Speed MechaniX practice thread!
- Thread starter Davey
- Start date
JammerMatt
New member
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!
Well, sometimes when you remodel you need to redo the foundation.
I started doing that with Exercises #6 and #7. I was doing that set last night and realized that those seemingly easy exercises were sounding like crap. So, I decided to focus on those only. I played them for about 1-1/2 hours total. Monotonous yes, results... definitely. When I slowed them way down I discovered that my timing was poor and so was my technique. I went down to about 80 bpm, but by the end of the session I was up to about 110 or so and they were sounding good. My techniques:
1. Break each phrase down separately. Repetition repetition
2. Do each transition separately backwards and forwards.
3. Use the metronome.
4. Don't go too fast.
5. Tap your foot.
6. Increase speed in 5 to 10 bpm increments.
I normally scoff at the tap your foot idea since it starts hurting my shins after awhile, and how am I gonna do a stage dive off the amp when I'm tapping my foot? But, I do believe it really helps to get the timing down.
Well, sometimes when you remodel you need to redo the foundation.
I started doing that with Exercises #6 and #7. I was doing that set last night and realized that those seemingly easy exercises were sounding like crap. So, I decided to focus on those only. I played them for about 1-1/2 hours total. Monotonous yes, results... definitely. When I slowed them way down I discovered that my timing was poor and so was my technique. I went down to about 80 bpm, but by the end of the session I was up to about 110 or so and they were sounding good. My techniques:
1. Break each phrase down separately. Repetition repetition
2. Do each transition separately backwards and forwards.
3. Use the metronome.
4. Don't go too fast.
5. Tap your foot.
6. Increase speed in 5 to 10 bpm increments.
I normally scoff at the tap your foot idea since it starts hurting my shins after awhile, and how am I gonna do a stage dive off the amp when I'm tapping my foot? But, I do believe it really helps to get the timing down.
Davey
Goliath of Tone
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!
back briefly..
finished work, threw myself head first into the book...
i made my own little exercise that combines #14 and #9 with a bit of a vibrato at the end
no picking at all, put your hand into your pocket or sit on it. no muting of other strings apart of with your left hand. once you get to play it clean without hitting any other strings or letting them ring too much, you'll know why.
when played at moderate to higher speeds it makes for a KILLER!! classical sounding lick
i must say i see some minor improvement in stamina already. found some of my rough spots and weaknesses and am ironing them out. i'll spend a couple of months on the first portion of the book, then move on to the bumblebee section
keep practicing. i'll look in here and check up on you newbs once in a while
P.S.
once you get homey with exercises 2-5, mix them up. ascend with pattern 2, descend with 3, then do the same with 4 and 5. make a couple of runs and switch them (ascend with 3 and descend with 2)
gives the brain something more to do
back briefly..
finished work, threw myself head first into the book...
i made my own little exercise that combines #14 and #9 with a bit of a vibrato at the end
no picking at all, put your hand into your pocket or sit on it. no muting of other strings apart of with your left hand. once you get to play it clean without hitting any other strings or letting them ring too much, you'll know why.
Code:
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G|-h8-h12-p8-p0-h7-h10-p7-p0-h5-h8-p5-p0-h4-h7-p4-p0-h4-h5-h7-p5-p4--------------------------
D|------------------------------------------------------------------h7-p5-p4-h5-h7-p5-p4-h5~-
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------when played at moderate to higher speeds it makes for a KILLER!! classical sounding lick
i must say i see some minor improvement in stamina already. found some of my rough spots and weaknesses and am ironing them out. i'll spend a couple of months on the first portion of the book, then move on to the bumblebee section
keep practicing. i'll look in here and check up on you newbs once in a while
P.S.
once you get homey with exercises 2-5, mix them up. ascend with pattern 2, descend with 3, then do the same with 4 and 5. make a couple of runs and switch them (ascend with 3 and descend with 2)
gives the brain something more to do
Last edited:
Pink Unicorn Horsey
Megä Pöny Rÿdr
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!
Get it at Amazon.com and get on board!
Get it at Amazon.com and get on board!
JammerMatt
New member
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!
Davey, that's a great idea. I try it occasionally with the exercises also - take the underlying theme and mix it up a little.... and I think that Troy would say that's the whole idea.
