My one month ex.

[LuisSavesTheDay]

Maybe my Exercise is crappy, but im gonna try it.

Dont use ANY kind of distortion for a whole month, and learn NEW fast licks. This will get them cleaned up very nice if your hearing it good on the clean channel. Whenever you use disto, it covers up a few flaws, so with the clean channel it will change. EVERY wrong note will sting youu write in the face.
I started it a few days ago, and i can already feel myself playing better.

Im sure this has already been done. Or maybe its crappy, but i just came up with it a few days ago

Do you think it would owrk?
Is it a bad idea?
Anything else i should add?

Be critical

[metalprep6969]

I think that's a pretty good idea, I need to do something like that cuz I've been working on my picking recently (trying to isolate wrist motion). But I'd say, only do that for your strict practicing time. Still make time to play around and play the music you like. If I played a month without playing Mr. Crowley, I think I'd die.

\m/

[DanF]

Depends, you've probably played with distortion for a long time to come to this kind of decision but I know being a jazzer I never use distortion. So every once in awhile when I do get the urge to kick over and play an Ozzy tune it sounds like crap, not that my technique is that bad (it's not that great either) but my muting technique is nothing compared to a rock guitarists. It's not something I usually worry about.

So I actually have to do the opposite and commit to practicing with distortion on. Funny how that works eh?

-Dan

[LuisSavesTheDay]

lol. Nice DAn. It makes perfect sense.

Do you have any cool licks or exercises that you wouldnt mind sharing ? :)

[Koala]

Hey Luis you might wanna check out the following threads:
Licks ´n Runs ´n Riffs
http://www.ibreathemusic.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1563&highlight=licks+runs+riffs

Licks ´n Runs ´n Riffs Part 2
http://www.ibreathemusic.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1862&highlight=licks+runs+riffs

Licks ´n Runs ´n Riffs Part 3
http://www.ibreathemusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2737&highlight=Licks+runs

we´ve put together tons of (as the thread name states :D) licks runs n riffs in there

hope this helps,

[Alan(Lost)]

I think the whole thing of distortion covering up mistakes isn't very true, at least not to people with experience. A distorted tone is a more complicated one than a clean tone. To some people, it's enough to make wrong notes sound ok and to make sloppy playing sound alright. But as far as I'm concerned, a wrong note is a wrong note. If it's the case that the distortion might be covering it up, the playing is sloppy, or there is too much drive. Really, not using distortion make you work harder when playing things; you can't relax on the high gain and play loads of legato all over the place easily; You pick harder; you don't get as much sustain...etc. I find it useful to ditch the dist. because it sort of raises the bar, and when you return to distortion, things are a bit more comfortable, not because mistakes can be passed by, but because you don't have to use as much effort while playing.

[Guitarperson88]

When I practice I only put my gain up to 4 instead of 10, So there is only a touch of distortion. But i only use this for warming up and working on a technique. Like brantley says (excluding mr crowley) If i were to go a month with outh playing In flames or Children of bodom I would die. But I think I'll shoot for clean. Sounds like an OK idea.

[Wicked_Dreams]

Personally, I think it's a bad idea.

When you're on disto, the strings are too sensitive, so you are going to pay special attention to muting with your palm AND fretting fingers, while still focusing on speed and melody, a bit too tough.

My teacher FORCES me to play with a whole lot of gain, because it sounds much better, plus, cleans up my playing considerably.