilled people here and I can just hide from your playing abilities. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

I got some guitar lessons a la Zakk's pentatonic speedballer. Okay, I took a deeper look at Malmsteem. Damn, this guy is amazing. I noticed he plays his arpeggios with hammer on and pull off technique, which is very very clever solution, because you don't have to pick it with the pick. I noticed my picking arm is a little faster than the fretting arm, so I hit some tones (when playing triplets or anything similiar) twice or trice, and this does not sound good. I decided to go with Yngwie's style.

Okay, the lesson gave me the inspiration to mess with my solo knowledge. I have will and almost 4 months of being completely lonely and bored when I am at home. So I decided to learn some triplets first. I made some scales of my own, which are very traditional, but what can I do? When it comes to solos, I am out of ideas.

So I started:

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">-------------------
-------------------
-15p14p12----------
----------15p14p12-
-------------------
-------------------</pre><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I was repeating that on various frets and strings. Okay, this one goes really smoth and it took me 20 minutes to get it into fingers. Then I did the same riff, but ascending. Also, no problems. A little practising and it will be just perfect.

But I came out with this:

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">-------------------
-------------------
-15p14p12----------
----------15p13p12-
-------------------
-------------------</pre><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Both, descending and ascending. This was almost a no-no for my fingers. I have a little shorter pinky than the other fingers. I noticed that most of the fast-soloing guitarists have their fingers almost in line when they are stretched out.

When playing with pinky I get my fourth finger very lazy. I really don't need my third finger at this triplet, but it always places somewhere in the middle.

But when playing the first triplet with my pointing finger, the fourth finger and the pinky, it is almost impossible to play it beyond 100 bpm. I just can't. I know, I need practise, but how much practise? Okay, if I play the triplet slowly, I can play it, but when I increase the tempo, the third finger isn't that fast and then the middle comes between, which is damn annoying.

I should take more practise, that is for sure, but it is interesting that moving is very limited when my pinky is raised and beyond the fretboard. I think most of you also have pinky under the lower side of the neck when you don't need, but when I raise my to the fretboard, the third finger isn't that fast anymore.

I have tried various position. I have been trying to sit in classical position, but it doesn't get better. Also trying to set my strap short so the guitar would lay higher on me in standing position, but it is almost the same, so I think it is just the matter of practise (generally speaking).

Tell, what is the best and the most simply way to get my third finger into the move when playing with all fingers? I started to do some very amateur practise, by starting at the first fret of the lower string, and going from 1 to 4 with each finger on its own fret down to higher strings.
I noticed that I can play this 1-4 technique a lot more faster from the 5th to 10th fret.

Should I give up or continue with practising?

Enlighten me, please, because I have time and will, but I just need some advices and ideas.

Thanks!

[diablomozart]

Re: Upgradin my solo technique

the best thing to do is find patterns for scales that feel comfortable to your hands...a lot of guitarists i know like the 1-3-4 pattern in their scales...personally i prefer the 1-2-4 pattern, meaning i play 2 frets up from most people...it all boils down to what is most comfortable to you...the pattern you put in up top would work in certain keys, if you'rew playing diatonic scales...i would say more but my knowledge of theory really sux [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ...d.m.

as for speeding up?...just practice...the speed will come evntually...don't rush it tho...it'll sound forced and sloppy if you do...

[delt]

Re: Upgradin my solo technique

it's always good to be able to do things different ways. at least i always try for example to master a fast run starting both with a downstroke and with an upstroke, ie. doing all the picking in opposite direction. it gives you more "vocabulary" in your usage of the guitar.

What i've always had trouble with is "outside picking" meaning that when you cross strings, you "jump" over the string you're about to play, and pick it from the other direction. i always used to do mini-sweeps aka "economy picking" (2 consecutive picks in the same direction) in these cases.... i'm trying hard to be able to do it both ways.

well, i've played classical guitar for about 10 years, and as a result, when playing with a pick MY RIGHT HAND TECHNIQUE SUCKS!!!!!!!!!! [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/images/icons/mad.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/evilimages/icons/tongue.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

[maddog]

Re: Upgradin my solo technique

Starting with an upstroke is a great idea for practising [img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img] Its a whole new ball game! Because if your play a long solo passage not everything will begin with a down stroke

[MetalChef]

Re: Upgradin my solo technique

Repeat the Mantra...

I will get a metronome and a copy of Speed Mechanics for Lead Gutiar


Repeat untill you have both items and are practicing like a fiend.

[img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[SeventhSon]

Re: Upgradin my solo technique

MetalChef,
When playing a fret pattern like 8-10-12, did you try to stay consistent with fingering it 1-2-4 or 1-3-4?

Or did you go by Troy's fingering examples in the book, where he seems to be pretty inconsistent with choosing 1-2-4 or 1-3-4 fingering depending on the exercise (although it "seems" like in the higher frets he chooses 1-3-4 and in the bigger stretches in the lower frets he chooses 1-2-4).

[MetalChef]

Re: Upgradin my solo technique

In playing solos, I use what fingering works better and sounds smoother.

As far as the Speed Mechanic stuff, I practice things both ways when possible. I like having both the 1-2-4 and 1-3-4 on equal grounds.

If you can do one WAYYY faster than the other, I suggest you practice the other way to develop that method of fingering.

[delt]

Re: Upgradin my solo technique

i tend more towards the 1-2-4 approach because it's easier to get a stretch between the 1st two fingers than between the 3rd and the pinky.... but sometimes 1-2-4 feels more appropriate.

[buttheadmane]

Re: Upgradin my solo technique

i use to have the same problem and it drove me nuts. but i figured out that starting slow and working your way up SLOWLY has fixed a lot of my problems. it really all boils down to patience and detemination. another thing that helps is excedrin with caffeine in it or nething with caffeine.

[Ace]

Re: Upgradin my solo technique

If you want to get your pinky and ring finger to work together better there are all sorts of excerises out there for you to try. Before you play any speed excersices you should do certain finger stretches. Switching to bass lessons after playing guitar so fast for so long, I tried the same speed tricks on bass as I did on guitar, and I hurt my hands a few times. I approach speed/endurance guitar practice the same way I used to approach weighlifting when I was doing bodybuilding. You have to stretch, warm up, and cool down. And I personally really push myself, safely of course, and I focus with the same intensity as an athlete. When I am finally done, I feel a burn in my forearms as if I've been working out.