Hey KJ, welcome to the thread. Of course, I'm not the one to talk with my latest round of Amp GAS :laugh2: .
However, I do believe we tend to substitute practice with buying stuff. But then again, it's important to find a sound you like to inspire the practice. I think I'm finally at a point where I'm done noodling around with tones, tweaking, gear, etc - and time to get down to business.
Not to say I'm done buying stuff - I'm not high.
However, I'm done buying guitars. Unless something comes by that totally blows my socks off I won't buy another axe. I have the Jacksons, I have the LP. I'm not a strat guy, and I'm not a jazz box guy, and I'm not a tele guy - so I'm done except for maybe an acoustic someday if it comes cheap.
There's a few smaller items on the list to go, and I'll always wonder, "hmm, what makes this amp sound different than that amp" etc etc. I am probably done buying amps. I don't ever see myself getting rid of the Splawn. But having the Splawn just makes you wonder what is so special about other amps, so I am naturally curious as to what an Engl might sound like, VHT, Dual Rec, Marshall, etc. But, I don't feel the NEED to buy any of these.
So, it's nice to finally be in a place where I don't spend my time scouring the interweb looking for gear - I can just play now.
Davey, that's a great idea. I try it occasionally with the exercises also - take the underlying theme and mix it up a little.... and I think that Troy would say that's the whole idea.
Hey KJ, welcome to the thread. Of course, I'm not the one to talk with my latest round of Amp GAS :laugh2: .
However, I do believe we tend to substitute practice with buying stuff. But then again, it's important to find a sound you like to inspire the practice. I think I'm finally at a point where I'm done noodling around with tones, tweaking, gear, etc - and time to get down to business.
Not to say I'm done buying stuff - I'm not high.
However, I'm done buying guitars. Unless something comes by that totally blows my socks off I won't buy another axe. I have the Jacksons, I have the LP. I'm not a strat guy, and I'm not a jazz box guy, and I'm not a tele guy - so I'm done except for maybe an acoustic someday if it comes cheap.
There's a few smaller items on the list to go, and I'll always wonder, "hmm, what makes this amp sound different than that amp" etc etc. I am probably done buying amps. I don't ever see myself getting rid of the Splawn. But having the Splawn just makes you wonder what is so special about other amps, so I am naturally curious as to what an Engl might sound like, VHT, Dual Rec, Marshall, etc. But, I don't feel the NEED to buy any of these.
So, it's nice to finally be in a place where I don't spend my time scouring the interweb looking for gear - I can just play now.
kjrocks
New member
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!
Is that the exact title? I'm searching for it at Amazon now and getting books on cars
Is that the exact title? I'm searching for it at Amazon now and getting books on cars
JammerMatt
New member
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!
"Speed Mechanics for Lead Guitar" by Troy Stetina.
Is that the exact title? I'm searching for it at Amazon now and getting books on cars
"Speed Mechanics for Lead Guitar" by Troy Stetina.
kjrocks
New member
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!
You knockers had me searching with an "X", thanks
You knockers had me searching with an "X", thanks
JammerMatt
New member
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!
LOL!!! The joke here is that Davey is a Megadeth FANATIK!!! And MechaniX is a Megadeth song (some say "stolen" by Metallica and renamed 4-Horsemen, but only Dave and James and Lars will ever know the truth).
So, that's where all that comes from. Sorry to confuse
:chairfall
LOL!!! The joke here is that Davey is a Megadeth FANATIK!!! And MechaniX is a Megadeth song (some say "stolen" by Metallica and renamed 4-Horsemen, but only Dave and James and Lars will ever know the truth).
So, that's where all that comes from. Sorry to confuse
:chairfall
Pink Unicorn Horsey
Megä Pöny Rÿdr
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!
This should be retitled The Speed MechaniX for MegadorX Practice Thread, just to avoid confusion.
This should be retitled The Speed MechaniX for MegadorX Practice Thread, just to avoid confusion.
JammerMatt
New member
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!
Standing up vs Sitting down:
What are you guys doing? Normally I'm sitting down... cause I'm old... and I'm lazy.
So last night I stood up whilst doing the alternate picking exercises, had to bump back the metronome at least 10 bpm on everything. Felt weird. When I sit, the guitar is nice and secure and moving positions is easy. When I'm standing it seems the axe is moving all over the place.
Any hints?
