The Need for Speed

Click on the lesson number below to view the respective lesson in this five part series by Judy Letostak.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

The Need for Speed Part 6
letostak@ix.netcom.com (Judy Letostak)
For all the tab and lessons that I've done, visit:
http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/agnetha/59/index.html
or (San Diego, CA)
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=========================================
| Do NOT send or archive this to olga...|
=========================================

You can post this on your web, ftp, bbs whatever, without permission.
leave all the x-tra text in there pls.

This is #6 (and final) in a series about technique and shredding.  
The first five lessons are available on my web page...

""""""""""""""""""""""""
$$$$Double Picking$$$$$$
ssssssssssssssssssssssss

Double picking is where each note is picked twice.  Or you can
use triple picking, quad picking etc.,  This is a pretty neat
thing actually (use it sparingly tho).  Alternate picking.
Use a metronome.

-12-12--15-15-----------------------------------------------
---------------12-12--15-15---------------------------------
-----------------------------12-12--14-14-------------------
-------------------------------------------12-12--14-14-----
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------


------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
-12-12--14-14-----------------
---------------12-12--15-15---





D Maj Arp
-----------------------2-2----------------------------------
------------------3-3-------3-3-----------------------------
-------------2-2-----------------2-2------------------------
--------4-4---------------------------4-4-------------------
---5-5-------------------------------------5-5--------------
------------------------------------------------------------


For triple and quad picking just use three or four notes instead
of just two.  If you can get this right, you can make it sound like
you're using a delay pedal when you're really not.  You can also get
this effect with a delay pedal, but work on it this way first.

count=one and a (triplets)
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------2-2-2--------
-------2-2-2-------4-4-4--2-2-2--5-5-5--4-4-4---------5-5-5-
-3-3-3-------5-5-5------------------------------------------


------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------2-2-2---------4-4-4--2-2-2---
---4-4-4--2-2-2--5-5-5--4-4-4---------5-5-5-----------------
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
etc...

Try that with 4 notes.


""""""""""""""""""""""""
$$$$  Palm Muting $$$$$$
ssssssssssssssssssssssss

Muting the string is a handy thing to know how to do.  It will
kill a note when you want it to (to prevent unwanted ringing)
or to make a lick sound more staccato.  You can get that classic
"Iron Maiden" rhythms going with it...Metallica uses it frequently
also.  

The trick is to rest the palm of your right hand on the bridge.  Not
too heavy or you'll bend the notes sharp.  With the part of your hand
just below your pinky finger, rest that on the strings lightly.  You
have to get the hang of it....But don't push down, rest the hand
lightly.
Make sure you have freedom of movement with your pick.  Relax, don't
fight it, you'll get the hang of it eventually.  Now, pick a series
of notes like this:



-------------------------------------------------5--7--8----
----------------------------------------5--7--8-------------
-------------------------------4--5--7----------------------
--------------------2--4--5/7-------------------------------
-----------2--3--5------------------------------------------
--2--3--5---------------------------------------------------

This is just a G Major scale....Try and mute every string except
for the slide.  It takes a while...Once you get the hang of that,
you can mute certain notes more than others by using more pressure
with your right hand.  It takes a bit of practice....
Muting sounds really cool on the bottom three strings.  If you
play a sequence like this:



------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------12-
---------------------12------12--14--12--14--15--14--15-----
-12--14--15--14--15------15---------------------------------


------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
---------12--14------12--14~--------------------------------
-14--15----------15-----------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
Suggested listening for palm muters:
Al DiMeola (The god of palm muting)


Bending Notes:

I realize this really has nothing to do with speed.  But quite
a few guitarist lack Bending and Vibrato in their playing.  Bending
a note adds flavor to your licks. (Vibrato is next).  I used to
always bend my notes either flat or sharp...I'm sure a lot of
ppl do this...I did this exercise for a while to help me "hear"
where the note should be bent to. 

