Help me put an end to the suck

[Gank]

I'm a self-taught player who started out at 13, learning the Enter Sandman intro by ear. Since then, I've relied on my ears and tabulature. Because I've relied so heavily on it, I have a pretty good ear, but my technique really sucks. Single picked stuff and anything that resembles lead playing or scales are tough for me to do cleanly or with any amount of speed.

I've started going through Troy Stetina's Heavy Metal Lead Guitar book, which has helped a bit and I've heard his Speed Mechanics book is worth taking a look at. Does anyone have any other suggestions or recommendations?

Thanks

[jdr94]

petrucci's rock dicipline video...i think thats what its called.

[Jayster]

Any of the Paul Gilbert videos are quite eye opening !!! My favorite video I've not been able to find since early 90's , it was done by Vinnie Moore - excellent video ,I'll try to find online link !!

ok here's the info - but good luck finding them !!!

• Advanced Lead Guitar Techniques (1987)
• Speed, Accuracy, & Articulation (1989)

[Danno]

I'm a big fan of the Stetina speed mechanics book and I think it will help you considerably if you work at it and follow the book. His method insists that you first learn how to use you fretting hand properly. Then you master using your picking hand. Only then do you combine the two, because they can't really be learned simultaneously (an approach I agree with, but others may not).

The first part of the book is all about learning finger independence, based mainly on hammer-on and pull-off exercises (and they do work, believe me). Consequently, the picking requirements in this section of the book are kept extremely simple (usually down picks only). In this section of the book, put away the metronome and play as slowly as you need to play to play accurately and cleanly. As Troy points out, why do people think that if they play something sloppily one hundred times, it will suddenly come out perfectly on the 101st try? It won't. It only comes out perfectly when you learn to play it perfectly, and the only way to do that is to practice it slowly. Over and over until the motions become part of your muscle memory.

The second part of the book is devoted to picking in great detail. Here the focus is on playing with a metronome and learning to alt/economy pick cleanly and efficiently. You start learning to pick on one string first, then move onto adjacent strings and string skipping, etc. It's an extensive part of the book.

There are also useful parts of the book on rhythms and how to count them properly and other areas (although the actual advice on soloing itself seems skimpy and is only a small part of the text).

Anyway, it's helped me tremendously. I've got a way long way to go but I've never played better than I do now. Before I had NO technique whatsoever. I, too, couldn't get through a scale without making mistakes and had lously finger independence and many bad habits. I do work hard at it (and at time it is work!) but the progress has been tangible and that helps keep me going. Good luck, whatever method you decide to use. If your ear is already good (which is a major asset), this kind of work will really pay off for you.

[<-Mitch->]

All these videos are good 'n' all, but if you have no lead techinque at all, you'd be better off learning a few Zepplin, GNR, Nirvana, Green Day solos etc. I know you might not like the music, but learning the basics of the pentatonic scale, along with bends, slides, vibrato and just all round techniques required to play anything and make it sound convincing are VITAL when learning stuff from Intense Rock, Rock Discipline etc. You can't expect yourself to play Paul Gilbert's "easy to pick lick" if you're having trouble with the Nothing Else Matters solo.

Just my opinion, but people who jump straight into the whole metronome thing after 3 months of playing always can play John Petrucci solos, but absolutely fucking SUCK at vibrato, intonation of bends and just generally anything that's supposed to be easy.

I think that Troy guy shows alot of basic exercises that just work on two notes, using legato to play them so you build finger strength and co-ordination which is of course very useful but I wouldn't go for the scale picking stuff just yet.

I actually took the time to locate this book online for you:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=FAOGF8V2

Good luck.

[petedz]

First learn some AC/DC tunes. The Stetina Speed Mechanics book is very good, but highly concentrated. Expect to spend a month or more per page on the exercises and form an intimate relationship with your metronome. If you're looking for something more user friendly, check out Danny Gill's Essential Guitar Practice Routines: Alternate Picking DVD.

[Jayster]

All these videos are good 'n' all, but if you have no lead techinque at all, you'd be better off learning a few Zepplin, GNR, Nirvana, Green Day solos etc. I know you might not like the music, but learning the basics of the pentatonic scale, along with bends, slides, vibrato and just all round techniques required to play anything and make it sound convincing are VITAL when learning stuff from Intense Rock, Rock Discipline etc. You can't expect yourself to play Paul Gilbert's "easy to pick lick" if you're having trouble with the Nothing Else Matters solo.
Good luck.

