Guitar World Mag. - Alternate picking series.

[papersoul]

Anyone been following the latest Alternate picking series in Guitar World? It is a four part series that I assume is over four consecutive issues.
I have the November issue and it is very good. However, I probably could have come up with the exercises on my own with a little time. With that in mind, I am wondering if I should skip the next part. I already have a Paul Gilbert DVD which is loaded with alternate picking exercises.

Has anyone seen the latest December issues which I assume has part three? In our local Borders Books, the mag is in a plastic wrapper so I didn't bother trying to tear it open to find out. I am curious if this issue contains part 3 and if it is worth the price?
Thanks!

[papersoul]

bump

[papersoul]

one more bump if anyone has seen the article.

[Zero G]

Is it called "How To Play Fast"? I recall a series of articles years ago in GW with that title, and a lot of it was alternate picking. For alternate picking chops, I haven't found anything better than Troy Stetina's book "Speed Mechanics for Lead Guitar". I progressed faster using the exercises from that book than I did from Intense Rock I and II.

[papersoul]

Is it called "How To Play Fast"? I recall a series of articles years ago in GW with that title, and a lot of it was alternate picking. For alternate picking chops, I haven't found anything better than Troy Stetina's book "Speed Mechanics for Lead Guitar". I progressed faster using the exercises from that book than I did from Intense Rock I and II.

Does he have a video too? Does that book still exist?

[Zero G]

Does he have a video too? Does that book still exist?

I don't think he has any videos, but Speed Mechanics is still widely available:

http://www.amazon.com/Speed-Mechanics-Lead-Guitar-Stetina/dp/0793509629

I don't think videos really help with technique that much anyways, as far as the visual component goes. There are a couple of key things I have found are good things to keep in mind...1. Get your movements as efficient as possible moving linearly along one string before moving on to crossing strings 2. Every lick that you start with a downstroke, make sure to practice on it an equal amount of time starting with an upstroke. A lot of this stuff is covered in Speed Mechanics, which is considered one of the best alternate picking resources in addition to Gilbert's stuff. The only thing about SM is that the licks are not divided up into individual tracks, but you can import the CD into a music editing program and divide them up that way (if you have the patience!) :dude

[jazzandmetal?]

Is it called "How To Play Fast"? I recall a series of articles years ago in GW with that title, and a lot of it was alternate picking. For alternate picking chops, I haven't found anything better than Troy Stetina's book "Speed Mechanics for Lead Guitar". I progressed faster using the exercises from that book than I did from Intense Rock I and II.

Great, great book!:aok

[papersoul]

Thanks! When I tried to get it years ago, they said it was out of print.

[papersoul]

So, I guess nobody has gotten this issue.

[Mita]

It was originally in Guitar Techniques Mag. Ever since Guitar World has been acquired by Future Publishing some articles pop up.
Part three shows how to play scales across six strings ( Gilbert, Malmsteen).
I can't tell you if you should skip or not , though :-)

Best

Mita

[buddastrat]

I don't think he has any videos, but Speed Mechanics is still widely available:

http://www.amazon.com/Speed-Mechanics-Lead-Guitar-Stetina/dp/0793509629

I don't think videos really help with technique that much anyways, as far as the visual component goes. There are a couple of key things I have found are good things to keep in mind...1. Get your movements as efficient as possible moving linearly along one string before moving on to crossing strings 2. Every lick that you start with a downstroke, make sure to practice on it an equal amount of time starting with an upstroke. A lot of this stuff is covered in Speed Mechanics, which is considered one of the best alternate picking resources in addition to Gilbert's stuff. The only thing about SM is that the licks are not divided up into individual tracks, but you can import the CD into a music editing program and divide them up that way (if you have the patience!) :dude

I think video help immensely. Seeing it done can break down the mental and physical barriers. Even just watching yourself in a mirror can do wonderful things towards relaxing your technique. It's helped me more than sitting with a metronome.


I do agree that some guys do follow that philosophy though, like Morse and Petrucci and purposely practice it both ways. And it's very good when you're learning to figure that out, but when you get to advanced stages, I'd wager most great players don't follow "equal time to start on the opposite stroke" excercise. They find one way and execute it, onlyl caring about the final result. Since Paul was brought up, he's demonstrated with an example in a video, and showed that it would be incredibly difficult if you were to pick the opposite way, and he couldn't do it real well. He went on and said, his philosophy is to find the easiest way to execute a lick and practice it that way, so you can play it consistently. If you notice, his signature licks like the muted chainsaws or string skipping arpeggios are always performed the same way as far as his right hand goes. He'd never reverse the strokes, and he always plays similar lines that allow his right hand to do those familar moves and not do something backwards. Yngwie does the same thing. One way execution for his main stuff.

Another example that comes to mine is all the cool string jumping, rapid fire pull off stuff EVH did on the first album. With a student last week, he was trying to play early open string repetitive pull off lick out in Eruption and couldn't do it, over and over. We looked at his picking and changed his strokes to the right way and he got it immediately. Or a lot of Eric Johnson's quick, pentatonic runs he always executes the same, because it falls into those nice 4-5 or 6 note patterns he does. His lines would be impossible to perform at that level starting with the opposite stroke as you'd be moving away from the string much of the time. It'd be a waste to practice like that and you might end de-programming that fast twitch response.

