Speed Mechanics For Lead Guitar

[rbarata]

Hello my friends

I got a book by Troy Stetina called "Speed Mechanics For Lead Guitar" which seems to be great because it has a lot of exercises oriented to finger coordination, flexibility, etc.
But the exercises seem to be too much difficult for my playing level 'cause I got stuck in the first exercise which is playing hammer-on's and pull-off's along the neck.
I will explain the pull-off's, which is the difficult part for me.

Using the four left-hand fingers (f1, f2, f3, f4), you put these in the first 4 frets (F1, F2, F3, F4) => f1 (F1), f2 (F2), f3 (F3), f4 (F4).
Then you pick once and pull-off f4, then f3, then f2 and finally f1. This is easy in the first and second strings but it get more difficult as you go to the other strings, being the most difficult the 6th string.
I find it difficult mostly in the first frets because it's not very ergonomical and you have to do a lot of strength while keep the coordination.

I think this is a basic exercise and I know that I will do it correctly but, probably, it will take more time than learning to play a scale.

Anyone went through this exercise and felt the same difficulties?
I'm just looking for some support and motivation.

[Aloysius]

Yes! As far as I can tell, the vast majority of people who are really good at anything, work really hard to get that way. I haven't really played guitar now for years. I did find however that a picture could tell a thousand words. Videos were the best way to pick up on specific techniques.

When I was interested in Scales and Modes etc . . . I would make up little tunes using the Theory. This way I was able to put the knowledge into practice. To put all of that effort into something musically meaningful.

[rbarata]

In youtube there are a lot of videos about pull-offs but they didn't add any usefull info to help me overcome this. Probably this can only be achieved with time and more practise.

[C00kie]

Why don't you just have fun and play for a while, applying what you know already, instead of browsing through books & tut.videos and making it difficult for yourself?

[rbarata]

Why don't you just have fun and play for a while, applying what you know already, instead of browsing through books & tut.videos and making it difficult for yourself?

Don't get me wrong...my browsing time, comparing with my daily playing practise, is less than 20%. Everyday I play my scales but I felt that was not enough. I was feeling bored so I had to find another set of exercises that would not interfere in my theory learning (to avoid mixing subjects). This book is excelent because it is focused only in the mechanical aspect of playing which is something that I really need to develop.

[kbaccki]

There's no way around it... if you don't have a lot of strength, coordination, independence, etc. in the fingers then it's critical to build up those fundamental elements in order to be successful with guitar (or piano, for that matter ). Lack of calluses on the fingers alone will hold you back quite a bit. I would be concerned with the whole "speed" aspect that you seem to bring up all the time... or maybe that's just the title of that particular exercise book. The important thing at this point is control and consistency (of tone, timing, etc.)... If that means you practice exercises/scales/patterns/whatever at 40BPM for 6 months, then that's what it takes. By keeping things slow and steady not only do you build on the consistency but you also avoid straining your hands/arms/joints beyond your capabilities (i.e., you can physially injure yourself), but you also avoid practicing the wrong things (i.e., you can train your brain to play the wrong things just as easily as the correct things).

For the hammer/pull exercise, what you describe will help to build strength and independence. A variation of that is to pick a slow BPM and play each finger hammer/pull in time for like 1 minute or 2 minutes straight... the key is consistent and clean dynamics and tone. Then do combinations of 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 2-4, 3-4 (never 2-3). For stretching add an extra half step between combos. Another thing that is hard to master is string bends... if you can jump on those early in your learning then you'll be glad you did.

[rbarata]

I would be concerned with the whole "speed" aspect that you seem to bring up all the time... or maybe that's just the title of that particular exercise book. The important thing at this point is control and consistency (of tone, timing, etc.)... If that means you practice exercises/scales/patterns/whatever at 40BPM for 6 months, then that's what it takes. By keeping things slow and steady not only do you build on the consistency but you also avoid straining your hands/arms/joints beyond your capabilities (i.e., you can physially injure yourself), but you also avoid practicing the wrong things (i.e., you can train your brain to play the wrong things just as easily as the correct things).

