what to do when you can't play something right no matter how slow?

[redmunk]

I haven't been able to get any faster with my sweep picking for some time and so Ive slowed it right down to triplets at 60 bpm and I've noticed that on the finger rolls in shape one, I'm always getting 2 notes sounding together. Maybe I could slow it down even more but there doesn't seem much point as i stil can't play it. I've also been breaking it up into smaller shapes, before you say anything. What should I do? persevere with the speed and hope for the best, or are there any other approches i can try?

thanks

[wiechfreak]

recently working on breaking some of my bad habits, When I tried to pla ycertain exercises or licks I couldnt play em even wit hmy metronome VERY low. And from experience with this, PLAY IT AS SLOW AS U NEED TO to play it correclty. Even if the metronome is at 1 bpm and u can barely play it thats the only way usually. You have to get used to it VERY slowly and it will be annoying and perhaps boring but think how good ull feel when u can pla yem fast in a while...

[Vilesilencer]

With alternate picking I'd simply say "slow the metronome down, stupid!" But sweep picking is a little more nebelous in that it generally is used to play certain shapes very fast. My advice is to practice your licks as slow as necessary for you to play them 100% clean, as well as just blasting through them without a metronome as fast you can while maintaing enough control to satisfy yourself.

[Bongo Boy]

What should I do? persevere with the speed and hope for the best...?I'd say absolutely not. I'm no expert and have never taken lessons, but I believe the answer is given above--as slow as it takes to do it correctly. Jamie Andreas' advice also makes a lot of sense to me: DON'T play in tempo at all, until you can get the physical motions correct. Play in tempo after the notes are articulated correctly, and only then. Just one point-of-view.

[Gandalv]

...that would mean not using your metronome at all and just playing the two notes you are having a problem with. Try placing your finger on the fretboard in different ways, experiment. You need to find a technique that works before you can even consider playing it in time.

[Caffeinated Cat]

If you're getting two notes sounding at the same time, with triplets at 60 bmp, then you are not doing finger rolls.

You need to take a good look at what you're doing and change it. Roll your finger. Take pressure off one string while applying it to the other one.

[Bizarro]

Absolutely learn how to do it w/o the metronome. You need to get the finger rolls down BEFORE the metronome work.

Figure out how to do it first, then work on speeding it up w/ the metronome.

[RG2550]

i agree bizarro
finger rolls has to be learnt without a metronome. the metronome will only make you rush your way forward without learning it properly

[curiousgeorge]

Here's my 2 cents....

The above advice is really good advice, but it also applies to alternate picking, tremolo, fingerpicking, basically any kind of playing. I learned how to fingerpick Dust In The Wind (good right hand warm-up by the way) super slow without a tempo reference and then once I got the whole song under my fingers, I started to play along with the song and also without music but with a metronome to get it clean and to make sure I could hear every note of my guitar. Also, examine your hands, left and right for excessive motion, and if you need to make any position adjustments there etc...Be patient, but most importantly HAVE FUN and RELAX!:)