Radith Punkrockstar: Juni 2010

FIFA's probelm about waka-waka

Johannesburg (AFP) - The Organization of International Football (FIFA), parties who have urination World Cup, did not ask permission from the owner of the song "Waka Waka" before making it an official song for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The song, with original title "Zangalewa", belongs to Golden Sound bands from Cameroon, and in the World Cup in 2010 was changed to "Waka Waka" sung by a singer from Colombia, Shakira, collaborating with South African group Freshly Ground.

Ze Bell Jean Pau, one group member cited the Golden Sound like the Sunday Times, Sunday, admitted that they had never been contacted by Fifa before the song recorded by Shakira

"I do not know if Waka Waka became FIFA's official song. I heard we would get royalties. But it would take so long to get it," said Pau

Speed playing part 4

The last speed playing is going to be more of a catalogue of excerises to play ,some will include small tips and tricks to help you but mainly these are going to be varying and technical skills that hopefully will help you in your guitar playing. This lesson will be divided up into 5 sections:

1. Sweep picking/sweep tapping
2. Tapping
3. String skipping
4. Alternative picking
5. Legato

==================================================================

Sweep Picking/Sweep Tapping

Ok I won't go over the tips but I'll go over all the shapes so you know them and can easily construct them.

1. Standard Major - The root is always on the A string and the note on the B string.

E|----------12-15----------14-17------0-3----------16-19----------
B|--------13-------------15----------1-----------17---------------
G|------12-------------14-----------0----------16-----------------
D|----14-------------16------------2---------18-------------------
A|--15-------------17-------------3--------19---------------------
E|----------------------------------------------------------------
   C               D             C         E

2. Alternative Major - Same as above, but these require 3 string finger rolls and the root is the last high E note. Remeber to get the very tip of your finger and roll down as you pick, play slow and watch both hands as you do it.

E|-------------12-17-------------15-20---------6-11---------------
B|-----------14----------------17-------------8-------------------
G|---------14----------------17--------------8--------------------
D|-------14----------------17---------------8---------------------
A|--12h16-------------15h19-------------6h10----------------------
E|----------------------------------------------------------------
   A                  C                 D#

3. Standard Minor - Root note is always the A and high E last note, these have a 2 finger roll in them, so be careful, remeber to emphasise the intial downpicked note and up picked pull off.

E|-------------12-17--------7-12--------------17-22---------------
B|-----------13------------8----------------18--------------------
G|---------14-------------9---------------19----------------------
D|-------14--------------9--------------19------------------------
A|--12h15------------7h10----------17h20--------------------------
E|----------------------------------------------------------------
   A                E               D

4. Alternative Minor - A bit like the standard major, but we shift the 2nd note of the arpeggio down half a step (1 fret).

E|----------11-15----------15-19---------8-12---------------------
B|--------13-------------17------------10-------------------------
G|------12-------------16-------------9---------------------------
D|----13-------------17-------------10----------------------------
A|--15-------------19-------------12------------------------------
E|----------------------------------------------------------------
   C               E              A

5. Standard diminished - These are same as your standard arpeggios but have a minor second and third giving them a dark sound. The initial G string and last high E string note are the same root note.

E|---------7-10-----------10-13-----------13-16-------------------
B|-------9-------------12--------------15-------------------------
G|--7h10---------10h13-----------13h16----------------------------
D|----------------------------------------------------------------
A|----------------------------------------------------------------
E|----------------------------------------------------------------
   D             F               G#

6. Alternative diminished - Exactly the same as above but we miss out the first note making them quite easy arpeggios.

E|-------7-10--------11-14--------16-19-------------------------
B|-----9----------13-----------18-------------------------------
G|--10---------14-----------19----------------------------------
D|--------------------------------------------------------------
A|--------------------------------------------------------------
E|--------------------------------------------------------------
   D          F#           B

7. Major sweep tap - Always tap the root of the arpeggio on the high E string, remeber to position your hand slightly closer, also some people like to tap with their pick but ultimatly this will make your arpeggios sloppy and noisey, use that third finger if you can.

                   T             T                 T
E|----------12-15-20-------7-10-15----------16-19-24-------------------
B|--------13--------------8---------------17---------------------------
G|------12---------------7--------------16-----------------------------
D|----14----------------9-------------18-------------------------------
A|--15----------------10------------19---------------------------------
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------
   C                  G             E

7. Minor string sweep - With minor sweep taps always tap the second note of the arpeggio, so A minor, tap C and G minor, tap A#.

                      T                    T                    T
E|-------------12-17-20-------------10-15-18-------------14-19-22-------
B|-----------13-------------------11-------------------15---------------
G|---------14-------------------12-------------------16-----------------
D|-------14-------------------12-------------------16-------------------
A|--12h15----------------10h13----------------14h17---------------------
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------

You don't always have to tap the root note on majors and the second note and minors, they just usually sound better, here a list of sweep excersises you can practice.
8.

E|------17h22p17-----17h20------15h18p15------13h17p13------11h15p11---
B|----18-----------17---------15------------15------------13-----------
G|--19-----------17---------15------------14------------12-------------
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------

E|--19p15--------------------15h19-10p7-------------7h10--17p14-----------
B|-------17----------------17----------8-----------8-----------15---------
G|---------16------------16-------------7---------7--------------14-------
D|-----------17--------17----------------9-------9-----------------16-----
A|-------------19-14h19-------------------10-7h10--------------------17---
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------

10.

                   T                   T                   T
E|----------12h15h20p15p12------12h15h20p15p12------12h15h20p15p12----
B|--------13--------------13--13--------------13--13------------------
G|------12------------------12------------------12--------------------
D|----14--------------------------------------------------------------
A|--15----------------------------------------------------------------
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------

11.

         (slide with tapping finger)
                  T                   T  T  T
E|----------11h14h19/21/19------11h14h19h21p19p14p11--------------
B|--------12--------------12--12--------------------12------------
G|------11------------------11------------------------11----------
D|----13------------------------------------------------13--------
A|--14----------------------------------------------------14------
E|----------------------------------------------------------------

12.

E|----------13h17p13------11h14p11-----7h10p7---7h10p7---7h10p7h10p7-----
B|--------15--------15--13--------13--9------9-8------8-8-----------8----
G|------14------------14------------10--------7--------7-------------7---
D|----15-----------------------------------------------------------------
A|--17-------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

==================================================================

Tapping

I think I covered most about tapping in my other lesson but heres a few people have asked me which is better to tap with. Pick or finger? Well personally I use my third finger, theres not really a particular better one but finger tapping gives you accuracy, usefull when sweeping or playing with pick, gives a thicker, rounder soung. Using a pick is mainly for trill tapping, it lets you tap really fast but thats about it to be honest but its entirely up to you, play how you want.

1.
(Tr = Trill tap)                                  (Bend as tapping)
     Tr     Tr      Tr       Tr       Tr             Tr
E|----------------12h15p12----------------------------------------
G|---------7h10p7----------12h15p12-----------10b(12)h14p10-------
B|--7h10p7-------------------------12h14p12-----------------------
D|----------------------------------------------------------------
A|----------------------------------------------------------------
E|----------------------------------------------------------------

2.

       T       T       T        T        T       T      T
E|--12h19p15--------------------------10h17p14-----------------
G|-------------------------------------------------------------
B|----------11h16p11---------11h16p12----------9h16p12---------
D|-------------------------------------------------------------
A|-------------------10h17p14--------------------------7h12p9--
E|-------------------------------------------------------------

3.
   
      T      T      T      T      T      T       T      T
E|--0h12p2p0h12p4p0h12p5p0h12p7p0h12p9p0h12p11p0h12p2p0h12---
G|-----------------------------------------------------------
B|-----------------------------------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------

4.

