Increase Proficiency

[punchlinechar]

Does anyone have exercises that would increase alternate picking speed and string hopping capability? Those are the weakest areas of my playing and I want to work on them more

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[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Increase Proficiency

Go grab any shredder's REH type video. Paul Gilbert's intense rock is good for alternate picking as well as Petrucci's rock Discipline.

Also, as for the string hopping thing, go hop on YouTube and watch 'Cracking The Code' by Troy Grady. He's really analyzed this kinda thing.

Oh, and metronome and TIME. 30min/ day with a metronome and a handful of exercises EVERY day for...months.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Increase Proficiency

Learn anything Steve Morse or Al DiMeola played on. Alternate picking for days, even if it is counter-intuitive. But both of them make it look and sound so simple. You need a lot of time and a metronome.

 

[punchlinechar]

Re: Increase Proficiency

Learn anything Steve Morse or Al DiMeola played on. Alternate picking for days, even if it is counter-intuitive. But both of them make it look and sound so simple. You need a lot of time and a metronome.

So I learn Race With Devil On Spanish Highway? [emoji1] I'll do that.

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[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Increase Proficiency

Steve Vai's 10-hour Workout covered all of that as well.

Only thing to watch for with the string-skipping stuff is to not get hung up on Chicken Picking, where you do a combination of finger and pick picking. Master of Puppets and Hangar 18 done with chicken pickin is just not the same, though it is easier.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Increase Proficiency

So I learn Race With Devil On Spanish Highway? [emoji1] I'll do that.

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Well, that is a good start. His alternate picking is remarkable. And that was recorded when he was young!

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Increase Proficiency

 

[punchlinechar]

Re: Increase Proficiency

I've watched a lot of Troy Grady's videos, I love the style and the details he goes into. Once the UIL season ends for Band, I'll carve out time to sot with a metronome and really crank on alt picking.

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[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Increase Proficiency

Once the UIL season ends for Band, I'll carve out time to sot with a metronome and really crank on alt picking.

No, start NOW. Seriously, start with 15min a day TODAY then ramp up from there.

 

[punchlinechar]

Re: Increase Proficiency

No, start NOW. Seriously, start with 15min a day TODAY then ramp up from there.

Will do!

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[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Increase Proficiency

You better not me lying to me! hah

In all seriousness though, I was doing that too...waiting for the right time, when really I had small chunks of time all over the place I could be using. Best of luck, after even a few weeks with a metronome you will notice an improvement.

 

[punchlinechar]

Re: Increase Proficiency

You better not me lying to me! hah

In all seriousness though, I was doing that too...waiting for the right time, when really I had small chunks of time all over the place I could be using. Best of luck, after even a few weeks with a metronome you will notice an improvement.

After one night I felt a slight improvement, pretty weird lol. I've never been onw to sit down and practice but it really helps.

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[Mincer]

Re: Increase Proficiency

Amazing, huh? It isn't super-difficult, and doesn't take super talent...it just takes time and patience. And self-analyzing to adjust small movements for efficiency. All the great pickers did that at some point. Now, gaining musicality and creativity, those are different exercises.