Altough the title mentions the word "speed", this book aims, first of all, for control and consistency. Just for you to have an idea, in this exercise Troy gives some guide lines and the first of all is to play slow, at a "confortable rhythm on which you can play it correctly. He also mentions the risk of physical damages in your fingers. He says: "If something's becomes painfull, STOP!"

I think this book is very good because it gives some guidance to help you gain and develop your technique which, when it's missing, becomes a block to your evolution. And it's also good when you get bored.

[tenshin111]

Don't worry. It takes lots of time (and patience) to master legato playing.

I've got this book too. You cannot get really stuck on the 1 Exercise. Exercises 1 - 25 are meant as a warm-up and you should practice some of them on a regular basis (not all of them at once in a single practice session!!) For some players they will be fairly easy for others almost difficult to play. But their only intention is to warm you up,

Exercises 1 - 17 focus on legato playing (and to be honest they are not very suitable for beginners)
Exercises 18 - 20 are good for string bending practice
Exercise 21 is about very basic sweep-picking pattern
Exercises 22- 24 combine various techniques

I would suggest using other exercises as a warm up at your level. Just skip what's in this part of the book.

The real 'speed mechanics' training begins with Exercise 25 and this where you should start learning. Always use the metronome, start very slowly (even at 60-65BPM) and try a little bit faster every day. Don't stop on Exercise 25. Try it for 5 minutes. Then Exercise 26 for another 5 minutes. And so on up to Exercise 28. This should become your daily routine for at least 4-6 weeks. When you get familiar and comfortable (i.e. play them @80BPM or better), move on to another group of exercises.

[tenshin111]

If you want to strengthen your hand muscles you can try this weird exercise:

http://www.chopsfromhell.com/guest_santo4.html

Or get yourself something a'la 'powerball' and use it every day. I do it and it helps a little

http://www.powerballs.com/

[rbarata]

I've got this book too. You cannot get really stuck on the 1 Exercise. Exercises 1 - 25 are meant as a warm-up and you should practice some of them on a regular basis (not all of them at once in a single practice session!!) For some players they will be fairly easy for others almost difficult to play. But their only intention is to warm you up,

Usualy I warm up by playing scales up and down, at least those I already know. I suspect that these warm ups are dificult to me because I still haven't found a proper technique. First of all I already know that I must cut my finger nails. This is something that comes with practice, when you feel it's blocking you. The same happen's with the technique...you must find your own with practice.

BTW, what's your oppinion about the book?


You're right when you say that these first exercises are not suitable for beginners.
Why are they in the book right at the beginning?

These guitarrists are crazy people!!!!

[tenshin111]

BTW, what's your oppinion about the book?

Well, there is quite a lot of useful tips and exercises, mostly for alternate picking. I would focus on them and leave out the rest of the book. I think the best advice & exercises you'll find on pages 24 to 33

You're right when you say that these first exercises are not suitable for beginners.
Why are they in the book right at the beginning?

I have no idea

[rbarata]

Good morning my friends

Yesterday I tried this exercise again.... I found two ways to play it. One is to put your fingers almost parallel to the fretboard. When you pull them, you release the strings and make them sound. This works best in the lower strings due to the increased diameter.

The other way, which is more correct in a lot of ways, is to put your fingers perpendicular to the fretboard. I think this is more correct because the strings sound louder..the other way you just release them, this way you really pull them.
But this is more difficult not just because you have to strech your fingers more, but because when you release the string there is a lot of interference between your finger and the next higher string.
I noticed if I put more effort and concentrate in streching the fingers long enough, it becomes easier, although you need some training to strenghten your fingers.

[generalstargazer]

You guys like the Troy Stetina book? I had no idea people used it. I used to hangout with him like 10 years ago at his studio in Milwaukee. Great guy, he recorded my friend's band... sorry for the digression.

[rbarata]

You guys like the Troy Stetina book? I had no idea people used it.

I started to use it now...I'm praticing its first exercise. From what I saw, it's a very practical book with very practical guidance sugestions.

[Guitarslayer]

Anyone who has more tips on how you practice lead guitar? I've been stuck for years now, mainly because I do not find the motivation to practice on my own. I'm thinking about looking for a tutor who can point out my wrongs and rights and give me some concrete exercises to practice on. Anyone who has other suggestions?