Paul Gilbert picking exercise ? [Archive]

esowalt

04-27-2003, 10:53 PM

this picking exercise here

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i was wondering what is a good spped to aim to work this up to and what are the benfits of having done this. i have just started recently working with some picking exercises with the meteronome, i am normally a classical guitarist but have always loved very fast picked passages. i was also wondering what else would be some good picking passages that would be helpful to working up my right hand. because i do not pick very much it is very underdeveloped i can fret must faster than i can pick but i'd like to know of some exercises that maybe some of you guys have helped out. thanks

The Bash

04-27-2003, 11:29 PM

Whatever speed you can play it most cleanly and Comfortably.
I know this sounds sort of like a Smart Arse Answer. But it’s real the only answer there is.
And I wanna stress Comfortably. I often find I’m good for a few to several BMP more soundwise past the comfort level. For Example say I can Play lick whatever at 80 BMP feeling totally relaxed and in control yet at 84 BMP I start to tense up. Now I may actually (depending on the lick) beable to physically go beyond that and have it still sound good BUT I’m now working Way too Hard.
I find a natural progression of diminishing quality for myself as
1) Comfort/Relaxtion is present lick sounds and Feels good
2) Comfort and Relaxation goes Bye-Bye Lick Sounds but dosen’t feel good.
3) Comfort and Relaxation have turned to Extreme Tension Lick sounds like Crud.

Those are 3 things you should look for
How fast can I have total control, how fast can I play it, and, at what point can I no longer perceive this as being remotely musically pleasant.

Now I know this wasn’t exactly your question but I hadda point that out first.
Even though you might be totally aware of it someone else reading this thread may not.

As far as a goal…Well, look in terms of short and long.
There is no “Goal Tempo” for this lick. The ceiling is endless.

You should have a Immediate short term goal: Maybe you can play this lick as sixteenth note triplts at say 60 then maybe your goal would be to try to hit something small like 64.by the end of the week or in 3 days etc.
If you do find, if not so what keep working and you will.

A short tem goal like: I’d like to hit 68 or 74 or 82 by the end of the month. There is s no answer one but honesty. Consider how much time do I have to dedicate to this goal and how easy/difficult is this Goal for me and set your goals accordingly.
Someone may honestly feel that 90’s a good end of the month goal. Someone else may feel 66 is perfect. Make it something you gotta reach out a bit to touch. Not something ya gotta rent a rocket to reach.

A Long Term Goal: Like 3 mths or a year waddever suites you. Again be realistic.

A lifetime goal: This is where you shoot for the stars. It’s ok to be a bit dreamy here as your setting your ulimate ceiling very high.

And yes your goals will and should change. If you thought 100 easy to obtain in a years time and 9mths down the road see it’s a bit far fetched. Alter your goal to something you feel is obtainable.
I mean don’t give up after a week a go, “this is too hard” and quit. But if you’ve worked it hard and feel you overshot yourself a bit then Hey, alter it a bit.

Hope this helps somewhat. I’m in process of further developing my picking speed wise so I’m giving ya exactly what I do and can say it’s helped me.

Also I should add: Variety. The PG lick is great but it’s not the cure all. Do some single string stuff. Inside picking stuff etc. Eric does a great job in his articles so there’s tons of info there to check out there as well.