    T          T         T            T           T          T
E|--14p13p11p9---------------------------------------------------------
G|-------------11p10p7p6-----------------------------------------------
B|-----------------------10p8p6p4--------------------------------------
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------
E|---------------------------------1h2h6p2p1h4/6h7h11p9p7p6/4h9p2p1----

5.

    T  T  T  T    T    T     T      Tr
E|-----------------7p5-----------------------------
G|---------------------14p12-----------------------
B|------------2p1------------16p14-----------------
D|---------4p2-------------------------------------
A|------5p4------------------------12h14p12--------
E|--7p5--------------------------------------------

==================================================================

String Skipping

Here we jsut take notes from scales or arpeggios and use them a bit like we did in the tapping lesson I did, alternative picking is qutie useful here because if you get your hand into that motion you don't have to focus too much on picking the notes, remeber to mute the lower strings with your palm right after playing them.

Here a few Paul Gilbert style skips:

1.

E|------------7--------------------10------------------5--------
G|--------------------------------------------------------------
B|-----7h9h10---10p9p7----10h14h16----16p14p12---5h7h9---9p7p5--
D|--------------------------------------------------------------
A|--10-----------------14----------------------8----------------
E|--------------------------------------------------------------

2.

E|----------12------------------8------------------13-----------
G|--------------------------------------------------------------
B|----12h16----16p12-------8h12---12p8-------13h17----17p13-----
D|--14---------------14-10-------------10-15----------------15--
A|--------------------------------------------------------------
E|--------------------------------------------------------------

3.

E|--------5-7-8-7-5-----------------------------------------8-7-5--
G|--------------------------------------------6-7-10---------------
B|--5-7-9-----------5-7-9-7-5-----------5-7-9--------7-9-10--------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------
A|----------------------------5-7-8-7-5----------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------

4. Diminshed String Skips

E|-15-12-9------------------------------9-12-15-18-15-12------------------
G|------------------------------------------------------------------------
B|---------15-12-9---------------9-12-15----------------18-15-12----------
D|------------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------16-13-10-13-16--------------------------------19-16-13-
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------

5.

E|---------------8-------------------------8-----------------------
G|-------------------------------------------12-10-----------------
B|----------9-10---10-9---------------9-10-------------------------
D|-------------------------------------------------12-10-9---------
A|--8-10-12-------------12-10-8-10-12------------------------------
E|---------------------------------------------------------8-10-12-

6.

E|-14p10------------10---------------------15p12------------12--------------
G|--------------------14p10-----------10h14--------------------15p12--------
B|------14p11--11h14----------------------------16p12--12h16----------------
D|-----------12------------14p11-11h14---------------14-------------16p12---
A|------------------------------12---------------------------------------14-
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------

==================================================================

Alternative Picking

1.

E|----------8-10-12-10-8---------------8-10-12-13-12-10-8----------
G|--8-10-12--------------12-10-8-10-12--------------------12-10-8--
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------

2.

E|--13-12-10----------------------------------------------------------
G|-----------13-12-10-------------------------------------------------
B|----------------------------12-10-9---------------------------------
D|--------------------12-10-9------------------------------12-10-9----
A|------------------------------------10-9-7--------10-9-7------------
E|-------------------------------------------10-9-7-------------------

3.

E|--17-14----------------------------------17-14-15-12-------------------
G|--------16-13----------------------13-16-------------14-11-------------
B|--------------15-12----------12-15-------------------------13-10-------
D|--------------------14-12-14-------------------------------------12-10-
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

4.

E|-------------------------------------------------------------------
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------
B|----------------------------------------------------------10-12-14-
D|----------------------------------9---------------9-10-12----------
A|----------8---------------8-10-12---12-10-9-10-12------------------
E|--8-10-12---12-10-8-10-12------------------------------------------

5.

E|--14-19-14----------14-19-14----------14-19-22-19-14----------14-17-19-
G|-----------14-17-14----------14-17-14----------------14-17-14----------
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------


6.

E|--22-20-19----19--------------------------------------------------------
G|-----------20----20-18-17----17-----------------------------------------
B|--------------------------18----18-17-15----15--------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------17----17-15-14----14-----------
A|--------------------------------------------------------15----15-13-12--
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------

7.

E|----8-7-8-5-8-7-8-5---12-11-12-9-12-11-9----15-14-15-14-12-15-14-12-
G|--5-----------------9--------------------12-------------------------
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------

==================================================================

Legato

1.

E|--------------------------------------------------------------------12--
G|--------------------------------------------------10-13p10----10h13-----
B|-----------------------------------9-12p9----9h12----------12-----------
D|--------------------7-10p7----7h10--------10----------------------------
A|------7-10p7---7h10--------10-------------------------------------------
E|--5h8--------8----------------------------------------------------------

2.

E|---------------------------------------------------
G|---------------------------------------------------
B|---------------------------------------------------
D|--6h7p6-6h7p6-6h7h9p7p6----11h12p11---11h12p11-----
A|-------9-----9---------9/12--------12--------------
E|---------------------------------------------------

3.

                                              T
E|--------------------------------------------------------
G|--11h12h14p12p11h12p11/16h17p16/12p11h12h14h20p16p14----
B|--------------------------------------------------------
D|--------------------------------------------------------
A|--------------------------------------------------------
E|--------------------------------------------------------

4.

E|----------------------------------------------------------------------
G|----------------------------------------------------------------------
B|-------9---------9------9----9-10p9---------7-------7-------7---7-9p7-
D|--7h10---10-7h10---7h10---10--------10--6h9---9-6h9---9-6h9---9-------
A|----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------

5.

E|----------------------------------5h7p5h8p5h7p5h8------------------------
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------
B|--2h4p2h5p2h4p2h5---------------------------------4/14h16p14h17p14h16p14-
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------
A|------------------0h2p0h3p0h2p0h3----------------------------------------
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Speed playing part 3

In Speed Playing 3 were going to cover vibrato, whammy bar techniques, theory and composing music. This lesson will be split into 4 sections:

1. Vibrato (including string bends)
2. Whammy bar techniques
3. Theory (why its important, finding what key your in and how to find scales)
4. Excersises for speed playing

Vibrato

Ok so youve heard people talking about vibrato, maybe you know what it means but you have to understand its an essential part of guitar playing, it can make any player look good instantly by looking at there vibrato. Vibrato means you simply vibrate the string the holding, only slightly, to give your note more tone. Try this

E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------5v--------------7p5----------------------------------|
G|--5v------------------------5v-------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|

Ignore the V's for now, you might have seen them on other tabs, they mean to add vibrato but first we have to learn it. Basically everyones vibrato is unique, sometimes its fast or slow, it doesn't really matter, it all creates different moods. If you watch good guitarist, Steve Vai in particular, anything he plays sounds so nice because he vibratos almsot every note. Its easier if you hold the fret with more than one finger to give you more strenght and control. Here are the key tips:

1. As you hold the string, bend it ever so slightly up and down, not so much as your doing like full on tonal bends but not too lightly either.
2. Its hard to explain but if you watch guitarists theyl vibrato each note slgihtly when they play it, sometimes widely or quickly, sometimes shortly and slowly, it's all up to you how you play.
3. You have to kind of massage the string into the wood, give it loads of feeling and emotion.

Bending is an important technique that goes with your vibrato. When your bending you're making a string change it's pitch so it sounds like a different note. Try these:

E|--15--13--13b(15)--------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------10--8--8b(10)-----------------------------------------|
G|----------------------------------16--14--14b(16)------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Ok so the bracketed notes are when you bend indicate the target pitch you want to reach. With this excersise, for example the first, you play the 15 and hear what it sounds like, then you bend the 13 and when you bend it your trying to make it sound like the 15 fret. A bend played right can sound beautiful but played wrong sounds horrible. Combining bending with vibrato can make a small series of simple notes really stand out.

