Whether you already play guitar or are completely new to the instrument, you are not likely to get any better or in particular any faster, without practice. Getting faster is not something you can learn from a book, and your local voodoo priest is not going to sprinkle some magic fast dust on to your fingers. Selling your soul will not do the trick either. It will take practice, and a whole lot of it, to get faster. Making some of all of the following guitar speed exercises the cornerstone of your every day practice schedule would be a great place to start getting faster.
Start by getting a metronome. For those of you that are not even sure what one of those is, a metronome is a device used to keep you right on time. It ticks, back and forth, and provides a varying degree of beats per minute depending on how you have it set. It is a great way to keep track of your progress and one of the most valuable tools for practice you can own.
Begin this first exercise by setting your metronome to a comfortable speed and is right for you. Using the double-pick method, play the top string at the first, second, third, and fourth fret. Then move down to the next string and do it again. Then the next and next, and when you finish on the bottom string come back up. Once this is completed, increase the speed of the metronome and do it again and again until you have gone as fast as you can go. Finish by performing the exercise at a slow speed to help with accuracy and ease the burn in your hand.
Next, play triplets in your favorite scale. It does not matter which scale you choose. Begin each set of triplets with the second note from the previous one. Increase your speed using your metronome, and then decrease as you finish the exercise for the sake of pain and accuracy.
Another helpful exercise is actually quite simple. Find a note on any string, and then find that same note, either one octave higher or lower. This will not only help with speed, but also with strength and accuracy. An added benefit is that you will learn more about the notes and their locations on the different strings.
Picking speed is important too, so go back to the first exercise and, instead of using the up down technique, strum each string using the down stroke going down. Use the up stroke coming back up. Before long you will see an increased ability to pick faster.
Not every exercise will work for everyone, and of course some of these exercises will work better for some than for others. What is as important as the exercise is a regular practice routine. Even the guitar gods keep their chops up to speed by practicing each and every day, and while you may or may not become the next jukebox hero, to become a better guitar player you will need to practice.
Work on these exercises or some others that suite you, and use the advice here and get a metronome. The guitar is likely the world's most popular instrument, and it is easier to learn how to rock than you might believe. Sure, you will need a bit of talent, but just as important is your desire to practice, and these guitar speed exercises would be a great place to start.
Start by getting a metronome. For those of you that are not even sure what one of those is, a metronome is a device used to keep you right on time. It ticks, back and forth, and provides a varying degree of beats per minute depending on how you have it set. It is a great way to keep track of your progress and one of the most valuable tools for practice you can own.
Begin this first exercise by setting your metronome to a comfortable speed and is right for you. Using the double-pick method, play the top string at the first, second, third, and fourth fret. Then move down to the next string and do it again. Then the next and next, and when you finish on the bottom string come back up. Once this is completed, increase the speed of the metronome and do it again and again until you have gone as fast as you can go. Finish by performing the exercise at a slow speed to help with accuracy and ease the burn in your hand.
Next, play triplets in your favorite scale. It does not matter which scale you choose. Begin each set of triplets with the second note from the previous one. Increase your speed using your metronome, and then decrease as you finish the exercise for the sake of pain and accuracy.
Another helpful exercise is actually quite simple. Find a note on any string, and then find that same note, either one octave higher or lower. This will not only help with speed, but also with strength and accuracy. An added benefit is that you will learn more about the notes and their locations on the different strings.
Picking speed is important too, so go back to the first exercise and, instead of using the up down technique, strum each string using the down stroke going down. Use the up stroke coming back up. Before long you will see an increased ability to pick faster.
Not every exercise will work for everyone, and of course some of these exercises will work better for some than for others. What is as important as the exercise is a regular practice routine. Even the guitar gods keep their chops up to speed by practicing each and every day, and while you may or may not become the next jukebox hero, to become a better guitar player you will need to practice.
Work on these exercises or some others that suite you, and use the advice here and get a metronome. The guitar is likely the world's most popular instrument, and it is easier to learn how to rock than you might believe. Sure, you will need a bit of talent, but just as important is your desire to practice, and these guitar speed exercises would be a great place to start.
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