Strike the D note on the 15th fret of the B string, listen to the 
note and then:

-------------------
------13b(15)------
-------------------
-------------------
-------------------
-------------------

bend the C to a D (whole step).  Remember the D note...and as you
bend "find" that D...Do this for all half, whole, 1 1/2 and 2 bends.
All of them actually.  This is a pretty good exercise, your bends will
improve.  

Vibrato on a bent note is a touchy subject.  You don't want to overdo
the vibrato on a bend, it'll sound strange.  Add a light vibrato to
a bent note...save the wide vibrato for unbent notes :)


Vibrato:


----------------
--------15~-----
----------------
----------------
----------------
----------------
The ~ is a sign for vibrato...which type you use is up to you...but
USE VIBRATO in your playing...It's boring without.  It's like listening
to a vocalist that doesn't use vibrato...snore....zzzzzz


Finger Vibrato:  Finger vibrato requires moving one or more fingers 
perpendicular to the string while the hand remains stationary.  
Finger vibrato is a good way to bring out a melody that is not the 
highest note of the chord.  (Not used often).

Whole-Hand Vibrato:  Uses the entire hand, without a pivot point.
The hand just moves up and down (perpendicular to the neck), sometimes
with the thumb supporting on the neck.  

I'm going to stop here for a sec...This is a popular way to do vibrato.
think of shaking the note....You also want to figure out "how" to add
vibrato to the note.  Here's the way I do it.

Hit the note, then add vibrato slowly (make sure the note rings out for 
about a second), slowly shake the string, widening out the note and 
increase the speed of the vibrato.  You can keep the slow shake, it
depends on how you want the note to sound...experiment.

Classical Vibrato:  Works best on nylon strings.  Instead of shaking
"ground to sky" shake parallel with the neck.

--------------------------------
-----<===5===>-shake that way---
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
--------------------------------

Mostly used with classical musicians (violin especially).


Arm Vibrato:  Your finger, hand and wrist are held rigid, with your
thumb
clear of the neck.  The vibrato comes from an overly fast up and down
movement at the elbow.  It's hard to control (not recommended).


Stevie Ray Vaughan, BB King and Yngwie Malmsteen (IMHO) have the best
vibrato....

You can use vibrato with chords too...I use it, I have really 
strong and very big hands. [With 11 gauge strings I'd better have
strong hands :) ]  

-------------
-------------
-----2~------
-----1~------
-----2~------root note
-------------
Make sure you have a good grip on the neck...If you can't do it 
at the first fret, move the chord (it's a Dominant 7 chord)
up the neck to say the 7th fret.  It should be much easier there.
Be careful (again) how much vibrato you put on a chord.  You don't want
to make it go weird on you.



Speed for thought

One thing you must remember, you must learn to walk before you can
run.  Meaning if you can't play slow and clean, forget about playing
fast.  I've heard a lot of players that play really fast, but they're
sloppy as hell....Kinda makes this all pointless!

When you start your daily practicing, start off slow, don't try to
play fast, you'll only cause injury to your hands and arms.

Always use a metronome.  It not only tells you what you're doing
but it also enables you to measure precisely the increases you make.

When you've played a bit, increase your speed when you feel comforatable
with what you're doing.  If it's too much, bring it down some.  Always
increase your speed gradually, don't jump too high.  Some days you
might have more problems than others...that's natural, don't get
discouraged....Remember, Relax, and play clean....

This will be the last in the Speed series.  If you've become bored,
check out the Theory Application lessons for more stuff to work on.
Remember, knowledge is power....



Typed up using WordPad (Cencorship is Unconstitutional support
free speech!)

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===========================================================
h = hammeron                          ps = pick scrape
p = pulloff                           % = repeat phrase
~ = vibrato                           letostak@ix.netcom.com
b = bend                              + natural harmonic
/\ = Slide                            tr = trill
* = Artificial Harmonic               x = ghost note
t = tap note w/right hand             w/bar = with bar
===========================================================
http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/agnetha/59/index.html




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