E|-----------------------------------------17h19-17------------------------|
B|--15-10--13----------------------17--19----------------------------------|
G|--------------14--12h13p12-----------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------14-------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

This passage looks simple and it is, it probably sounds really boring, but adding vibrato and bends can give it great feel. Like so:

E|-------------------------------------------------17h19-17b(19)-----------|
B|--15-10--13b(15)v---------------------17vv-19vv--------------------------|
G|-------------------14--12h13p12------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------14v-------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Its a bit tricky but if you keep at youl get to the stage where your vibrating every note and it will sound a lot better and other players will recognise your playing with better vibrato.

Whammy Bar Techniques

Joe Satriani's trademark screechs and Steve Vai's amazing effects and created using whammy bar tricks. The best kind of whammy bar to use for this is a floyd rose, mainly because of the locking system they stay in tune when you rag them, which is what youl need. Here a few techniques:

1. Satch Scream

E|-----------------------------------------------------|
B|--0ph.-----------------------------0ph.--------------|
G|---------0ph.-------------0ph.--0ph.-----------------|
D|---------------0ph.----------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------|

Here your going to do what Satch does, he will cross his fretting over and get ready with the whammy bar, then you simply hit an open note with a pinched harmonic, it sounds weird and it might take a while but make sure your on the bottom pick up and really dig your finger in as you pick. As soon as you pick and hear the harmonic use the whammy bar to make the note screech really high, rumble low or mix it up. Obviously you can do other pinched harmonics elsewhere and artificial ones.

2. Scoops and dives

  Scoop bar up        Push pre-raised bar down
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------8b-----------8bd-------------------------|
G|--5b--5b------------12bd-------------------------------|
D|----------3b---------------------10bd------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|

With scoops simply have the bar ready in hand, you can have it pressed down already then as you play the note scoop the bar upwards. For the dives its kind of the same thing but have the bar already up then as you play the note dive it down.

3. Gargles

E|-------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------6bd-----------------------------------|
G|--------5---7----------7b------------------------------|
D|---3---------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|

For gargles you have to sort of play the note and flick the whammy bar, so you're pulling it and then let it go quickly so it sort of gargles the note.

4. Satch whammy effect

    Press whammy bar down as each note is hammered on
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------|
D|--19h24p19----19-19h24----21---------------------------|
A|-----------21----------21------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|

With this you don't pick the notes, simply hammer them on but as you do push the whammy bar down for each note. This can be heard at the end of Surfing with the alien.

5. Satch lizard down the throat effect

    As you slide down the neck gradually push whammy bar down
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------3/////11---5////////13---------------------|
G|------------2/////10---5////////13---------------------|
D|--2/////10-------------5////////13---------------------|
A|--2/////10---------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|

Satch does this on his song Ice Nine in the break, satch slides notes down the neck but as he does he pushes the whammy bar down, meaning that the note kind of gets stuck.

Theory

Theory is essential for all types of guitar playing, it sounds boring but it helps you to write music that works well with other instruments and chords. How many times have someone asked you what key your in or asked if you can play in E dorian mode? Where going to have a quick look at how to find out what key to play in and how to find scales easily.

1. Finding what key you are in

Ok so you or someone else has played a few chords and you want to improvise a solo, well first you have to find out what key you are in. Well lets take a basic chord progression:

    Am   C    G    Am   C    G
E|--0----0----3----0----0----3------------------|
B|--1----1----0----1----1----0------------------|
G|--2----0----0----2----0----0------------------|
D|--2----2----0----2----2----0------------------|
A|--0----3----2----0----3----2------------------|
E|------------3--------------3------------------|

Ok so a basic A minor, C then G chord progression, well what key can you solo in? Well this chord progression has the combined notes A B C D E G, so you know you know the notes used, what scale has these notes in. Well C major, A minor, G major, all of the chords used. Even slighlty different progressions will have the same effect, a D, A, Bminor will let you use the D and A major and B minor scales.

3. Finding scales

Ok I've found a simple way to find the notes of any scale, by using 3 simple patterns on the guitar. Lets take the key of A major for example:

E|-----------------------------------------------5--7--9----|
B|--------------------------------------5--7--9-------------|
G|-----------------------------6--7--9----------------------|
D|--------------------6--7--9-------------------------------|
A|-----------5--7--9----------------------------------------|
E|--5--7--9-------------------------------------------------|

Ok, so this is the initial shape for this scale, there's many ways to play this but this covers most of the fretboard. As you know all scales have 7 notes and then they repeat, so if we count 7 notes along this shape we will find A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G# then it repeats itself, ok so weve got the first shape, you can play this shape anywhere starting with the root note on the low E string. So:

  C Major
E|-------------------------------------------------------8--10--12|
B|----------------------------------------------8--10--12---------|
G|-----------------------------------9--10--12--------------------|
D|------------------------9--10--12-------------------------------|
A|-------------8--10--12------------------------------------------|
E|--8--10--12-----------------------------------------------------|

 E Major
E|-----------------------------------------------0--2--4----|
B|--------------------------------------0--2--4-------------|
G|-----------------------------1--2--4----------------------|
D|--------------------1--2--4-------------------------------|
A|-----------0--2--4----------------------------------------|
E|--0--2--4-------------------------------------------------|

 E Major (Octave higher)
E|----------------------------------------------12-14-16-------|
B|-------------------------------------12-14-16----------------|
G|----------------------------13-14-16-------------------------|
D|-------------------13-14-16----------------------------------|
A|----------12-14-16-------------------------------------------|
E|-12-14-16----------------------------------------------------|

Ok so you now can play the first shape, any time you want to learn the notes of the scale, find the root and play this shape. Now then what about the other shapes, there's 2 more. Lets try this:

  F Major
 Shape 1                              Shape 2
E|-------------------------------1-3-5-------------------6-8----------|
B|-------------------------1-3-5---------------------6-8--------------|
G|-------------------2-3-5-------------------------7------------------|
D|-------------2-3-5---------------------------7-8--------------------|
A|-------1-3-5-----------------------------7-8------------------------|
E|-1-3-5-------------------------------6-8----------------------------|

 Shape 3                                octave repeat ,same as shape 1
E|---------------------------------10-12-----------------------------------|
B|---------------------------10-11-----------------------------------------|
G|-------------------9-10-12-----------------------------------------------|
D|-------------10-12---------------------------------------14-15-----------|
A|-------10-12------------------------------------13-15-17-----------------|
E|-10-12---------------------------------13-15-17--------------------------|

If you can memorise these 3 shapes it can help you play scales anywhere. So for example G Major:

E|------------------------------------8-10-----------------------------12-14
B|--------------------------------8-10----------------------------12-13----|
G|-------------------------------9------------------------11-12-14---------|
D|-------------4-5----------9-10---------------------12-14-----------------|
A|-------3-5-7---------9-10---------------------12-14----------------------|
E|-3-5-7-----------8-10--------------------12-14---------------------------|

E Major
E|-----------------------------5-7---------------------------9-11|
B|-------------------------5-7--------------------------9-10-----|
G|------------------------6----------------------8-9-11----------|
D|-----------1-2-------6-7------------------9-11-----------------|
A|------0-2-4-------6-7----------------9-11----------------------|
E|-0-2-4---------5-7---------------9-11--------------------------|

Speed Playing Excersises

Heres a collection of speed playing excersises that you can practice:

1.
E|-------12-14-15-17-15-14-12----------12-14-15-17-15-14-12------------|
B|-12-14----------------------14-12-14----------------------14-12------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------|

2.
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------10-11-------10-11-13----10-11-13-15-10-11-13-15--|
G|-10-11-13-------11-13----------13--------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|

3.
E|--------12-17p12----------12-15p12--------7-10p7-------7-12p7-------|
B|-----13----------13----13----------13---8--------8---8--------8-----|
G|--14----------------12----------------7------------9------------9---|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------|