Amusing story, I had been playing for maybe a year or so - when I got the tab for 'fade to black'. The harmony solo was written on 1 staff, so I learned and played it as diads(perhaps wrong term?), and yes this certainly limited any vibrato and made more string noise as well.:ROTF:

The point being, is that Mitch is probably very correct in stating that you have to crawl before you walk, and walk before you run!Good luck and godspeed on bringing your chops up to the level you'd like them to be - And don't get discouraged easily, very few people that I know were playing 128th notes @ 600 bpm's in their first few years of playing(most of us (I think))on the board have spent quite a few years - trying to put an end to the suck !!!

Merry Christmass to all
Jay

[petedz]

...very few people that I know were playing 128th notes @ 600 bpm's in their first few years of playing(most of us (I think))on the board have spent quite a few years - trying to put an end to the suck !!!

Although there is one in every crowd. Back in college, when I was just starting on my quest to escape the suck I ran across this guy.... In six months, he went from first picking up a guitar to doing a dead perfect Paul Gilbert. Outstanding musician. Great ear. Great rhythm player too. Anyway, he got to that point and hung it up. It wasn't challenging enough.

[Ben...]

Once you become good friends with your metronome it will take the suck out behind the shed and shoot it.

[MarkThomas]

All these videos are good 'n' all, but if you have no lead techinque at all, you'd be better off learning a few Zepplin, GNR, Nirvana, Green Day solos etc. I know you might not like the music, but learning the basics of the pentatonic scale, along with bends, slides, vibrato and just all round techniques required to play anything and make it sound convincing are VITAL when learning stuff from Intense Rock, Rock Discipline etc. You can't expect yourself to play Paul Gilbert's "easy to pick lick" if you're having trouble with the Nothing Else Matters solo.

Just my opinion, but people who jump straight into the whole metronome thing after 3 months of playing always can play John Petrucci solos, but absolutely fucking SUCK at vibrato, intonation of bends and just generally anything that's supposed to be easy.

I think that Troy guy shows alot of basic exercises that just work on two notes, using legato to play them so you build finger strength and co-ordination which is of course very useful but I wouldn't go for the scale picking stuff just yet.

I actually took the time to locate this book online for you:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=FAOGF8V2

Good luck.

Great ideas!

No offense, but sending a guy to watch Petrucci or Gilbert videos is only going defeat the purpose...would be depressing to watch masters when you are trying to build chops, IMO.

[Gank]

Thanks for all the help guys! I can muck my way through a few easy solos - I'm fairly comfortable with my vibrato and bends - it's the precision and finger dexterity I'm looking to improve on. I guess it's time to suck it up, get a metronome and put in some serious time with it. The Speed Mechanics book looks like a great place to start.

[Ben...]

Thanks for all the help guys! I can muck my way through a few easy solos - I'm fairly comfortable with my vibrato and bends - it's the precision and finger dexterity I'm looking to improve on. I guess it's time to suck it up, get a metronome and put in some serious time with it. The Speed Mechanics book looks like a great place to start.

Try the first part of Vinnie Moore's "The Maze" (The song). I'm working on it right now and I think it's a great song for practicing both alternate picking and to an extent, dexterity. It sounds harder than it is. It also will work great with a metronome and doesn't sound bad slowed down a bit when you're practicing (I hate playing something slow that sounds completely different than it's fast counterpart). You can try the later solos if you want, they're kinda rank fast at times.

Here's a link to a Youtube video of it (Audio only):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It2sQ035r9s

It's addicting to practice.

[Super_shredder]

another song to try out is Glasgow kiss by petrucci , it will take a while to get to full speed but it will help your alternate picking and string skipping hugely. when i learn't it i started really slow and increased the speed.

[Ben...]

another song to try out is Glasgow kiss by petrucci , it will take a while to get to full speed but it will help your alternate picking and string skipping hugely. when i learn't it i started really slow and increased the speed.

As did I. Also a great song. I was actually considering posting it but I couldn't remember how it went. I haven't heard it in over a year.

[MartinBarre]

Glasgow Kiss? I don't know whether to laugh or headbutt some bastard.