Guitar Issue Building Speed

[Mark Stein]

Hello.
I am not new to guitar, but my learning was unorthodox.
I learned mostly by myself, as teachers tended to keep me "stuck".
Once I found a good teacher he sadly quit after a year.
I started learning via tabs mostly, and watching videos of "how to" on techniques.
However, after many years of playing, I hate to admit I'm not where I want to be with my playing.
Most metal solos and complicated rhythms (complex string skipping for example) I am unable to play.
I tried following many online guitar teachers (Bernth, Paul Davids etc) and tried practicing more "hardcore" style.
I however noticed even months of grinding different exercises 3-4 hours a day using a metronome, my speed didn't go anywhere after a week.
I tried different exercises, different styles, taking a break once in a while.
How do you get past the plateau ?
Any suggestion would be much appreciated.
Sorry for the long post.

 

[REckhardt695]

My advice, slow down. Seriously, meticulously go through everything, how you hold the instrument, your posture, how you hold the pick, how it feels to play an open note, if you like the tone of that note, how you place your hand on the fretboard, etc. Go through everything at a painstakingly slow speed and fix any small error or awkward thing you do in your technique. It is likely that you just built a small bad habit at some point that is inhibiting you from playing better, and that would explain why drilling something for hours every day is not resulting in what you want. Also, two things on this point. Be careful how long you are drilling fast paced exercises. With even slightly bad technique, you run the risk of injuring yourself by doing this repetitively every day. Also, don't treat the guitar like a gym workout, it is a musical instrument. You should be playing music for far longer or at least just as much as you are doing exercises. That can be anything from learning songs by ear, playing along to jam tracks, improvising over standards, writing your own music, reading chord charts, the sky is the limit. It doesn't matter how fast you can pick any particular exercise if you don't have a great musical sense along side it. Last thing, please keep searching for a great teacher. You will progress and have a much more enjoyable time with the guitar and music if you find a teacher instead of endlessly searching YouTube for the keys to being a great guitarist. It just takes time, but you have to enjoy the whole journey. Just my 2 cents!

 

[RoaringRowanThunderBender]

Hi Mark! It’s nice to meet you! I am someone who definitely understands these struggles. I was going to say metronome and working your speed up is usually the best way to go, etc, but I see you have already mentioned trying that.

So, I’ll share something I’ve been doing. I’ve been doing exercises called “spiders” to increase my finger strengths and encourage independence between my fingers. I know you mentioned exercises…but I’m not sure if you meant these, etc. I’m only beginner-intermediate, I guess. Don’t be afraid to start back at basics if you have to and work back up! It’s more than ok. I’ve found it beneficial to do so myself. Especially, for example, my finger positioning. Especially my thumb. I think in your case, it may be beneficial to be patient with yourself and don’t get discouraged! Some things just honestly also take a little time, no matter how hard we try! I know you’ll get it! And I am sure you’re already awesome!

 

[Ed Seith]

Hello.
I am not new to guitar, but my learning was unorthodox.
I learned mostly by myself, as teachers tended to keep me "stuck".
Once I found a good teacher he sadly quit after a year.
I started learning via tabs mostly, and watching videos of "how to" on techniques.
However, after many years of playing, I hate to admit I'm not where I want to be with my playing.
Most metal solos and complicated rhythms (complex string skipping for example) I am unable to play.
I tried following many online guitar teachers (Bernth, Paul Davids etc) and tried practicing more "hardcore" style.
I however noticed even months of grinding different exercises 3-4 hours a day using a metronome, my speed didn't go anywhere after a week.
I tried different exercises, different styles, taking a break once in a while.
How do you get past the plateau ?
Any suggestion would be much appreciated.
Sorry for the long post.

Hi Mark, I am your people. I've been playing since the early to mid 1980s, and while I found a cheater method that has gotten me a lot of gigs and compliments, any time I would hunker down to really get my synchronization in order, build proper speed, learn proper sweeping, etc, I always hit a wall very quickly.

I too heard the "slow down" mantra, and it never seemed to work, and I could never quite figure out why. Then a few years ago, a bizarre latent brain injury started contracting muscles, specifically in the upperr arm, shoulder and neck area. It made my playing a million times worse, but eventually I got it under control.

I tell you this because of what I learned from it.

The "slow down" is multi-purpose. First, yes, it's about syncing up movements, but second, more important, and the bit I never could get? It's about relaxation.

Both hands, up to the elbows, up to the shoulders, and into the neck. Until you can play that scale or pattern at tempo X without the slightest hint of muscle contraction, you can't increase the speed. I mean, a bit, yeah, but the goal is not just about the synchronization, it's also about getting each movement of pick and finger relaxed and fluid.

Try it.