4.
                     T                                      T
E|--------------12h15h20p15p12-------------------------14h17h22p17p14----|
B|-----------13----------------13-------------------15----------------15-|
G|--------12----------------------12-------------14----------------------|
D|-----14----------------------------14-------16-------------------------|
A|--15----------------------------------15/17----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
                               T
E|--------------------------14h19h24p19p14---------------|
B|-----------------------15----------------15------------|
G|--14----------------16----------------------16---------|
D|-----16----------16----------------------------16------|
A|--------17/14h17----------------------------------17p14|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|

5.
E|--0-0-0-3-1-0-0-0-5-3-0-0-0-7-5-0-0-0-9-7-0-0-0-12-10--|
B|-------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|

6.
E|--------------------------------------------------5h8--|
B|------------------------------------------------6------|
G|----------------------------------------4h6/8-8--------|
D|--------------3h4p3p4---3h4p3h4-----4h6----------------|
A|--------2h4h6---------5---------5/7--------------------|
E|--2h4h6------------------------------------------------|

7.
E|--3-5-3h5h6p5-5-7-5h7h8p7-7-9-7h9h10p9-9-10-9h10h12----|
B|-------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|

8.
E|--19-17-15---------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------19-17-16------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------18-16-15---------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------18-16-15---------------------------18-16-15-|
A|--------------------------------------16-14-12----------16-14-12---------|
E|-----------------------------------------------16-14-12------------------|

E|--------------------15-17-19-------|
B|-----------16-17-19----------------|
G|--18-16-15-------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------|

9.
E|-----------------19----------------19------------------|
B|--19-20-22-20-19----19-20-22-20-19----19-20-22-20-19---|
G|-------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|

10.
E|--7p4-------4-7p4-------4-7p4-------4-7p4-14p11----------11-14p11-17p13--|
B|------5---5-------5---5-------5---5-------------12----12-----------------|
G|--------4-----------4-----------4------------------11--------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|-----------13-17p13-12p9---------9-12p9---------9 12---|
B|--14----14---------------10---10--------10---10--------|
G|-----13---------------------9--------------9-----------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|

11.
E|--------------------------------------10-------10-11----10-11-13---|
B|-----------10-11----10-11-13-10-11-13----11-13-------13------------|
G|--12-11-12-------12------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

12.
E|--------14-17-14----------14-17-14----------14-17-14----------14-17-14-|
B|--14-15----------14-15-14----------14-15-14----------14-15-14----------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|--------17-20-17----------17-20-17----------17-20-17----------17-20-17-|
B|--17-18----------17-18-17----------17-18-17----------17-18-17----------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|

13.
E|------------------------------------9h10h12p10p9-----------------------|
B|----------------------------9h10h12--------------12p10p9---------------|
G|---------------------7h9h10------------------------------10p9p7--------|
D|--------------7h9h10--------------------------------------------10p9p7-|
A|--------5h7h8----------------------------------------------------------|
E|--5h7h8----------------------------------------------------------------|

E|----------------|
B|----------------|
G|----------------|
D|----------------|
A|--8p7p5---------|
E|--------8p7p5---|

14.
      T        T        T       T        T   
E|--10h17p13-------------------------------------|
B|-----------12h19p15----------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------12h15h19-------------------|
A|-----------------------------12h20h17----------|
E|--------------------------------------6h13p10--|

     T      T      T        T        T      T       T            T
E|------------------------------------------------------------15h24p20-|
B|---------------------------------10h18p13h18p13p10h21p13p10----------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------7h14p10-12h19p15-------------------------------------|
A|---------5h13p8------------------------------------------------------|
E|--5h13p8-------------------------------------------------------------|

15.
                             T
E|--------------------8h12h13h20---------|
B|-----------------10--------------------|
G|----------5/9h12-----------------------|
D|--------7------------------------------|
A|------7--------------------------------|
E|--5h8----------------------------------|

Speed playing part 2

In Speed Playing 2 were going to look at some more advanced speed playing techniques to expand your skills and help you shred till your fingers bleed. As before there will be plenty of excersises and tips to help you along the way.

This lesson will be split into 4 sections:

1. Neo-Classical Playing
2. Sweep Picking
3. String Skipping
4. Using these techniques musically

Neo-Classical Playing

Ok so maybe you've heard of this, neo-classical basically means new-classical, as neo in latin meand new. Yngwie Malmsteen uses this style a lot, this style focus on fast paced playing, highly technical phrases and repeat(pedal) licks. Before we start lets just look at 2 scales which neo-classical players use frequently.

Harmonic Minor
A B C D E F G# - 1 2 3 4 5 6 #7

As you can see this simply is an A minor scale with a raised 7th.

Melodic Minor
A B C D E F# G# - 1 2 3 4 5 #6 #7

This is the same A minor scale with a raised 6th and 7th.

The harmonic minor is quite simple, yet the melodic minor is a strange scale because you play it normal ascending, but lower the 6th descending, so it convertes back to the harmonic minor. As you can see in the example below:

E|------------------------------5----------------------------------------
B|--------------------------6-9---9-6------------------------------------
G|--------------------5-7-9-----------9-7-5------------------------------
D|--------------6-7-9-----------------------9-7-6------------------------
A|--------5-7-8-----------------------------------8-7-5------------------
E|--5-7-8-----------------------------------------------8-7-5------------

This is simply the A harmonic minor scale, as you can see its just a copy of the minor scale with a raised 7th.

E|------------------------------5----------------------------------------
B|--------------------------7-9---9-6------------------------------------
G|--------------------5-7-9-----------9-7-5------------------------------
D|--------------6-7-9-----------------------9-7-6------------------------
A|--------5-7-9-----------------------------------8-7-5------------------
E|--5-7-8-----------------------------------------------8-7-5------------

This the A Melodic minor scale, it has a raised 6th and 7th descending and then only a raised 6th descending, or in other words it changes to the harmonic minor scale.

Here are a couple of pedal licks, they seem quite simple but most players play them very fast:

E|--12-11-8----8-11-12-11-8----8-11-12-11-8----8-11-12-11-8--------------
B|----------11--------------11--------------11--------------11-----------
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|-----13-15-13----13-17-13----13-17-13----13-17-13----13-17-13----------
B|--14----------14----------14----------14----------14----------14-------
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|--17----------------17----------------19----------------19-------------
B|-----17-19-20-19-17----17-19-20-19-17----19-20-22-20-19----19-20-22----
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

As you can see, these licks sound quite classical and played at high speeds can sound great in solos. That last one will be quite tricky as its so high on the neck ,if you're struggling try it an octave lower.

Lets look at a couple of examples from other songs so you can get an idea of what neo-classical licks can sound like:

Michael Angelo Batio - No Boundaries:

E|--------12----13-12-------------15----12-------------------------------
B|-----13----13-------15-13-12-15----15----15-13h15p13p12-------13----15-
G|--14----------------------------------------------------14-12----14----
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|-----------------------------12----------------------------------------
B|--13-12h13p12-------------12----15-13h15p13p12-------------------------
G|--------------14-13----13----------------------------------------------
D|--------------------14-------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Steve Vai - Eugenes trick bag

E-----------------------------17-15-13------------|
B-----13-17-13----15-17-15-13----------17-15-13---|
G--14----------16-------------------------------16|play this
D-------------------------------------------------|part twice
A-------------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------------------|

E--------------17-15-13----------19-17-15---------|
B-----14-17-14----------17-14-15----------18-17-15|
G--14---------------------------------------------|
D-------------------------------------------------|
A-------------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------------------|

E-----------------------------17-15---------------|
B--------15----18-17-15-------------18-17-15------|
G-----16----16----------16-17----------------17-16|
D--17---------------------------------------------|
A-------------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------------------|

E-------------------------------------------------|
B--------------18-17-15----------18---------------|
G-----14-17-14----------17----16----19-17---------|
D--15----------------------18-------------19------|
A-------------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------------------|

As you can see from these 2 licks, there played very fast and high up the neck, usually grouped together but the using the same kind of minor progression.

