Re: finger speed
How did I get fast? I practice every second I possibly can. I don't even practice anything specifically, I just jam. Most guitarists would scoff at a statement like that, but I have better chops that anyone I've ever met personally. Trust me, just playing in general will help you out. There is an exception though, now that I think of it, which is that I feel that the most entertaining aspect of guitar is practicing things that are "too hard" for me. From the start I wanted to learn scales and modes and arpeggios. Get this. Once I started taking lessons, when I just started playing, I convinced my teacher that I knew all the chords already and we started straight into scales. What I'm saying is, in general, play scales and stuff you "can't play" (i.e. stuff that's cosidered beyond your ability) but don't be to strict. You should enjoy your practice and want to do it every day. For me the working up to a point is more fun than being able to play it up to par. Also, you need to have a positive mind set. Don't go into something and think "I can't play this." You have to realize that if someone else played it on six strings you should be able to do the same since you have the same means as they did. That's a great way to think. Of course, the problem with that is that there's always going to be songs you just plain can't play (I can't play songs on a 7 string, with a Floyd, and 24 frets....ahem... Dream Theater... ahem) You'll just have to live with the fact that there's guys out there like Rusty Cooley with 8 string guitars that we'll not be able to match. Ah well... But like I said, that's only a small percentage of songs and there's no reason that any dude with 6 strings and 22 frets can't play any given Yngwie Malmsteen song. I hope that helps out all you guys out there.
~Jim
