Born Again: Cyg relearning the guitar

[Cygnus X1]

I have already covered why I'm doing this, and going into Stetina's HM Lead II
book. I quickly discovered my biggest weakness is sloppy picking technique.

So, I got Stetina's Speed Mechanics and Kevin Dillard's Intelli-Shred today.
I figure either one can be taken in bits and pieces to organise some warmups.

First question: Both say to use an upstroke picking into the next strig for triplets. All alternate exercise, but I am so used to downpicking going through.
I have to relearn this, I guess. Can anyone explain why I'm supposed to use an upstroke?

[khabibissell]

I have already covered why I'm doing this, and going into Stetina's HM Lead II
book. I quickly discovered my biggest weakness is sloppy picking technique.

So, I got Stetina's Speed Mechanics and Kevin Dillard's Intelli-Shred today.
I figure either one can be taken in bits and pieces to organise some warmups.

First question: Both say to use an upstroke picking into the next strig for triplets. All alternate exercise, but I am so used to downpicking going through.
I have to relearn this, I guess. Can anyone explain why I'm supposed to use an upstroke?

I dunno... There was a recent Guitar World interview with John Petrucci and he suggested that you practice alternate picking scales starting on a downstroke AND an upstroke. This way, crossing strings will never feel uncomfortable regardless of whether you're on an upstroke or a downstroke. I don't think there is a right or wrong way to do it, but it probably doesn't hurt to be proficient at both.

I've been working on that very thing the last couple of days. Good luck!

[Cygnus X1]

I didn't notice any difference in speed, except slowing me down on modal scale practice.
Then, I had to slow back down to get the picking correct.
And, I'm using the Stylus so much that I've gotten used to it. I'm finding it tough to go back the green tortexes. Progress...it's like learning to walk again after a car wreck!

[khabibissell]

I didn't notice any difference in speed, except slowing me down on modal scale practice.
Then, I had to slow back down to get the picking correct.
And, I'm using the Stylus so much that I've gotten used to it. I'm finding it tough to go back the green tortexes. Progress...it's like learning to walk again after a car wreck!

Yeah, technical stuff on the guitar can be really tricky. I think anybody can attain "shredder" level speed, it just takes ALOT of work. Making time for it is tough.

I changed the way I hold the pick about six months ago and I can sympathize... Its hard to relearn something after doing it a different way for a long time.

[KevinDguitar]

on the three note per string stuff .. if you use strict alternate picking (ascending) you will encounter that every other string starts on an upstroke.. first string (down-up-down)/next string (up-down-up) and this is "outside pciking"..your pick is staying to the outside (not between) the strings in any given pairing.. on a descending three-note-per-string run, if you start on a downstroke.. you will enounter the same thing (first string down-up-down/next string up-down-up) only now its "inside picking".. your pick is between any given set of strings.. this is only in regards to using strict alternate picking while crossing the strings descending or ascending. Remember to take it slow and the moment you get really frustrated.. take a break.. don't suck the fun out of playing or the learning process.. learn it in little bits and bites and try to keep it fun. Pease feel free to pn or e-mail me anytime I can help.. and THANK YOU VERY MUCH! MUCH THANKS AND GRATITUDE!

[Cygnus X1]

Ok, thank you Kev...
Awesome book! I'm getting used to the picking technique already.
I'm not getting frustrated, actually I am suprised at how fluid I can
be when learning something "new", and practicing on it. I had three
seperate sessions of an hour each yesterday just going through alternate
picking exercises.
I think having 30 years of even mediocre playing has familiarised me enough with the instrument that I can comfortably move forward. But it is some work (ahem, discipline)
to get some things accomplished.

I appreciate the help and support. I decided to bare my process in a thread so maybe others can be encouraged to move forward. 45, and learning. That's a major admission of how much time I have noodled away!

[javert]

Good to read about your endeavours. I've had similar experiences. I didn't play for almost 10 years and started playing again only one and a halft year ago -- and I'm 31 now. I set myself the goal of being able to play my favorite heavy metal songs, and I've been working on my technique on and off using Troy Stetina's books. It's amazing how some of his exercises reveal your weaknesses, like certain picking patterns. For the past few months, I've been working mostly on learning new songs, though. I reached a point where I had worn myself down from spending too much time on boring technical exercises. I'll definitely go back to the technical exercises again once I'm out of the slump.

