Need help of the experienced ones --> Life and Music

[not.quite.slash]

Well, i just turned sixteen last week ... and i feel that this is the right time to set my basis, build up my mind, get my chops rocking and prepare my futere ...

I live in Brazil. To enter the college here we take 3 Tests, 2 of which have nothing to do with music, just math, biology, history etc ... And there as 3rd test which i will take in January of 2008, this is one is all about music ...

OK, so today is 30/07/06 ... and when 1/08/06 comes i will start my studing plans ... Now i need some help of the people who have been trough this situation ...

In terms of techniques: alternate picking, sweep, legato, tapping, etc ... I plan to move my metronome 4~6 BMPs a week ... This will neat me ... 16~24 BPMs a mounth and 192~288 BPMs at this time next year, which is prety good ... assuming that i will be doing 4 notes per beat ...

The question is ... is that possible ? to increse the speed of the paterns, riffs, licks, scales, arpeggios, whatever u are playing ... 4 BPMs a week ... while still maintaining a clean good technique ... ?

Or am i just dreaming ?

Plz im lost ... really lost ...
If possible, tell me the way you do ... or did ... thx:yell:

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Need help of the experienced ones --> Life and Music

The question is ... is that possible ? to increse the speed of the paterns, riffs, licks, scales, arpeggios, whatever u are playing ... 4 BPMs a week ... while still maintaining a clean good technique ... ?

The most important thing in your playing has to be FEEL, note choice, phrasing, and solid rhythm work that's right in the pocket. Don't get caught up in the idea that the faster it is, the better it is. The most important thing about speed is being able to still have clean articulate picking with good feel, and the more you practice slow, the better you'll sound fast. The second your playing gets sloppy from speed, it means to back up and work on it slower. Sounding musical is more important than anything. Be a player who sounds like he's 'got it', not someone who sounds like he's 'almost there.'

 

[mind_transplant]

Re: Need help of the experienced ones --> Life and Music

+1 to Gearjoneser

Focus on things like phrasing, rhythm, harmony, sight reading, new repetoire, and most importantly ear training! Good ears will get you a lot farther than good hands, and they make other parts of the learning process a lot easier.

Don't get me wrong, improving your technique is always a good thing to do, it's just the mentality of 'racing against the metronome' won't really do that much for you. You're better of being an excellent guitarist at 120bpm than an average guitarist at 240bpm. Just keep your playing relaxed and clean, and speed will come.

 

[not.quite.slash]

Re: Need help of the experienced ones --> Life and Music

Uhmm... i understand... but my intention really isn´t (i swear) to be a shreder ... i was just asking for help ... to build a plan ... so that i can separete some minutes of my day to build up speed ...

But anyway ... both you answers opened my mind to other things, i haven´t thought about ...

Thanks

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Need help of the experienced ones --> Life and Music

Working with a drum machine or metronome is definitely a good idea, because it reveals any tendency to rush or drag, and improves your rhythm.
If you're just working on being fast and clean, there's no reason not to keep nudging up the speed. As soon as you can't play the scales clean, back up a couple notches.