Question for guitarists.

[metalchris25]

When you're looking for speed, alternate picking is nearly ALWAYS the best way to go.

[bilal]

check out this guy....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYDQBH8FWAw

who is he?

[metalchris25]

dunno, but I like him.

[GregS]

Quote: (Originally Posted by metalchris25)

When you're looking for speed, alternate picking is nearly ALWAYS the best way to go.

I'll try some alterrnate picking then , im not familar with that tho so i'll practise alittle.

[metalchris25]

The trick is to get the timing just right. I like to practice picking frets 3,5,and 7.Starting on the low e and moving to the high e. Its important to try and use three frets at first. Then move on to multiple strings. Or you can use scales or modes.

[StappsSaviour]

yea and you can also practise using four notes a string...
this way it helps you to practise your precision of the alternate picking and also exersizes your lil pinky finger
and everyones pinky finger is week...

and the bass guitar thing...
as long as you use a pick to play than you are fine but i dont really agree with the strengthening through the bass.
it can actually change your technique as your hands are already four times as strong as they need to be to play the guitar.
and if you use your fingers to play it tends to also change your finger picking technique and make it alot heavier when you go back to play the guitar when thats not really what you want at all.
thats kinda the opposite effect but then again you dont really want to be fingerpicking so hard your fingers bleed...lolz

but yea if you are going for the heavier sound or a more metal sound heavy gauges are best...only because if you are dropping your guitar down to say "b" from standard and you are using normal or light guage strings, all they are gonna do is flop all over the place. and you really dont want that at all either.

light gauges are more for soloing as it is also easier on your fingers.

[bilal]

^ thanks for the contribution.....hmm....sounds uselfull.....


ahh....tell me people..... i ve been a casual chord player for sometime but i cant play any solo stuff :sad: .... how should i start to raise my level from dead zero to a bit higher ..... should i start picking up random scales and practice em....i dont think i face much trouble in playing scales cause ive been playing some scales from time to time...... can you guys recommend me what to do now as i can play most of the Chords and i think my timing and struming aint really much bad........ but ive kinda stuck right now...i am willing to put more time everyday...but i realy dont know what to do ......

[metalchris25]

If youre lookin to play rock solos, learn the pentatonics. They will be your best friends. The blues scales too. they will help u diversfy your options.

[bilal]

^thanks Chris.....ill start working on the scales.....i have tried to read some music theory in the past.....and did actually get hang of a little of it.....like how major scale works and how chords are formed with it......but its way over my head at times..... i think i would just focus on getting my techinique built right now.....and maybe theroy for latters,.....

[GregS]

Im gonna try practise working on my scales aswell..
Gonna need to..

[bilal]

alright ..i am gona practice the scales in this file.....but i aint sure what they mean.....i am practicing em anyways...but if any one can spare time....do check em out and tell me what the heck the yare

[titan9]

Regarding the alternate picking thing, there's actually a helpful exercise in a book I bought a while back(can't think of the title). Anyway, what you do is you spend two minutes each on the six strings(total of 12 minutes) and you just do alternate picking. You start slow, and as you get more precise, you increase speed. Eventually, you'll be able to alternate pick really fast(that's what happened to me after using the exercise for a month or soon). And it won't be sloppy picking, it'll be precise, crisp picking.

However, the exercise does get really boring after a while. So I like to apply the alternate picking to scales. I'll play the chromatic scale(0-1-2-3-4 on each string except the third where it is 0-1-2-3), e phrygian scale, pentatonic minor scale and some other ones as well. Usually this is a part of my "warm-up" routine, which typically lasts 30 minutes(the next 30 are usually spent on songs, originals and covers) and includes scales, techniques and things of that sort. I have a pretty structured practice routine because I tend to get sloppy if I'm not organized.

[Wylde-Tremonti]

Quote: (Originally Posted by metalchris25)

When you're looking for speed, alternate picking is nearly ALWAYS the best way to go.

I Disagree
If You're Looking for SPEED... Alt picking can sometimes even hinder your performance... It's alot easier to do Lagato because you don't have to be as coordianted. (you only have to worry about one hand instead of 2) OR You can do 5-string, or 6-string Arpeggios....
Perfect example is Yngwie Malmsteen...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh_AChZgYmA

[GregS]

Quote: (Originally Posted by bilal)

alright ..i am gona practice the scales in this file.....but i aint sure what they mean.....i am practicing em anyways...but if any one can spare time....do check em out and tell me what the heck the yare

I'd like to know how to understand those scales..
Would love to start using them , it looks good.

[metalchris25]

Quote: (Originally Posted by bilal)

alright ..i am gona practice the scales in this file.....but i aint sure what they mean.....i am practicing em anyways...but if any one can spare time....do check em out and tell me what the heck the yare

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...xplanation.jpg
if you need more help with it, let me know.

The chart closest to the bottom is helpful here:
http://www.cyberfret.com/scales/mino...onic/index.php