How to play the "Into the arena" arps?

[Holger Persch]

Hi all,

I would like to know what's your recommendation or preference for playing the famous "Into the arena" arps.

At first I tried to play it with downstrokes only. But now, after working on my AP technique a lot (I'm enjoying Eric's "Paul Gilbert" and Mike Campese's "Artful Picking" articles at the moment), I prefer playing it with AP strictly.

When I first tried AP, I had some trouble because the picking direction changes for every arp. Now I feel more and more comfortable with it and can play it with an acceptable speed.

How would (do) you play it?

Regards,
Holger

[smallbusrider]

are you talking about the keyboard arps in the middle of the song?

[Holger Persch]

No, I'm talking about the arp part played by the guitar (starting at ~04:20 in the second half of the song) in the live version of that song.

[Thorsten]

Hi Holger,

for the "Into The Arena" arp I would use a different approach using AP and hammerons...way easier and you can play it faster...(attachment Into..HammerOn)

If you prefer playing it the original way I´d use this picking pattern (attachment Into...Sweep) using a little sweep motion.

Anyway, good choice! Into...is fun to play!

Beste Grüsse
TK

[smallbusrider]

Well, Holger you just got some great advice by the expert. I have nothing to add! :) Rock On!!

SBR

[Holger Persch]

Thanks for your replies - specially to Thorsten, I will try it your way.

BTW Thorsten, I read on your website about your special playing style (playing lefthanded on a righthand guitar). Thats really interesting, do you merely fret the fingerboard in a "mirrored" way or did you develope a completely own style?

[tadejsusta]

Hi Holger,

for the "Into The Arena" arp I would use a different approach using AP and hammerons...way easier and you can play it faster...(attachment Into..HammerOn)

If you prefer playing it the original way I´d use this picking pattern (attachment Into...Sweep) using a little sweep motion.

Anyway, good choice! Into...is fun to play!

Beste Grüsse
TK

if you ask me i would rather play it like this:

[Thorsten]

Hi Holger,

glad I could help!

Well, about my playing, I basically do both!

I use all the fingerings and technique a righthanded player would use, just in a mirrored kinda way. So that way, you could say I developed my own style.

Check out this article by Eric V. for more info: Shred Talk (http://www.ibreathemusic.com/article/54)

Gruss
TK

[Len H]

I would consider playing this as a 2 string mini-sweep; I am now trying to figure out how to paste the PowerTab in this post. :confused:

[EricV]

Len

In order to add a ptb to your post, you should click the "post reply" button, instead of using the quick reply-option
Once you´re on the reply-page, you can add an attachement... click "Manage Attachement", look for the ptb on your hd, click "Upload", and once it´s uploaded, click "close window".
Once you submit your post, the file is attached to it.
Hope this helps
Eric

NP: Michael Schenker Group - Heavy Hitters

[Len H]

Thanks Eric,

Here is a quick PowerTab example of how to play the first measure of "Into the Arena" arp section with a 2 string pattern. For what it is worth, Schenker plays it on 3 strings.

[Marshallhead]

Just wanted to add my opinion, on this kind of stuff, I'd always go for a down strike sweep on the first two strings, then an upstroke on the highest string to return me to the lowest string again. That way I'm always using an outside picked sequence which avoids hitting unwanted notes on the return from top to bottom string.

And I'd quickly cutoff each note as I fretted it, with a combination of muting from the heel of my picking hand.

I just tried that sequence for the first time, and it's reasonably easy to get it up to the speed of the powertab using this picking.

Thanks for inspiring me to practice it!!!

[Holger Persch]

Hi all,

I just woud like to say I changed playing the arps. I'm playing it no longer using strictly AP but rather using "Down, Down, Up" 3-string sequences.

Thanks all, specially Thorsten and tadejsusta, for your recommendations. As soon as I've got some recording equipment I will post a sound file here.

It's great to be here,
Holger