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!guitarist smiley )

 

 

     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 TAB

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

Related lessons:
Speed/alternate picking basics (pt1)
Speed/alternate picking practice patterns (pt2)
"Map My Gap" speedpicking solo

 

 



     Lesson Questions, Feedback & Comments





Norven
post 1st January 2007


Member


Very good work here. Not much new for me but I learned a lot:)
RIP Dime
post 2nd January 2007


Member


^Same here, not much new, but it helped.
raqroso
post 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
post 7th January 2007


Member


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! smile.gif
Matt
post 9th January 2007


Member


That was absoloutly awsome, my favourite lesson so far
raqroso
post 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
post 12th January 2007


Member


ragroso: That's what finger control is about - no attached strings needed!
chainsbroken
post 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
post 15th January 2007


Member


chainsbroken: Glad you are seeing progress! biggrin.gif
mattacuk
post 3rd February 2007


Member


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


Member


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
post 3rd February 2007


Member


Sounds good, I am now a slave to the metronome tongue.gif
saguitarist
post 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
post 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
post 6th April 2007


Member


THX KRIS!!!
Kristofer Dahl
post 10th April 2007


Member


Awesome!! Really glad to hear about your progress! --Kris
Anirudh
post 15th May 2007


Member


hey kris wen is da horizontal approch lesson arriving?
rockownz
post 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
post 24th December 2007


Member


Thanks a lot Kris!!! smile.gif
dk2
post 28th July 2008


Member


where is the horizontal and diagonal playing cant seem to find them anywhere:(


Login in the top right corner to write a comment.