One last thing were going to look at in neo-classical playing is diminished arpeggios.These are simply a triad but with a minor second and minor (diminished) third. So a C diminished chord would be C, Eb, Gb. These small 3 string arpeggios are a shape which can be repeated on the neck so for example:

E|-----------13h16p13----------------13h16p13----------------10h13p10----
B|--------15----------15----------15----------15----------12----------12-
G|--13h16----------------13h16p13----------------13/10h13----------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|--------------10h13p10--------------7h10p7------------7h10p7-----------
B|-----------12----------12---------9--------9--------9--------9-------4-
G|--10h13p10----------------10/7h10------------7h10p7------------7/2h5---
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|--2h5p2-----------2h5p2------------------------------------------------
B|--------4-------4-------4----------------------------------------------
G|----------2h5p2-----------5p2------------------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

These can be tricky arpeggios, the intial hammer on is quite off putting but you don't have to play them too fast. Diminished can sound good in neo-classical playing but use them sparingly, the occasional one or 2 together with minor or major arpeggios can sound good, but a whole series of them wont.

Sweep Picking

A technique everyone loves, there's so many lessons on UG about this so I'll just break it down into a few small vital tips:

1. The main focus of sweep picking is synchronisation. Sometimes your fretting hand will move to fast and sometimes your picking hand will move too fast. Remember to play very slowly and follow both hands equally, it's much better to play slow accurate arpeggios than fast sloppy ones.

2. Muting. One of the most annoying things when you but some distortion on sweep picking is unwanted noise. Your fretting hands needs to fret the note exactly as you play it and leave as soon as the note is heard. Your picking hand can aslo slighlty drag down gently on the bridge to mute as you go. Don't mute heavily ,just a slight mute especailly on the lower strings.

3. Emphasing the lowest and highest note. Especially with 5 string and minor arpeggios, making sure the lowest and highest note is heard clearly will make your arpeggios sound nicer. Focus on hearing that first downstroked note and hit that pull off loud and clean, this gives your arpeggio a rich, noticable sound which stands out.

Major Arpeggios

Ok we know an arpeggio consists of the notes of a traid, so a C major will have the notes C, E, G. So how do we find arpeggios quickly on the fret board and use them. Heres how:

E|--------12h15p12----------12h15p12-------------------------------------
B|-----13----------13----13----------13----------------------------------
G|--12----------------12----------------12-------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a C major, we have a G, then a C, then an E followed by a G. This exact shape can be played anywhere. How do you find the arpeggio? Find the root note on the B string. So heres:

D major
E|--------14h17p14----------14h17p14-------------------------------------
B|-----15----------15----15----------------------------------------------
G|--14----------------14-------------------------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

A major
E|-------9h12p9---------9h12p9-------------------------------------------
B|----10--------10---10--------------------------------------------------
G|--9--------------9-----------------------------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E major
E|--------16h19p16----------16h19p16-------------------------------------
B|-----17----------17----17----------------------------------------------
G|--16----------------16-------------------------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

This simply shape works perfectly anywhere. What about minor arepggios? They are a bit more tricky but not too far off this style:

A minor
E|--------12h17p12----------12h17p12-------------------------------------
B|-----13----------13----13----------------------------------------------
G|--14----------------14-------------------------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

As you can see, the root will be on the G string this time now, but the end note will be the same as the root:

C minor
E|-------15h20p15----------15h20p15--------------------------------------
B|----16----------16----16----------16-----------------------------------
G|-17----------------17----------------17--------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

D minor
E|--------17h22p17----------17h22p17-------------------------------------
B|-----18----------18----18----------18----------------------------------
G|--19----------------19----------------19-------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

F minor
E|-------8h13p8--------8h13p8--------------------------------------------
B|-----10-------10---10-------10-----------------------------------------
G|--10------------10------------10---------------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

As you can see, a slight different shape but finding it now should be easy.

5 string sweeps and sweep taps:

The 5 string versions of these aren't too difficult and the way to find them is just as easy:

C major
E|--------------12h15p12----------------------12h15p12-------------------
B|-----------13----------13----------------13----------------------------
G|--------12----------------12----------12-------------------------------
D|-----14----------------------14----14----------------------------------
A|--15----------------------------15-------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

This time the root is not only on the B string but the initial A string note, here are some more:

D major
E|--------------14h17p14----------------------14h17p14-------------------
B|-----------15----------15----------------15----------------------------
G|--------14----------------14----------14-------------------------------
D|-----16----------------------16----16----------------------------------
A|--17----------------------------17-------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E major
E|--------------16h19p16-----------------------16h19p16------------------
B|-----------17----------17-----------------17---------------------------
G|--------16-----------------16----------16------------------------------
D|-----18-----------------------18----18---------------------------------
A|--19-----------------------------19------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

A major
E|-------------9h12p9--------------------9h12p9--------------------------
B|----------10--------10--------------10---------------------------------
G|--------9--------------9----------9------------------------------------
D|-----11------------------11----11--------------------------------------
A|--12------------------------12-----------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Now for the minor shapes, the same applies with the 3 string versions, the initial note will be the root:

C minor
E|-----------------15h20p15----------------------------15h20p15----------
B|--------------16----------16----------------------16-------------------
G|-----------17----------------17----------------17----------------------
D|--------17----------------------17----------17-------------------------
A|--15h18----------------------------15h18p15----------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

D minor
E|-----------------17h22p17----------------------------17h22p17----------
B|--------------18----------18----------------------18-------------------
G|-----------19----------------19----------------19----------------------
D|--------19----------------------19----------19-------------------------
A|--17h20----------------------------17h20p17----------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

F minor
E|----------------8h13p8--------------------------8h13p8-----------------
B|-------------10--------10--------------------10------------------------
G|----------10--------------10--------------10---------------------------
D|-------10--------------------10--------10------------------------------
A|--8h12--------------------------8h12p8---------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

That last one will be especailly tricky, the finger rollling is tricky, using your 3rd finger will be the best option. You'l need to place the very tip of your finger on the D string as you sweep, then roll your finger down so the flesh of your finger gradualy spreads down the 3 strings.

As for the sweep tapping, the main key is to ready your middle finger and move your picking hand slightly closer to your fretting hand. Then as you hammer-on the E string note, move your hand over and tap the string.

C major
E|--------------12h15h20p15p12-------------------------------------------
B|-----------13----------------13----------------------------------------
G|--------12----------------------12-------------------------------------
D|-----14----------------------------14----------------------------------
A|--15----------------------------------15-------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                      T
E major
E|--------------16h19h24p19p16-------------------------------------------
B|-----------17----------------17----------------------------------------
G|--------16----------------------16-------------------------------------
D|-----18----------------------------18----------------------------------
A|--19----------------------------------19-------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                      T

As you can see, the tapped note is always the root note. One of the main issues here will be getting your picking hand ready to sweep up the strings again, but if you just focus on getting the downward sweep and tap nailed slowly, youl be fine.

