Speedpicking/alternate picking vertical playing

Speed picking video lesson 3 - play vertical speed picking

In this third part of our speedpicking serie - we are starting to get serious. Until now we have only covered exactly how to technically achieve speedpicking - as well as what exercises to practice etc.

Today we will put it all together - and create vertical speedpicking runs - by stacking speedpicking patterns.

This is most likely what your favorite guitarist is doing - when you think he/she is improvising mindbogglingly fast. Be prepared to see the light...the speedpicking light!

Secret behind playing incredibly fast picking all over the guitar

Simply put: what a guitarist is doing when playing incredibly fast all over the guitar - is usually to take a pattern he/she is comfortable with - and play it up and down in a scale.

If you have been around gmc for a while - this is probably old news to you. However, today we will examine exactly how to do this with speedpicking - covering a scale vertically. (Horizontal and diagonal will soon follow - don't worry! )

How to use speedpicking verticaly in a scale

If you have not given the individual practice patterns (covered in Speed picking lesson 1 and Speed picking lesson 2 ) a shot yet - you will most likely not be able to play vertical speedpicking.

You should know at least one scale box - in order to apply vertical speed picking. Scroll down to learn the G minor box - from which this lesson's examples were taken.

Make sure to mentally isolate the individual pattern in the example runs - this is essential in order to understand how to build speed runs of your own.

Eventually you will realise that creating vertical speed picking runs is a matter of practice and learning scales. Music is created when you learn to apply these runs to a context, perhaps in a melody or a riff.

Today's backing track is a little slower - as this kind of vertical playing can be a little tricky. Take it slow and don't give up!

Kristofer Dahl

	"Speedpicking lesson 3 " backing track (G minor - 85 bpm)

	Backing track slow

	TAB

G minor aeolian scale box
G minor/aeolian - scale suggestion for this lesson's backing track

Lesson Questions, Feedback & Comments

Norven	1st January 2007
Member	Very good work here. Not much new for me but I learned a lot:)

RIP Dime	2nd January 2007
Member	^Same here, not much new, but it helped.

raqroso@msn.com	4th January 2007
Member	Question: Is everyone using the 4th finger when playing these speed patterns like this: \|x\| \|x\|x\| 1 2 3 4 or do you use the third finger \|x\| \|x\|x\| 1 2 3 when it comes to this one I have a hard time using the 2nd and 4th finger together \| \|x\| \|x\| 1 2 3 4 Right now I'm probably faster using the 4th finger- but I wonder if I can get real fast with it? Maybe I should switch to the 3rd? Comments? I'd love to hear from Kris (or someone that can tell me how Kris fingers the patterns in the lesson). Thanks in advance to whomever might reply.

Kristofer Dahl	7th January 2007
GMC Founder & Rocker	ragroso: I am not sure I fully understand your diagrams - but I can tell you that it is absolutley possible (and quite helpful!) to learn to use the fourth finger. You can get just as fast with the fourth finger. So yes - keep struggling with it!

Matt	9th January 2007
Member	That was absoloutly awsome, my favourite lesson so far

raqroso@msn.com	9th January 2007
Member	Kris - You answered my question re: the 4th finger... I feel myself getting more and more comfortable, confident and fast with it as I play the patterns over and over.... (I wish I could tie it with a string to the guitar so it doesn't move so far away from the fretboard! )

Kristofer Dahl	12th January 2007
GMC Founder & Rocker	ragroso: That's what finger control is about - no attached strings needed!

chainsbroken	15th January 2007
Member	Wow!!!!I love this..I have been jamming to this backing track for 2 hours now. getting faster and faster.Just using the G minor box and the next one up.I,m also having trouble keeping my 4th finger into play when I,m past the twelveth fret. But I know the importantance of using it so I,m working on that.Anyway great lesson. Thanks kris

Kristofer Dahl	15th January 2007
GMC Founder & Rocker	chainsbroken: Glad you are seeing progress!

mattacuk	3rd February 2007
Lets go fishing!	Kris, this lesson kicks ass!! I love speed picking!! Is this a similair sort of approach Paul Gilbert uses, stacking patterns etc?

Kristofer Dahl	3rd February 2007
GMC Founder & Rocker	Matt: Absolutely - that's the best way to get started. The goal is however to eventually be able not to think in patterns - just improvise all over with speed. Very few reach this - only a few guitarist alive today [in my opinion].

mattacuk	3rd February 2007
Lets go fishing!	Sounds good, I am now a slave to the metronome

saguitarist	22nd February 2007
Member	Kris, I love you dude. I've only been on here for about 3 days using the Speed Picking lessons, and I'm already amazed at how much I've improved. You're a great teacher, keep it up!

Jimmy S	6th April 2007
Member	this lesson really helped, b4 i was playin 16th not triplets at 60bpm now all of a sudden 100bpm!

Jimmy S	6th April 2007
Member	THX KRIS!!!

Kristofer Dahl	10th April 2007
GMC Founder & Rocker	Awesome!! Really glad to hear about your progress! --Kris

Anirudh	15th May 2007
Member	hey kris wen is da horizontal approch lesson arriving?

rockownz	26th August 2007
Member	nice lesson! Hey kris I had to ask do you know how can I see live version of the lessons everywhere? What I mean is that I don't know how can I see "riff" and "style off" etc. video's by live version?

Tomy Jeon	24th December 2007
Member	Thanks a lot Kris!!!

dk2	28th July 2008
Member	where is the horizontal and diagonal playing cant seem to find them anywhere:(