[Cygnus X1]

Dear Diary,
Day three.
Practicing inside/outside picking.
Warming up using chromatic 4's, then triplets.
Still doing modal scale run warmups, but using alternate picking technique in the scale runs. Improvement is showing. I stop when my right shoulder blade feels strained.
Initially, I felt a bit of discomfort inside my tricep, but it is gone, now, just a small muscle that is never used.
I Have not touched a pentatonic scale in about a month.
I will tab in some solo's I want to learn when I feel I'm ready, or when I get bored.
I'm not bored just yet.

[thebeggar]

Definitely keep us up to date. I have been going through speed mechanics a bit lately and it is good to see the progress of others. As someone who is a complete noodler I found Stetina's 3 note per string A minor scale early in the book really helpful in memorizing patterns up and down the neck.
I found this approach helpful because when you have finished a pattern you have already moved up/down 2 or 3 frets, sort of almost into the next pattern. All of a sudden I could link them up a lot easier using this approach. I don't know how many times I've sat down with a guitar mag or book and tried the general across the fret board type thing but I just couldn't quite get it.
Finally I can play in 1 whole key!!!!! Genius

[jacksoncsplayer]

I bought Stetinas ultimate scale book, and so far so good. I'll give more details in a couple days after the sessions Cyg, maybe your'e on to something here.

[Cygnus X1]

I bought Stetinas ultimate scale book, and so far so good. I'll give more details in a couple days after the sessions Cyg, maybe your'e on to something here.

Cool!
How's your technique?
I recommend the Intelli-shred, and the Speed Mechanics.
I'm working mainly with the Dillard method, and go to Speed Mechanics for some different exercises on similar concepts. Still working on the picking.
Time in the pilot's seat is the only thing that's helping me at this point.
I have to put in the hours, for it to pay off.
There is little doubt I have already undergone a complete transformation, just by not "jamming" with my practice time. I'll stop and do domething else,
(homework with the boys, or abusing the shep properly ), then go back, do some more exercises, advance in bits and pieces.

I'm also amazed that my picking, and left hand finger memory has changed, and in a lot of ways, improved. Although I practiced "inside picking" so much at one point, that outside picking became a bit foreign. Huh. So, now I split the exercise evenly.

[Cygnus X1]

There's a great little example that does outside, then inside picking alternating, going up the fretboard. I didn't pay enough attention to the picking notation yesterday, when I tried it the first time. Great trick! I have a little more wood to chop, now.

[jacksoncsplayer]

Technique and alternate picking is good, my problem after not playing for ten years is remembering the scales and how they relate to each other. My speed is awesome for what I remember, but I need to marry the modes and scales again. We'll see how it goes in the coming weeks, it should be fun. I Hope !

[Cygnus X1]

Technique and alternate picking is good, my problem after not playing for ten years is remembering the scales and how they relate to each other. My speed is awesome for what I remember, but I need to marry the modes and scales again. We'll see how it goes in the coming weeks, it should be fun. I Hope !

What scales are you working on?
I have been practicing with various modes, to help my ear get away from the minor pentatonics I've been so addicted to...I need to get serious about reading tabs on some solo's that I want to shoot for. Not sure where to go, maybe some Rhoads. I saw sully's Crazy Train video and he has it nailed.
I want to be able to do that. I've been too lazy to learn things properly
in the past.

I've been getting headaches for three days. I think SW might have switched me to decaf. It happened one time with a can of Folger's, it was "regular", but it gave me headaches. I opened a can of Maxwell House, and everything was back to normal. I guess I ought to just kick the caffeine, but this sucks.

[Cygnus X1]

Update.
It seems I have somehow injured my left hand ring finger.
I didn't notice it until work last night, when I extend that finger
in just the right way, it hurts. I have no clue how this happened,
and I don't feel anything bad when I'm playing.
I'll just have to see how it is in a few days. Hopefully I didn't
hyperextend it or anything.