Speed MechaniX practice thread!

Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!

I have a little trouble with my pinky. I can ascend a scale fine...

1 2 3 4 (next string - A) 1 2 3 4 (next string - D) etc

But going down is my problem.

4 3 2 1 (next string - B) 4 3 2 1 (next string - G) etc

It doesn't move entirely independent of my ring finger. It's a pain. I believe I am getting there though.

I started playing stuff like the Hallowed be thy Name riff with my index, middle and pinky fingers to get it toughened up.
 
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!

Robbiedbee said:
But going down is my problem.

4 3 2 1 (next string - B) 4 3 2 1 (next string - G) etc
Click to expand...

I have no problem going down :firedevil:. But, that 4 3 2 1 is difficult for me also. I have to go very SLOW to get everthing to sound right.
 
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!

i have a slight problem on exercise #26, when i descend, my fingers start to get tangled up at higher speeds lol.
only on the descending part though. i need more control for that kind of stuff. loving the book so far though. but need WAY more time with it
 
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!

This is a long-haul group project. Keep that in mind. I'm not expecting to be getting through this in a few weeks or a few months.

We're pushing and encouraging each other. That's how I see this. No competition, just self-improvement with peers to help us keep going and keep the spirit up.

- Keith
 
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!

this is all about competition... just with good intent, not a spitting contest.
 
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!

Guys, on the parts where you are getting tangled, slow it down and go over it at a nice slow pace. Repitition trains your fingers, if you keep it at speed and keep going over the same thing making the same mistakes, you are training your fingers to make that mistake. If you slow it down and go over it correctly, you are training them to do it right, you will gain speed much faster by starting slow. I know, it's hard, but it does work.
 
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!

devastone said:
Guys, on the parts where you are getting tangled, slow it down and go over it at a nice slow pace. Repitition trains your fingers, if you keep it at speed and keep going over the same thing making the same mistakes, you are training your fingers to make that mistake. If you slow it down and go over it correctly, you are training them to do it right, you will gain speed much faster by starting slow. I know, it's hard, but it does work.
Click to expand...

duh... that's basicaly the essence of this book. do it at the speed you make zero mistakes and do it two million times.
 
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!

KGMESSIER said:
This is a long-haul group project. Keep that in mind. I'm not expecting to be getting through this in a few weeks or a few months.

We're pushing and encouraging each other. That's how I see this. No competition, just self-improvement with peers to help us keep going and keep the spirit up.

- Keith
Click to expand...

Word up, bro. I'm figuring at LEAST a year on this project. I am in competition with nobody but myself and my personal limitations.

I had the chance to play ALOT yesterday - about 3 hours worth. I went through both sets making some progress on each. I tell you what, today I got up and my hands are tired. Not sore like they're hurt or anything, but just tired like the next day after you've spent alot of time at the gym or running or something.

I want to equate this to the same thing that happens when you work with weights or any other physical endeavor. It's the means by which your body gets stronger - by progressively stressing it.


Davey said:
i have a slight problem on exercise #26, when i descend, my fingers start to get tangled up at higher speeds lol.
only on the descending part though. i need more control for that kind of stuff. loving the book so far though. but need WAY more time with it
Click to expand...

Davey, that has got to be the toughest exercise I've run up against so far. I have the same problem. Ascending I can get some decent speed and clarity, but descending it's like 1/3rd the speed or even less. I considered bypassing it, going with the "if I don't like it" thinking. But, then I decided that I'll never fix the problem (pinky-ring finger independence) unless I hit it head on. Since my hands are so ragged out today, perhaps I'll spend tonight's session working on that one since my hands aren't moving so fast anyway. A chance to really slow down, break it apart into smaller movements, and focus on it.

You rarely ever pull out a chromatic run since they sound so academic, but I think it might be key to working out the pinky/ring problem.
 
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!

devastone said:
Repitition trains your fingers, if you keep it at speed and keep going over the same thing making the same mistakes, you are training your fingers to make that mistake. If you slow it down and go over it correctly, you are training them to do it right, you will gain speed much faster by starting slow. I know, it's hard, but it does work.
Click to expand...

I read a book by Jamie Andreas, and those are almost his exact words. I believe every letter of it as it makes perfect sense. Unfortunately of course, after playing for several years I have many bad habits that have become perfectly natural and need to be undone.

And yes, it's very difficult. To us metalheads, speed reigns supreme, and it is very difficult to not see much progress happening from day to day - thus the support group.
 
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!

JammerMatt said:
You rarely ever pull out a chromatic run since they sound so academic, but I think it might be key to working out the pinky/ring problem.
Click to expand...

i think so too. and the ones at the beginning too, when you skip fingers and do diferent combinations. they stress out your finger independence, which is great


wish i had these books when i started, cos i picked up way too many bad speed habbits. in turn, i DID develop a pretty good right hand technique as far as picking goes, but the left hand is trained in these weird positionings and ****.. crappy.. though i find myself using scales more often, due to the gilbert videos
 
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Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!

Davey said:
duh... that's basicaly the essence of this book. do it at the speed you make zero mistakes and do it two million times.
Click to expand...

Well, if you are having problems... Sometimes it is painful, and some things are harder to play slow than fast. But, 2 million is probably a bit much:)

I've had the book for about 10 years, dug it out to go back through it since you guys started talking about it. I haven't been playing much for the last few years, so I'm glad this book came up. It'll help me get back in shape.

Did anybody get his HM Lead Guitar books too?
 
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!

devastone said:
Well, if you are having problems... Sometimes it is painful, and some things are harder to play slow than fast. But, 2 million is probably a bit much:)

I've had the book for about 10 years, dug it out to go back through it since you guys started talking about it. I haven't been playing much for the last few years, so I'm glad this book came up. It'll help me get back in shape.

Did anybody get his HM Lead Guitar books too?
Click to expand...

I have both HM lead guitar books. Started out with the second because that's th one they had in the shop. It makes you jump a few levels. Fast.
 
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!

Robbiedbee said:
Well I can go fast if I played

3 3 2 1, 3 3 2 1

Shifting my ring finger down a fret after the first note, but that would be cheating :p
Click to expand...

LOL sorry dude I was making a really dumb dirty joke. Forgive me. I have the Stetina book but I've been on Gambale and Fujita DVDs.

I should join you guys.
 
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!

you're not supposed to stop on any or progress through the book IMO

exercises 1-8 for example, i will do for the rest of my life every day. there's no "mastering" them so to speak, it's simply like weight lifting.. exercise for the fingers
 
Re: Speed MechaniX practice thread!

The great classical composer/pianist Robert Schumann once said, "Let [J.S. Bach's] 'The Well-Tempered Clavier' be your daily bread. Then you will certainly become a solid musician."

Practicing the exercises in this book should be along the same lines. I'm not saying this book is on par with Bach's "The Well-Tempered Clavier" -- and if you haven't heard this collection of Bach works, check it out -- but as a set of exercises, it's something to go back to day after day. Even the greatest NBA stars still practice their free throws every day.

- Keith
 
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