NEED FOR SPEED 6 You can post this on your web, ftp, bbs whatever, without permission. leave all the x-tra text in there pls. This is #6 (and final) in a series about technique and shredding. The first five lessons are available on my web page... Double Picking Double picking is where each note is picked twice. Or you can use triple picking, quad picking etc., This is a pretty neat thing actually (use it sparingly tho). Alternate picking. Use a metronome. -12-12--15-15----------------------------------------------- ---------------12-12--15-15--------------------------------- -----------------------------12-12--14-14------------------- -------------------------------------------12-12--14-14----- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ -12-12--14-14----------------- ---------------12-12--15-15--- D Maj Arp -----------------------2-2---------------------------------- ------------------3-3-------3-3----------------------------- -------------2-2-----------------2-2------------------------ --------4-4---------------------------4-4------------------- ---5-5-------------------------------------5-5-------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ For triple and quad picking just use three or four notes instead of just two. If you can get this right, you can make it sound like you're using a delay pedal when you're really not. You can also get this effect with a delay pedal, but work on it this way first. count=one and a (triplets) ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------------------------2-2-2-------- -------2-2-2-------4-4-4--2-2-2--5-5-5--4-4-4---------5-5-5- -3-3-3-------5-5-5------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------2-2-2---------4-4-4--2-2-2--- ---4-4-4--2-2-2--5-5-5--4-4-4---------5-5-5----------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ etc... Try that with 4 notes. """""""""""""""""""""""" $$$$ Palm Muting $$$$$$ ssssssssssssssssssssssss Muting the string is a handy thing to know how to do. It will kill a note when you want it to (to prevent unwanted ringing) or to make a lick sound more staccato. You can get that classic "Iron Maiden" rhythms going with it...Metallica uses it frequently also. The trick is to rest the palm of your right hand on the bridge. Not too heavy or you'll bend the notes sharp. With the part of your hand just below your pinky finger, rest that on the strings lightly. You have to get the hang of it....But don't push down, rest the hand lightly. Make sure you have freedom of movement with your pick. Relax, don't fight it, you'll get the hang of it eventually. Now, pick a series of notes like this: -------------------------------------------------5--7--8---- ----------------------------------------5--7--8------------- -------------------------------4--5--7---------------------- --------------------2--4--5/7------------------------------- -----------2--3--5------------------------------------------ --2--3--5--------------------------------------------------- This is just a G Major scale....Try and mute every string except for the slide. It takes a while...Once you get the hang of that, you can mute certain notes more than others by using more pressure with your right hand. It takes a bit of practice.... Muting sounds really cool on the bottom three strings. If you play a sequence like this: ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------12- ---------------------12------12--14--12--14--15--14--15----- -12--14--15--14--15------15--------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------12--14------12--14~-------------------------------- -14--15----------15----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ Suggested listening for palm muters: Al DiMeola (The god of palm muting) Bending Notes: I realize this really has nothing to do with speed. But quite a few guitarist lack Bending and Vibrato in their playing. Bending a note adds flavor to your licks. (Vibrato is next). I used to always bend my notes either flat or sharp...I'm sure a lot of ppl do this...I did this exercise for a while to help me "hear" where the note should be bent to. Strike the D note on the 15th fret of the B string, listen to the note and then: ------------------- ------13b(15)------ ------------------- ------------------- ------------------- ------------------- bend the C to a D (whole step). Remember the D note...and as you bend "find" that D...Do this for all half, whole, 1 1/2 and 2 bends. All of them actually. This is a pretty good exercise, your bends will improve. Vibrato on a bent note is a touchy subject. You don't want to overdo the vibrato on a bend, it'll sound strange. Add a light vibrato to a bent note...save the wide vibrato for unbent notes :) Vibrato: ---------------- --------15~----- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- The ~ is a sign for vibrato...which type you use is up to you...but USE VIBRATO in your playing...It's boring without. It's like listening to a vocalist that doesn't use vibrato...snore....zzzzzz Finger Vibrato: Finger vibrato requires moving one or more fingers perpendicular to the string while the hand remains stationary. Finger vibrato is a good way to bring out a melody that is not the highest note of the chord. (Not used often). Whole-Hand Vibrato: Uses the entire hand, without a pivot point. The hand just moves up and down (perpendicular to the neck), sometimes with the thumb supporting on the neck. I'm going to stop here for a sec...This is a popular way to do vibrato. think of shaking the note....You also want to figure out "how" to add vibrato to the note. Here's the way I do it. Hit the note, then add vibrato slowly (make sure the note rings out for about a second), slowly shake the string, widening out the note and increase the speed of the vibrato. You can keep the slow shake, it depends on how you want the note to sound...experiment. Classical Vibrato: Works best on nylon strings. Instead of shaking "ground to sky" shake parallel with the neck. -------------------------------- -----<===5===>-shake that way--- -------------------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------- Mostly used with classical musicians (violin especially). Arm Vibrato: Your finger, hand and wrist are held rigid, with your thumb clear of the neck. The vibrato comes from an overly fast up and down movement at the elbow. It's hard to control (not recommended). Stevie Ray Vaughan, BB King and Yngwie Malmsteen (IMHO) have the best vibrato.... You can use vibrato with chords too...I use it, I have really strong and very big hands. [With 11 gauge strings I'd better have strong hands :) ] ------------- ------------- -----2~------ -----1~------ -----2~------root note ------------- Make sure you have a good grip on the neck...If you can't do it at the first fret, move the chord (it's a Dominant 7 chord) up the neck to say the 7th fret. It should be much easier there. Be careful (again) how much vibrato you put on a chord. You don't want to make it go weird on you. Speed for thought One thing you must remember, you must learn to walk before you can run. Meaning if you can't play slow and clean, forget about playing fast. I've heard a lot of players that play really fast, but they're sloppy as hell....Kinda makes this all pointless! When you start your daily practicing, start off slow, don't try to play fast, you'll only cause injury to your hands and arms. Always use a metronome. It not only tells you what you're doing but it also enables you to measure precisely the increases you make. When you've played a bit, increase your speed when you feel comforatable with what you're doing. If it's too much, bring it down some. Always increase your speed gradually, don't jump too high. Some days you might have more problems than others...that's natural, don't get discouraged....Remember, Relax, and play clean.... This will be the last in the Speed series. If you've become bored, check out the Theory Application lessons for more stuff to work on. Remember, knowledge is power.... Judy Letostak - http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/agnetha/59/index.html Ansis Markauss - http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/dreadlock/21/index.html