Guitarists always ask me how to play guitar fast? My answer on the techniques was strange. I explained that the guitar techniques used are based on Martial Arts Philosophy, much like Karate or Tai-Chi.
You have to analyze the finger mechanics. To develop speed skills, a guitarist needs to study the motion of a dragonfly! Then it is easier to play guitar fast. How does understanding a dragonfly help? Learn to hover over the strings and imagine dipping onto them like a dragonfly drinks water. The initial exercises are difficult because it is hard for the fingers and mind to relax.
There must be no back pain to distract the attention, no psychic displacement into the body muscles, no tensing of the sinews, just pure energy from mind to the tip of the pick. Use tremelo strokes and shiver like a mandolin or bouzouki player until all the up and down strokes sound equal in attack, tone and volume.
Once the right hand is delivering Tremelo at Demi Semi Quaver speed in an even constant stream, try to make the left hand fingers, 3 notes per string, synchronise with the right hand, without changing the speed of the tremelo technique.
By not altering the right hand speed, the left hand will eventually catch up and you will get moments of total left and right hand synchronisation. Sort of like sculpting from the outside in! Messy to clean. For fast right hand rhythm, start by learning the simplest and easiest guitar chords, then practise reading drum rhythms with the right hand. How do you play guitar fast rhythmically? Learn to articulate guitar chords perfect on the left hand first.
How do you play guitar fast solowise? Remember that speed kills, so put Speed, Technique & Chromaticism into perspective. They are best used for effect as Embellishments. To many guitar players are technicians instead of musicians. Clarity and definition of sound is crucial to the listener. Professionalism comes with time, practise and dedication. How do you play guitar fast? The slower your mind moves, the more you perceive!
A Dragonfly makes precise and few movements to get its water, but the speed of its wings appear stationary to the human eye. Rather than pretend you can get speed technique from a Video, YouTube or a Website, please listen to the above 4 tracks. At least you can hear that I can pracise what I preach. The real result would be achieved on a one to one basis unless, you want to waste 10 or 15 years learning the wrong way!
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