String Skipping

String skipping basically means playing a sequence on a string, then changing to a new one thats 2 strings away, so your skipping a string. Players like paul Giblert use licks like these a lot. Here are a few scale string skips:

A minor
E|------------------------------------------5h9p5-----5h9----------------
B|--------------------------6h8-----6h8----------------------------------
G|------5h7p5-----5h7p5-----------------7h9-------7h9--------------------
D|----------------------7h9-----7h9--------------------------------------
A|--5h7-------5h7--------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

C Phrygian
E|------------------------------------------8h11p8-----------------------
B|------------10h11p10----------------10h11------------------------------
G|-------8h10--------------------------------------10p8------------------
D|---------------------10p8------8h10------------------------------------
A|--8h10------------------------------------------------8h10p8-----------
E|--------------------------9h11-----------------------------------------

E Dorian
E|--------------------------0h2--------------------02p0------------------
B|----------2h3----------------3p2---------3p2---------------------------
G|----------------------2h4--------4p2---------2h4-----------------------
D|------0h4-----4p0------------------------------------------------------
A|------------------2h4----------------4p2-------------------------------
E|--0h2-------------------------------------------------0h2--------------

All I've done here is chosen a few notes at random from a few scales. Next we'll do a couple of arpeggios:

G major 7th
E|--------------10h14p10-------------------10h14p10----------------------
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
G|--------11h12----------12p11-------12p11----------12p11----------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|--10h14----------------------10h14----------------------10h14----------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

C major
E|-----------7h10p7--------------7h10p7----------------------------------
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
G|-------7h9--------9p7------7h9--------9p7------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|--7h10----------------7h10-----------------10p7------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

A minor
E|----------5h8p5-------------5h8p5--------------------------------------
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
G|------6h9-------9p6-----6h9-------9p6----------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|--5h9---------------5h9---------------5h9------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a series of arpeggios played melodicaly, I used the same example in my tapping lesson, but the same can apply here. Like sweep picking, you must let go off the strings exactly after youve played them, you can also keep your picking hand's palm close to the bridge to mute those annoying lower strings that always ring out.

Using These Techniques Musically

Ok heres a few licks for you to try out. First a neo-classical lick:

E|--------------------------------12----12h15----------------17-15-13----
B|-----12-15-12----12-16-12----13----13-------13----12-14-16----------17-
G|--13----------13----------14-------------------11----------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|--------------------------------------------------19-17-15-------------
B|--15-13----------------16----------------19-17-15----------17-15-------
G|--------17-15-14----17----17-19-17----19------------------------10h13--
D|-----------------16----------------18----------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|-----10h13p10----------13-11-10-------------------13h19p13-------13-17-
B|--12----------12----------------13-11-10-------15-------------15-------
G|-----------------10h13-------------------13h16-------------16----------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Next is a sweep picking lick:

E|--------------16h19p16-------------------------10h14p10----------------
B|-----------17----------17-------------------12----------12-------------
G|--------16----------------16-------------11----------------11----------
D|-----18----------------------18-------12----------------------12-------
A|--19----------------------------19/14----------------------------14/17-
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|-----------14h17p14------------------------9h12p9----------------------
B|--------15----------15------------------10--------10-------------------
G|-----14----------------14-------------9--------------9-------------12--
D|--16----------------------16-------11------------------11-------14-----
A|-----------------------------17/12------------------------12/15--------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|-----12h15p12----------------------7h10p7----------------------14b(17)-
B|--13----------13-----------------8--------8-----------------15---------
G|-----------------12------------7------------7------------14------------
D|--------------------14-------9----------------9-------16---------------
A|-----------------------15/10--------------------10/17------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Now the two combined! :

E|-----------------10h15p10-------------------------------15h20p15-------
B|--------------11----------11-------------------------16----------16----
G|-----------12----------------12-------------------17----------------17-
D|--------12----------------------12-------------17----------------------
A|--10h13----------------------------10h13/15h18-------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|-------------------------8h13p8------------------------------13h17p13--
B|----------------------10--------10------------------------15-----------
G|-------------------10--------------10------------------15--------------
D|--17------------10--------------------10------------15-----------------
A|-----15h18/8h12--------------------------8h12/13h17--------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|----------------------------6h11p6------------------------11h15--------
B|--15----------------------8--------8-------------------12-------12-----
G|-----15-----------------8------------8--------------11-------------11--
D|--------15------------8----------------8---------12--------------------
A|-----------13h17/6h10--------------------6h10/13-----------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|-----12h15p-------------------------14h17h20p17p14---------------------
B|--12--------12-------------------15----------------15------------------
G|---------------13-------------14----------------------14-------------12
D|------------------14-------16----------------------------16-------14---
A|---------------------15/17----------------------------------17/15------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|----12----------------13h19p13----13h16----------14b(17)--------------
B|-13----13----------15----------15-------15----15-----------------------
G|----------12/13h16-------------------------14--------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Speed playing

In this lesson were going to cover all aspects of playing fast guitar, including speed picked runs, legato phrases and economy picking phrases. Hopefully at the end of this lesson you should have some useful warm up excersises, tips on all picking aspects and lots of excersises to practise with.

This lesson will be split into 5 sections :

1. Warm up excersises
2. Alternative picking
3. Economy picking
4. Legato playing
5. Using these tips musically

Warm Up Excersises

These are a list of simple excersises that are useful for quickly warming up both your hands before playing these excersises. I use these almost everyday and they don't take long but they get your hands all warmed up, getting blood into your hands and getting the muscles pumped into your fingers so after a quick few excersises you feel like youve been playing for hours.

First were going to warm up, were going to give all your fingers are work out. The main focus of warming up fast though is to aim to get your index and pinky fingers warmed up as the rest of the hand will follow. Lets get started:

E|----------------------1h2p1------------------------------------------2h3-
B|------------------1h2-------2p1----------------------------------2h3-----
G|--------------1h2---------------2p1--------------------------2h3---------
D|----------1h2-----------------------2p1------------------2h3-------------
A|------1h2-------------------------------2p1----------2h3-----------------
E|--1h2---------------------------------------2p1--2h3---------------------

E|--3p2-----------------------------------------3h4p3-----------------------
B|------3p2---------------------------------3h4-------4p3-------------------
G|----------3p2-------------------------3h4---------------4p3---------------
D|--------------3p2-----------------3h4-----------------------4p3-----------
A|------------------3p2---------3h4-------------------------------4p3-------
E|----------------------3p2-3h4---------------------------------------4p3---

E|----------------------4h5p4-----------------------------------------5h6---
B|------------------4h5-------5p4---------------------------------5h6-------
G|--------------4h5---------------5p4-------------------------5h6-----------
D|----------4h5-----------------------5p4-----------------5h6---------------
A|------4h5-------------------------------5p4---------5h6-------------------
E|--4h5---------------------------------------5p4-5h6-----------------------

E|--6p5-----------------------------------------6h7p6-----------------------
B|------6p5---------------------------------6h7-------7p6-------------------
G|----------6p5-------------------------6h7---------------7p6---------------
D|--------------6p5-----------------6h7-----------------------7p6-----------
A|------------------6p5---------6h7-------------------------------7p6-------
E|----------------------6p5-6h7---------------------------------------7p6---

This is an excersise which can be replayed with any 2 fingers. To also aide your picking hand you can alternate pick descending ( up, down, up) and sweep (up, up, up) ascending, or mix it up, but don't worry the main aim is to warm up your fretting hand fingers. With this excersise use:

1. Index and middle
2. Middle and ring
3. Ring and pinky

E|----------------------1h3p1-----------------------------------------2h4-
B|------------------1h3------3p1----------------------------------2h4-----
G|--------------1h3--------------3p1--------------------------2h4---------
D|----------1h3----------------------3p1------------------2h4-------------
A|------1h3------------------------------3p1----------2h4-----------------
E|--1h3--------------------------------------3p1--2h4---------------------

E|--4p2-----------------------------------------3h5p3-----------------------
B|------4p2---------------------------------3h5-------5p3-------------------
G|----------4p2-------------------------3h5---------------5p3---------------
D|--------------4p2-----------------3h5-----------------------5p3-----------
A|------------------4p2---------3h5-------------------------------5p3-------
E|----------------------4p2-3h5---------------------------------------5p3---

