Become a Faster Guitar Player
I'm often asked what it takes to get quick on the guitar? While it's usually not what beginners like to hear my answer is the same every time, practice, practice practice. If you want to become a faster guitar you need to master two things: accuracy and then speed. Doing something well fast means being able to do it excellent slowly.
In this article I cover three practice exercises you can start doing now to improve both your accuracy and your speed. If you consistently do them you should start to see results after the first week.
If you are taking guitar lessons from someone right now I suggest you print this off and bring a copy to your instructor. They have have similar or better exercises they'd like you to do. The same goes if you're using a learn guitar dvd or other home study program consider skipping ahead in your lessons to see if there are any exercises for playing faster coming later on. Your teacher or the course developer may have different or better methods of improving your speed.
Exercise 1 – Practise your Scales
Knowing the notes on the guitar neck and the popular scales is important. f you don't know your scales yet don't worry. Using your favourite search engine search for Pentatonic Scales, or visit a gutiar lesson tips website and search for pentatonic scales. You want to find an image or description of the first pentatonic shape you use when playing the pentatonic scales.
What you are going to do is use the first shape of the pentatonic scale to practice your accuracy You do not need to understand which scale is what or memorize all 5 positions of the pentatonic scales, just start with the first one and memorize it for now
Start playing that first shape on the 6th string all the way down to the 1st string Once you reach the 1st string play the scale backwards up to the 6th string. Now slide up to the second freat and repeat the process, then fret number three and four and so on.
The key here is to learn accuracy with hitting the frets and the notes as you move up and down the neck forwards and backwards through the scale position.
Exercise 2 – Increase your Pace
Next you want to repeat the first exercise but we want to increase how quickly you're doing it. Using a metronome find a pace that is comfortable for you to play the first pentatonic shape. This will vary from person to person, the key is that it's comfortable for you.
Start your metronome and once again on the first fret play the scale position forwards and backwards. You're going to next slide up to fret two again but this time increase the tempo on your metronome by one beat per minute and continue to do this each fret all the way up the neck of your guitar.
This exercise allows you to “warm up” to the idea of playing faster while maintaining accuracy and skill. Once you make it all the way up the neck you'll have increased your speed by 12-16 beats per minute and hopefully maintained your accuracy and technique Stick with the same starting tempo for a week or so then try and increase it as to push yourself a little faster each week.
Exercise 3 – Double Picking
Most beginners only hit the string on the down stroke with their pick. As you advance in your speed exercises you'll probably find that hitting the string on the way down isn't enough to play as quickly as you'd like. It's time to start plucking the string on the way down and up. This can feel uncomfortable at first but we'll work into it slowly.
Before you trying playing a scale start by just hitting the first string, low E, up and down a few times to get the feel Next move down to the 5th string, then the 4th and onwards all the way down to the 1st string. Now do it in reverse from the 1st string to the 6th string. This exercise will help you feel comfortable picking up and down on all the strings and changing strings.
Now you're ready to add the scale to the mix, try playing the pentatonic shape we did in the first and second exercises but this time hit the string up and down. This might feel strange at first, down pick for note one then up pick for note two and switch strings. Getting the right timing between your picking hand and fretting hand is tough but start slow, master it then add speed just like before.
If you consistently do these 3 exercises for a period of four weeks you will get faster. I'd urge you to also ensure you're practicing the other new material and concepts you're learning as well. It's important that you keep up with your guitar lesson dvd or guitar lesson plan Learning guitar is fun but to be good it takes practice and work. The great thing is if you put the work in then you're almost guaranteed to come out a better guitar player then you were going in.
