Playing fast guitar became famous around the 1980s when most guitarists wanted to play fast like Steve Vai and others. The need for speed has never really gone away, and today guitarists like Satriani still give shredders the taste of what is possible. But its not as easy as it looks, how do you play guitar really fast, because a lot of teachers can't do it themselves.
It is easy to learn the steps that will increase speed over time, and being persistent with each one will pay-off as time goes by. Learning to play really fast doesn't happen over night, it takes great discipline. You will have to work on your left and right hand technique consistently, no slacking, because both hands have to be co-ordinated together to increase speed and dexterity. No co-ordination means no accuracy, which means it will sound awlful. You will also want to develop proper thumb and finger placement along the neck. The two basic thumb positions that are mostly used by professional players are putting the thumb over the top, and resting the thumb behind the neck. Behind the neck will give you bigger reach on the fretboard and will improve control and consistency. If you practice guitar scales and exercises slowly in these thumb positions, you will increase your accuracy and speed in time.
Having your fingers ready on the fretboard, in the right positions is a must if you want to play really fast. If your fingers are already resting above the first 4 frets until needed, your hand won't have to physically move as far, because it is already in position. You then can either press the fingers onto the strings, and leave it there until you needthem (finger anchoring), or raise each finger as the next one comes down (finger movement), for speed, finger movement is what you should use. Finger accuracy involves consistently fretting a note right behind the fret, this improves dexterity. Remember to use the flat part of the finger tips and not the side of the finger. The more discipline you have, the quicker you will become.
Right hand technique is just as important as left hand. Your picking style, how you hold the pick and your motion will all affect speed. Picking can be alternating, sweeping or circular picking, and should probably be learnt in that order as they increase in difficulty as well as speed. Alternate picking can still be very fast, and is used by Malmsteen so don't underestimate it!
If you want to play really fast, holding the pick lightly above the strings will do the trick, we have to reduce the drag factor as we sweep across the strings. Use the motion of the wrist, keeping it as loose as possible. Remember to not tense up your fingers and thumbs.
All of this will take discipline and practise. You will have to make time everyday to get better, a big splurge at the beginning of the week then nothing for the rest of the week is no good. Remember to practise with a drum machine, start at slow speeds and then increase tempo gradually.
Its just a matter of time with these simple techniques, with practise and discipline, you will be playing guitar really fast in no time. - 15338
It is easy to learn the steps that will increase speed over time, and being persistent with each one will pay-off as time goes by. Learning to play really fast doesn't happen over night, it takes great discipline. You will have to work on your left and right hand technique consistently, no slacking, because both hands have to be co-ordinated together to increase speed and dexterity. No co-ordination means no accuracy, which means it will sound awlful. You will also want to develop proper thumb and finger placement along the neck. The two basic thumb positions that are mostly used by professional players are putting the thumb over the top, and resting the thumb behind the neck. Behind the neck will give you bigger reach on the fretboard and will improve control and consistency. If you practice guitar scales and exercises slowly in these thumb positions, you will increase your accuracy and speed in time.
Having your fingers ready on the fretboard, in the right positions is a must if you want to play really fast. If your fingers are already resting above the first 4 frets until needed, your hand won't have to physically move as far, because it is already in position. You then can either press the fingers onto the strings, and leave it there until you needthem (finger anchoring), or raise each finger as the next one comes down (finger movement), for speed, finger movement is what you should use. Finger accuracy involves consistently fretting a note right behind the fret, this improves dexterity. Remember to use the flat part of the finger tips and not the side of the finger. The more discipline you have, the quicker you will become.
Right hand technique is just as important as left hand. Your picking style, how you hold the pick and your motion will all affect speed. Picking can be alternating, sweeping or circular picking, and should probably be learnt in that order as they increase in difficulty as well as speed. Alternate picking can still be very fast, and is used by Malmsteen so don't underestimate it!
If you want to play really fast, holding the pick lightly above the strings will do the trick, we have to reduce the drag factor as we sweep across the strings. Use the motion of the wrist, keeping it as loose as possible. Remember to not tense up your fingers and thumbs.
All of this will take discipline and practise. You will have to make time everyday to get better, a big splurge at the beginning of the week then nothing for the rest of the week is no good. Remember to practise with a drum machine, start at slow speeds and then increase tempo gradually.
Its just a matter of time with these simple techniques, with practise and discipline, you will be playing guitar really fast in no time. - 15338
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