subject: Guitar Technique Lesson How to Build Speed On the Guitar [print this page] Guitar Technique Lesson How to Build Speed On the Guitar
As guitar players start developing some speed in their playing, they sometimes forget (or are not aware) that their notes are getting "choppy." By this, I mean that the notes they are playing are not being held for their full duration 8th or 16th and so on. The notes get cut short on the back end, often unevenly. Their guitar playing may still be "in time" with the notes beginning on the correct beat or beat division, but the notes tend to get cut off short and have an uneven, "staccato" type of sound. At higher speeds, it becomes even more apparent when a recording of them is slowed down. This is primarily a left hand guitar technique issue for the guitar player and is caused usually by a combination of tension and underdeveloped coordination in transitioning from note to note in the left hand.
A good example of the type of sound we are trying to achieve here can be heard in the playing of someone like Vinnie Moore. If you listen to some of his older material, he tends to pick every note in scale sequence type licks, but there is a distinctive overall smoothness and evenness in the sound. There are techniques that can be practiced and developed to achieve this smoothness in your own guitar playing.
First, the player needs to become accustomed to holding notes for their full duration at slower speeds. Start with a fairly slow speed like quarter notes at 70 bpm (one note per click), for example. Play a C major scale using a three note per string pattern starting at the 8th fret on the low E string. Play the scale at one note per beat. As you move from note to note with the left hand, you want the timing of the notes to have no break in betweenthe C at the 8th fret is held exactly up until the D at the 10th fret is played. This requires relaxed, precise timing between the left hand fingers involved in playing the notes. As the index finger is coming off the C, the middle finger is moving to the play the D--all in one smooth motion.
If your guitar playing has been "choppy" sounding, it may take some time to get used to the motion. Play scales and simple patterns at a slow rate initially until your fingers become accustomed to the motions involved. Remember, when beginning a new guitar technique, you are trying to build muscle memory, not speed. The speed on the guitar comes as a result of the hands acquiring the correct muscle memory and motions.
Record yourself playing along with the metronome. Listen for the notes "meeting" each other at that quarter note speed. There should not be any gaps or "false rests" in between them. When one note ends, the next one startsit's all one motion between the two fingers involved. Slow, relaxed and precise motions are the key.
As your technique improves at the slower speed, try playing eighth notes at the 70 bpm rate, then 8th note triplets and so on. If you have trouble keeping your playing clean and precise, back the speed down. Remember, this is all about building muscle memorynot speed. Speed on the guitar is a byproduct of accuracy.
As far as building speed goes, we are actually creating finger speed with these guitar practice techniques, even when playing at a slow tempo. Since we are simultaneously ending one note when playing the next note, the fingers must move quickly, even though we are only playing one note per beat at 70 bpm. The real key to clean playing at higher speeds comes from making a smooth, clean, quick transition from finger to finger. It is that clean transition speed that we are trying to build here.
As you become comfortable playing scale and linear type patterns, you can use this practice technique with string skipping and arpeggio type patterns, too. No matter what type of left hand pattern you are working with, the concentration remains on making smooth, simultaneous left hand finger transitions from note to note with no gaps in betweenas one note ends, the next one begins. Be aware of the feeling in the left hand of the motion of one finger releasing while the next one is coming down to play the next note. Over time, your playing will become cleaner and smoother as this type of left hand motion becomes ingrained. I have used this technique myself and with my students with much success. It can work for you, too!