E|----------------------4h6p4-----------------------------------------5h7---
B|------------------4h6-------6p4---------------------------------5h7-------
G|--------------4h6---------------6p4-------------------------5h7-----------
D|----------4h6-----------------------6p4-----------------5h7---------------
A|------4h6-------------------------------6p4---------5h7-------------------
E|--4h6---------------------------------------6p4-5h7-----------------------

E|--7p5-----------------------------------------6h8p6-----------------------
B|------7p5---------------------------------6h8-------8p6-------------------
G|----------7p5-------------------------6h8---------------8p6---------------
D|--------------7p5-----------------6h8-----------------------8p6-----------
A|------------------7p5---------6h8-------------------------------8p6-------
E|----------------------7p5-6h8---------------------------------------8p6---

Ok this time use:

1. Index and ring fingers
2. Middle and pinky fingers

E|--------------------------------1h2h3p2p1---------------------------------
B|--------------------------1h2h3-----------3p2p1---------------------------
G|--------------------1h2h3-----------------------3p2p1---------------------
D|--------------1h2h3-----------------------------------3p2p1---------------
A|--------1h2h3-----------------------------------------------3p2p1---------
E|--1h2h3----------------------------------------------------------3p2p1----

E|--------------------------------2h3h4p3p2---------------------------------
B|--------------------------2h3h5-----------4p3p2---------------------------
G|--------------------2h3h4-----------------------4p3p2---------------------
D|--------------2h3h4-----------------------------------4p3p2---------------
A|--------2h3h4----------------------------------------------4p3p2----------
E|--2h3h4----------------------------------------------------------4p3p2----

E|--------------------------------3h4h5p4p3---------------------------------
B|--------------------------3h4h5-----------5p4p3---------------------------
G|--------------------3h4h5-----------------------5p4p3---------------------
D|--------------3h4h5-----------------------------------5p4p3---------------
A|--------2h4h5----------------------------------------------5p4p3----------
E|--3h4h5----------------------------------------------------------5p4p3----

E|--------------------------------4h5h6p5p4---------------------------------
B|--------------------------4h5h6-----------6p5p4---------------------------
G|--------------------4h5h6-----------------------6p5p4---------------------
D|--------------4h5h6-----------------------------------6p5p4---------------
A|--------4h5h6----------------------------------------------6p5p4----------
E|--4h5h6----------------------------------------------------------6p5p4----

E|--------------------------------5h6h7p6p5---------------------------------
B|--------------------------5h6h7-----------7p6p5---------------------------
G|--------------------5h6h7-----------------------7p6p5---------------------
D|--------------5h6h7-----------------------------------7p6p5---------------
A|--------5h6h7----------------------------------------------7p6p5----------
E|--5h6h7----------------------------------------------------------7p6p5----

This time use:

1. Index ,middle and ring fingers
2. Middle ,ring and pinky fingers

E|--------------------------------1h2h4p2p1---------------------------------
B|--------------------------1h2h4-----------4p2p1---------------------------
G|--------------------1h2h4-----------------------4p2p1---------------------
D|--------------1h2h4-----------------------------------4p2p1---------------
A|--------1h2h4----------------------------------------------4p2p1----------
E|--1h2h4----------------------------------------------------------4p2p1----

E|--------------------------------2h3h5p3p2---------------------------------
B|--------------------------2h3h5-----------5p3p2---------------------------
G|--------------------2h3h5-----------------------5p3p2---------------------
D|--------------2h3h5-----------------------------------5p3p2---------------
A|--------2h3h5----------------------------------------------5p3p2----------
E|--2h3h5----------------------------------------------------------5p3p2----

E|--------------------------------3h4h6p4p3---------------------------------
B|--------------------------3h4h6-----------6p4p3---------------------------
G|--------------------3h4h6-----------------------6p4p3---------------------
D|--------------3h4h6-----------------------------------6p4p3---------------
A|--------3h4h6----------------------------------------------6p4p3----------
E|--3h4h6----------------------------------------------------------6p4p3----

E|--------------------------------4h5h7p5p4---------------------------------
B|--------------------------4h5h7-----------7p5p4---------------------------
G|--------------------4h5h7-----------------------7p5p4---------------------
D|--------------4h5h7-----------------------------------7p5p4---------------
A|--------4h5h7----------------------------------------------7p5p4----------
E|--4h5h7----------------------------------------------------------7p5p4----

This one uses:

1. Index ,middle and pinky

E|--------------------------------1h3h4p3p1---------------------------------
B|--------------------------1h3h4-----------4p3p1---------------------------
G|--------------------1h3h4-----------------------4p3p1---------------------
D|--------------1h3h4-----------------------------------4p3p1---------------
A|--------1h3h4----------------------------------------------4p3p1----------
E|--1h3h4----------------------------------------------------------4p3p1----

E|--------------------------------2h4h5p4p2---------------------------------
B|--------------------------2h4h5-----------5p4p2---------------------------
G|--------------------2h4h5-----------------------5p4p2---------------------
D|--------------2h4h5-----------------------------------5p4p2---------------
A|--------2h4h5----------------------------------------------5p4p2----------
E|--2h4h5----------------------------------------------------------5p4p2----

E|--------------------------------3h5h6p5p3---------------------------------
B|--------------------------3h5h6-----------6p5p3---------------------------
G|--------------------3h5h6-----------------------6p5p3---------------------
D|--------------3h5h6-----------------------------------6p5p3---------------
A|--------3h5h6----------------------------------------------6p5p3----------
E|--3h5h6----------------------------------------------------------6p5p3----

E|--------------------------------4h6h7p6p4---------------------------------
B|--------------------------4h6h7-----------7p6p4---------------------------
G|--------------------4h6h7-----------------------7p6p4---------------------
D|--------------4h6h7-----------------------------------7p6p4---------------
A|--------4h6h7----------------------------------------------7p6p4----------
E|--4h6h7----------------------------------------------------------7p6p4----

This one uses:

1. Index ,ring and pinky fingers.

Last one now:

E|------------------------------------------1h2h3h4p3p2p1----------------
B|----------------------------------1h2h3h4---------------4p3p2p1--------
G|--------------------------1h2h3h4-------------------------------4p3p2p1
D|------------------1h2h3h4----------------------------------------------
A|----------1h2h3h4------------------------------------------------------
E|--1h2h3h4--------------------------------------------------------------

E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
G|--4p3p2p1-------------------------------------------------2h3h4h5------
D|----------4p3p2p1---------------------------------2h3h4h5--------------
A|------------------4p3p2p1-----------------2h3h4h5----------------------
E|--------------------------4p3p2p1 2h3h4h5------------------------------

E|----------2h3h4h5p4p3p2------------------------------------------------
B|--2h3h4h5---------------5p4p3p2----------------------------------------
G|--------------------------------5p4p3p2--------------------------------
D|----------------------------------------5p4p3p2------------------------
A|------------------------------------------------5p4p3p2----------------
E|--------------------------------------------------------5p4p3p2-3h4h5h6

E|----------------------------------3h4h5h6p5p4p3------------------------
B|--------------------------3h4h5h6---------------6p5p4p3----------------
G|------------------3h4h5h6-------------------------------6p5p4p3--------
D|----------3h4h5h6-----------------------------------------------6p5p4p3
A|--3h4h5h6--------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|----------------------------------------------------------4h5h6h7------
B|--------------------------------------------------4h5h6h7--------------
G|------------------------------------------4h5h6h7----------------------
D|----------------------------------4h5h6h7------------------------------
A|--6p5p4p3-----------------4h5h5h7--------------------------------------
E|----------6p5p4p3-4h5h6h7----------------------------------------------

E|--7p6p5p4--------------------------------------------------------------
B|----------7p6p5p4------------------------------------------------------
G|------------------7p6p5p4----------------------------------------------
D|--------------------------7p6p5p4--------------------------------------
A|----------------------------------7p6p5p4------------------------------
E|------------------------------------------7p6p5p4----------------------

You can pretty much guess what fingers are required here. Now you should be very warmed up, as mentioned earlier some of these hammer-ons and pull offs are quite hard and instead just pick the notes if it's easier.