-Matt
Standing up vs Sitting down:
What are you guys doing? Normally I'm sitting down... cause I'm old... and I'm lazy.
So last night I stood up whilst doing the alternate picking exercises, had to bump back the metronome at least 10 bpm on everything. Felt weird. When I sit, the guitar is nice and secure and moving positions is easy. When I'm standing it seems the axe is moving all over the place.
Any hints?
-Matt
Pink Unicorn Horsey
Megä Pöny Rÿdr
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!
Probably the best thing to do is to practice standing up. Actually, I should do the same.
- Keith
Probably the best thing to do is to practice standing up. Actually, I should do the same.
- Keith
JohnnyGuitar
New member
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!
I went through another Statina book I have today: Speed & thrash metal guitar method (by Troy and Tony Burton). Not really into those style but it was a fun practice for rhythm technique...
I went through another Statina book I have today: Speed & thrash metal guitar method (by Troy and Tony Burton). Not really into those style but it was a fun practice for rhythm technique...
Davey
Goliath of Tone
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!
alright... another one..
dont know if it's covered in the book, cos i'm still on the first 15 pages... seems like i got to a standstill speed vise... well.. i got a pretty sweet speed going on (on certain licks .. so i KNOW i can go as fast, maybe a touch faster than that.. now i just got to get that speed all across the board.. and move on to creative improvisation @ that speed later on)
anyway.. here's the finger and brain breaker
alternating chromatic string skipping exercises
you start on the E, then switch to D, then A and G .. so on and so forth.
once you master THAT.. (or in the middle) do the B: one
seems like this is all i'm doing these days LOL... i realy need to move on to exercises 9-13 and master those lol .... i practicaly havent even stated doing them, since i want to aquire some finger independence and all that before... but i think stuck myself too much on these few. since i'm feeling i'm not getting anywhere right now
enjoy!
alright... another one..
dont know if it's covered in the book, cos i'm still on the first 15 pages... seems like i got to a standstill speed vise... well.. i got a pretty sweet speed going on (on certain licks .. so i KNOW i can go as fast, maybe a touch faster than that.. now i just got to get that speed all across the board.. and move on to creative improvisation @ that speed later on)
anyway.. here's the finger and brain breaker
alternating chromatic string skipping exercises
you start on the E, then switch to D, then A and G .. so on and so forth.
once you master THAT.. (or in the middle) do the B: one
Code:
A:
e|- #3-#2--#5-#4
B|- #2-#3--#4-#5
G|- #3-#2--#5-#4
D|- #2-#3--#4-#5
A|- #3-#2--#5-#4
E|- #2-#3--#4-#5
/\ \/ /\ \/
B
e|- #2-#3--#4-#5
B|- #2-#3--#4-#5
G|- #3-#2--#5-#4
D|- #3-#2--#5-#4
A|- #2-#3--#4-#5
E|- #2-#3--#4-#5
/\ \/ /\ \/seems like this is all i'm doing these days LOL... i realy need to move on to exercises 9-13 and master those lol .... i practicaly havent even stated doing them, since i want to aquire some finger independence and all that before... but i think stuck myself too much on these few. since i'm feeling i'm not getting anywhere right now
enjoy!
Last edited:
JammerMatt
New member
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!
Hi disturb,
Haven't gotten to that one yet. I'm hangin' with my two routines (up to exercise #33) till the end of the month. At my current rate, I will not meet my goals for these set, but oh well, that's why I have a day job.
Hi disturb,
Haven't gotten to that one yet. I'm hangin' with my two routines (up to exercise #33) till the end of the month. At my current rate, I will not meet my goals for these set, but oh well, that's why I have a day job.
Davey
Goliath of Tone
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!
#27 kicks so much ass it's not even funny!
especially if you mix it up a bit.
THIS is what i mean!
listen or die!
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=631612&songID=5003821
still without a metronome, since my old PS for the boss drum machine is busted (and i dont want to go broke if i run it on batteries) so i'll do double tracked stuff and all that jazz when i get the chance.
#27 kicks so much ass it's not even funny!
especially if you mix it up a bit.
THIS is what i mean!
listen or die!
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=631612&songID=5003821
still without a metronome, since my old PS for the boss drum machine is busted (and i dont want to go broke if i run it on batteries) so i'll do double tracked stuff and all that jazz when i get the chance.
Last edited:
