Finger Speed

[The Pecker]

Hi everybody. Lately I've been listening and studying Eruption by Van Halen. An old classic but one that still amazes me everytime I hear it. Anyways, by studying bits and pieces of the song I've been able to learn different techiques. Such as the tapping bit at the end of the song and the extremely fast picking towards the beginning of the song. There are many other aspects of the tune but too many to list off. Anyways, I've noticed that the bit starting at 0:45 is EXTREMELY FAST. For me anyways, since I may not be such of an experienced player. I have learned the last tapping section and can play it fluently. But the speed of this section I am amazed of. I have become aware that this is not a speed techique I'm not going to pick up overnight, although I am a fast learner. Anyways, does anybody have any tips on how to play this fast? Or is it just extreme speed built up over experience from this truly amazing guitar player? Thanks...

[metaljustice83]

practice slow then work your way up. Practicing slowly will get the lick under your fingers. Then very slowly increasing the speed so slightly that you don't even notice it will help immensly.

[The Pecker]

Thanks very much for the tip. I was thinking thats what I was gonna end up having to do but I was just wondering if there was any way to catch on a litte faster. Its gotta take a long a long time to be able to build up so much speed without practicing the lick by itself. Also the beginning lick off the second solo in Mr. Crowley. What a great piece by Randy. He was so amazing. I guess it will just take alot of practice... Thanks though...

[curiousgeorge]

If you do the 6 minute trill workout a couple of times a day every day, you will gain lots of frethand strength, speed, and stamina.

[Springbok]

Some advice I would like to give is this. Dont concentrate on finger speed, but on note timing. There are a lot of people that I have seen that when they try to play fast they try to move thier fingers faster than me, however it sounds slower because they are not timing their notes properly. Its like Yngwie said once, his fingers dont move that fast, he just times his runs so that they sound faster then they actually are, thats not to say that he is slow. Simply something for you to think about.


Finger speed comes from confidence and familiarity with the fretboad. Something I used to do was just shred through a scale randomly trying out new licks n stuff, i became even faster through familiarity with the guitar, plus it added an air of unpredictability to my playing. Its not as far away as it may seem. I hope this helps you dude. So be patient, be slow, this is how you shall grow, but now its time for me to go.

;)

[debaser]

Some advice I would like to give is this. Dont concentrate on finger speed, but on note timing. There are a lot of people that I have seen that when they try to play fast they try to move thier fingers faster than me, however it sounds slower because they are not timing their notes properly. Its like Yngwie said once, his fingers dont move that fast, he just times his runs so that they sound faster then they actually are, thats not to say that he is slow. Simply something for you to think about.

;)

I'm trying to understand what you're saying here, but I can't decide if you're referring to rhythmic groupings or synchronization. Care to clarify?

[The Pecker]

Well thanks for the tips. Just recently I have been practicing that and other solos with a metronome. It helps alot. Especially on the Crazy Train solo which completely changes speeds more than a few times. Tough to get that timing down... A 6 minute trill workout huh? Ive never heard of that... I'll have to try it. Also just working slow and making sure to correctly hit the notes without trying to recklessy go fast does help. I used to do it but now that Ive matured a little I figured out some stuff here and there. Thanks for the replies guys...

[Reckless]

If you do the 6 minute trill workout a couple of times a day every day, you will gain lots of frethand strength, speed, and stamina.
Could you go into a bit more detail on the 6 minute trill?

[curiousgeorge]

Check out the threads in this link. You're sure to be appeased. :cool:

http://www.ibreathemusic.com/forums/search.php?searchid=81702

[axe_man_oli]

What I use to build my strength is chromatics and different variations. I basically make sure I do a solid hour of chromatics every day to keep my fingers strong and flexible, I also do an hour a day of chromatic variation. Which uses a pattern which winds its way up and down the fretboard taking in a lot of different finger and movement combinations helping tremendously with dexterity and synchronisation. If you want to check out some good variations and excellent chop building exercises, check out the powertab of Steve Vai's 10 hour guitar workout over at powertab. It would help a great deal to just take a couple of those exercises and do em for an hour each with 5 min rests every ten minutes to stretch your wrists and fingers to stop you hurting yourself.

Also, practice with your thumb on the middle of the neck, use your thumb tip on the centre of the back of the neck to allow your fingers to come straight down onto the frets and allowing you to use your fingertips. At first, it will be slightly harder because of the extra strength required, but if you stretch properly and do a few hours a day, in a few weeks you WILL be flying all over in a very clean and precise way. Using finger tips for a few weeks will make your left hand work effortless, and your legato will sound so crisp and perfect you'll want to show it to everyone.

[The Pecker]

Yet again guys, thanks for the tips. It sounds like playing with your thumb on the center of the neck is an intresting proposition. I will have to try it out. Same with that Steve Vai 10 hour workout you were talking about. Where can I find that? I know you said it was at Powertab (which I have never been to before), but when I went there it seemed to be shut down. Thanks...

[axe_man_oli]

Its www.powertabs.net (http://www.powertabs.net) and its awesome. Go under the search for Vai as an artist and then look at the workout. To view the files you will need to unzip them (unless you register) and you will need to have downloaded the powertab program found here : www.power-tab.net (http://www.power-tab.net)

Once you open the files with this program you can play the whole tab with the click of the button so you know how it will sound when you have it fully learned.

I recommend using a metronome to go through the first exercises of the workout for now. Which is basically just chromatics. Do the first exercise at 16th notes at about 60 BPM. Do it for 10 minutes and then break for 5 to stretch and massage your wrists and fingers (do this before you start as well as playing to warm up). Do this 10 - 5 minute thing for an hour on the exercise. Do this everyday for a week, so you will be doing an hour of solid technique work a day. Then on the monday of the next week, step the metronome up about 10 bpm and repeat exactly the same. Then every two weeks, add in the next exercise working on it in the same way so eventually after 6 weeks you'll be doing at least 3 hours a night of solid work on your picking. So long as you follow this pretty tight and you make sure to keep your left hand straight and rest when it starts to feel painful at all, in a few weeks your finger and picking work will be much faster, much more relaxed and 5 times easier in general to do. In a year from starting this exercise, your chops will be blazing. A very similar kind of structure is what made Vai what he is now. Also make sure to improvise about and learn other songs aswell to keep your ear and hands learning new licks and riffs to make you better as a musician.

You can change this workout however you like but this suits me very well. I hate practice, but because I only do it for 10 mins and then rest, I can focus really well on my exercise when I do it. I hope that in the summer I can get up to about 6 of the chop exercises in and also play for about 4 hours in different aspects of guitar meaning I will be doing a 10 hour workout. :D

Hope this rambling helps :D