Alternative Picking

Alternative picking is probably the hardest, used by players like Michael Angelo and Buckethead, this picking style involves picking up and then down repeatly. Even if your changing strings you will have to have a constant up, down, up, down pattern. Alternative picking gives an aggressive, attacking sound when played. Below is a small excersise and we will discuss tips on getting your alternative picking accurate:

E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
D|-----------12-13-12----------------12-13-12----------------12-13-12----
A|--12-14-15----------15-14-12-14-15----------15-14-12-14-15-------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U

This is a simple repeat lick excersise, you can play this sort of thing almost anywhere to feel comfortable but we will use this one now for starters. Play this lick constantly using the up, down, up, down motion. So the main issue I'm sure you'l find here is the upstroke on the string change down and the downstroke on the string change up. Practise this likc super slow and build up speed then try these:

E|--8-7-------------------7-8-7-------------------7-8-7------------------
B|------8-7-----------7-8-------8-7-----------7-8-------8-7--------------
G|----------8-7-5-7-8---------------8-7-5-7-8---------------8-7-5--------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  D U D U D U D U D  U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D

E|--------------------12-14-15-14-12----------------------------------12-
B|-----------12-14-15----------------15-14-12----------------12-14-15----
G|--12-14-15----------------------------------15-14-12-14-15-------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    D  U  D U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D

E|-----------10----------------10----------------10----------------10----
B|--------11----11----------11----11----------11----11----------11-------
G|-----12----------12----12----------12----12----------12----12----------
D|--11----------------11----------------11----------------11-------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U

That last one may seem tricky, as it's so tempting to sweep/economy pick it, but if you can pull it off it's very useful for training your picking hand. Remeber the key to this picking style is the ability to hit a new string below on an upstroke and a string above on a downstroke.

Economy Picking

Economy picking is a bit like alternative picking, up and down, but when you change string you pick in the direction of the change. So if you going to change to a string down you down stroke and a string up you upstroke. Try this example using economy picking:

E|---------------------------------------------------------------------
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------
A|----------9-12-10-9-10-12------------9-12-10-9-10-12------------9----
E|--9-10-12-----------------12-9-10-12-----------------12 9-10-12------
   D  U  D  D U  D U  D  U  U D U  D  D  U  D U  D  U  U D U  D  D

Notice how your up and downpicking but on the string change you follow the direction of the strings, it's seems easier than alternative picking and gives are a more smooth, flowing sound, players like Yngwie Malmsteen use this technique a lot and it sounds great with legato playing. Try these out:

E|-----------12-14-15-17-15-14-12-------------12-14-15-17-15-14-12-------
B|--12-14-15----------------------15-12-14-15----------------------15----
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   D  U  D  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D  U  D   D  U  S  U  S  U  D  U

E|--------12-10-------------12-10-------------12-10-------------12-10----
B|-----13-------11-------13-------11-------13-------11-------13------11--
G|--14-------------12-14-------------12-14-------------12-14-----------12
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   D  D  D  U  U  U  D  D  D  U  U  U  D  D  D  U  U  U  D  D  D  U  U U

E|--------12-15p12---------12-15p12----------12-15p12----------12-15p12--
B|-----13---------13----13----------13----13----------13----13-----------
G|--12---------------12----------------12----------------12--------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   D  D  D  U   U   D  D  D  U     U   D  D  D  U   U  D   D   D  U

Last one look familiar, it's a sweep picking shape. Economy picking is often refered to as sweep picking. So remeber, alternative pick on one string, pick with the direction of the string change when you change.

Legato Playing

Allthough technically not a picking style, it's is useful in playing fast. Some players don't prefer using legato and accuse it of "cheating". Legato is just as technical and useful in fast playing as any other of the techniques were using. Joe Satriani uses a lot of legato playing in his songs and they're incredibly fast. Legato is latin for "smoothly" and this technique does give an incredible smooth sound when played right. When hammer-ing on, make sure you hammer the string quickly and firmly, a lot of players only really use their middle or ring finger for this, but if you can train your pinky to do it you can reach whole new areas and create interesting licks. For pulling off, one of the main flaws players have is that when they pull off the accidently bend the string that they're pulling off to downwards, this makes the pull off sound out of tune. Make sure the finger your pulling off to holds the string firmly in place and your pulling finger to pluck strick forcefully to get a loud, full pull off.Try these licks out:

E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
D|-------9-7h9------9-7h9------9-7h9------9-7h9------9-7h9------9 7h9----
A|--10p7-------10p7-------10p7-------10p7-------10p7-------10p7----------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|--12h13p12h13-------------------------------------12h13p12h13----------
B|--------------12h13p12h13-------------12h13p12h13----------------------
G|--------------------------10h13p10h13----------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|----------7p5--------------7p5-------------7p5-------------------------
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
G|------5h7-----7p5------5h7-----7p5-----7p5-----7p5---------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|--5h7--------------5h7-------------5h7-------------5h7-----------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

For the first excersise a good technique is to barre the A and D strings with your first finger and then use your pinky and/or ring fingers to handle the hammer-ons and pull offs. As for the last excersise many players have difficulty changing to a lower string for a pull off, remeber to firmly place your first finger on the 5th fret and pluck the 7th fret downwards with your other finger to get an accurate pull off.

Using These Tips Musically

So we have warmed up, learnt pciknig styles and legato playing, now what? Well if you wanna play a fast lick, a lot of players simply use small licks like the excersises together, a combination of a few licks you've used can create a large, fast solo. As long as your playing is in key with the song you can make lots of speedy solo's using these small repeat excersises, like so:

E|--------------------12-14-15-14-12----------------------------------12-
B|-----------12-14-15----------------15-14-12----------------12-14-15----
G|--12-14-15----------------------------------15-14-12-14-15-------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|--14-15-14-12-------------------------------------14h15p14h15----17b(19)
B|--------------15-14-12-----------------12---------------------14-------
G|-----------------------15-14-12--12h14----15b(17)----------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|-----------17-15-14----------------------------------------------------
B|--17-15-14-------------------15-14-12----------------------------------
G|--------------------15-14-12-------------------14-12-10----------------
D|--------------------------------------14-12-10-----------------12-10-9-
A|--------------------------------------------------------12-10-9--------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------15p12-
G|-----------------------------------------------------------15p12-------
D|------------------------------------------------9-10-12-14-------------
A|----------------9-10-12-10-9------------9-10-12------------------------
E|--12-10-9-10-12--------------12-9-10-12--------------------------------

E|--15p12----------------------------------------------------------------
B|--------15b(17)--------------------------------------------------------
G|----------------9h12---------9h12---------9h12---------9h12---------9--
D|---------------------12-9h12------12-9h12------12-9h12------12-9h12----
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|-------9-12p9---------9-12p9---------9-12p9---------9-12p9-------------
B|----10--------10---10--------10---10--------10---10--------10b(12)-10--
G|--9--------------9--------------9--------------9-----------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Radith Punkrockstar

FIFA's probelm about waka-waka

Speed playing part 4

Sweep Picking/Sweep Tapping

Tapping

String Skipping

Alternative Picking

Legato

Speed playing part 3

Vibrato

Whammy Bar Techniques

Theory

Speed Playing Excersises

Speed playing part 2

Neo-Classical Playing

Sweep Picking

String Skipping

Using These Techniques Musically

Speed playing

Warm Up Excersises

Alternative Picking

Economy Picking

Legato Playing

Using These Tips Musically

Radith??

Blog Archive

Pengikut