[Zero G]

I do agree that some guys do follow that philosophy though, like Morse and Petrucci and purposely practice it both ways. And it's very good when you're learning to figure that out, but when you get to advanced stages, I'd wager most great players don't follow "equal time to start on the opposite stroke" excercise.

When you have developed a solid and efficient picking technique, of course not. My recommendation (along with Gilbert's, Petrucci's, Morse's, Stetina's, Tremonti's etc, etc) is for players who are in the process developing their alternate picking technique, as it's purpose is to even out your inside and outside picking. It works!


Another example that comes to mine is all the cool string jumping, rapid fire pull off stuff EVH did on the first album. With a student last week, he was trying to play early open string repetitive pull off lick out in Eruption and couldn't do it, over and over. We looked at his picking and changed his strokes to the right way and he got it immediately. Or a lot of Eric Johnson's quick, pentatonic runs he always executes the same, because it falls into those nice 4-5 or 6 note patterns he does. His lines would be impossible to perform at that level starting with the opposite stroke as you'd be moving away from the string much of the time. It'd be a waste to practice like that and you might end de-programming that fast twitch response.

I was referring to practicing alternate picking technique...How do EVH's pull-offs have anything to do with that? In regards to your Eric Johnson comments, I don't think it would be a waste at all. Trying to pick things different ways helps one discover what works and what doesn't work for them. Also, fast twitch response has nothing to do with it.

[buddastrat]

When you have developed a solid and efficient picking technique, of course not. My recommendation (along with Gilbert's, Petrucci's, Morse's, Stetina's, Tremonti's etc, etc) is for players who are in the process developing their alternate picking technique, as it's purpose is to even out your inside and outside picking. It works!



I was referring to practicing alternate picking technique...How do EVH's pull-offs have anything to do with that? In regards to your Eric Johnson comments, I don't think it would be a waste at all. Trying to pick things different ways helps one discover what works and what doesn't work for them. Also, fast twitch response has nothing to do with it.

First off, I said initially, it's good when you're starting off to practice like that but that most really good players don't when they get more advanced. They tend to stick with an exact way to perform a particular lick. The EVH lick I'm talking about has string jump/picking and trips a lot of guys, even shredders up because of the way they programmed their playing. The concept I'm speaking of, is the same whether it's alt. picking or EVH lick or an EJ thing. Sometimes you can think too much.

Trying things out to discover what works, is exactly what I'm advocating, and once you find that way..THE way, that works, practice your butt off. That way.

[papersoul]

First off, I said initially, it's good when you're starting off to practice like that but that most really good players don't when they get more advanced. They tend to stick with an exact way to perform a particular lick. The EVH lick I'm talking about has string jump/picking and trips a lot of guys, even shredders up because of the way they programmed their playing. The concept I'm speaking of, is the same whether it's alt. picking or EVH lick or an EJ thing. Sometimes you can think too much.

Trying things out to discover what works, is exactly what I'm advocating, and once you find that way..THE way, that works, practice your butt off. That way.

Exactly, for example....I have already learned for me it is easier to start a descending 3 note per string run with an upstroke for example.

[jazzandmetal?]

Exactly, for example....I have already learned for me it is easier to start a descending 3 note per string run with an upstroke for example.

That is the easiest way for economy picking. But for some it is just as easy when alternate picking to start with a down stroke on that type of run because going to the next string continues the alternating pattern.

[papersoul]

That is the easiest way for economy picking. But for some it is just as easy when alternate picking to start with a down stroke on that type of run because going to the next string continues the alternating pattern.

No, I am not using economy picking with this. It is the exact opposite of doing a three note per line run ascending starting on the upstroke. Reverse that and start on the down stroke when descending....all alternate picking...no economy. I find it makes string skipping easier this way because I keep the alternate picking going.

[buddastrat]

Yeah definitely different strokes for different folks. Figure it out your way and go with it. So many of the really great guys do stuff like this and stumbled on a certain way or thing and devleoped tons of licks around that one initial lick or technique, and they get a cool signature sound and style from it. They usually don't play by the book, and don't sound "practiced" either, and that's kinda what I'm saying, but maybe getting off topic. Sorry.

[jazzandmetal?]

No, I am not using economy picking with this. It is the exact opposite of doing a three note per line run ascending starting on the upstroke. Reverse that and start on the down stroke when descending....all alternate picking...no economy. I find it makes string skipping easier this way because I keep the alternate picking going.

Duh. I wasn't really thinking about that before I typed it.:jo

Starting on an upstroke in that type of run is easier all the way around.

[papersoul]

Duh. I wasn't really thinking about that before I typed it.:jo

Starting on an upstroke in that type of run is easier all the way around.

Exactly.....I prefer downstroke on ascending if a three note per string run and starting on the upstroke descending three note per string. Once you start mixing how many notes per string, it gets messy, LOL. That is why I try to compose solos for our songs. I am not a huge improviser but maybe someday I'll be better.

[SvenHock]

They are really great articles you speak of in Guitar World. I started working on them when they first came out in Guitar Techniques. I have learned loads from them.

[papersoul]

So maybe I'll just pick up the magazine.

Anyone try the Hanson - "Shred guitar" book?

A good friend told me the Michael Angelo Batio DVDs are very good for building chops.

[papersoul]

I guess my point is......why should I buy this magazine for the article if I can essentially learn the same and build the same in the way of chops from using the Speed Mechanics book, other online articles and videos? It is kind of overwhleming having so many resources at times.

[Ribar]

Like you i only have the first two GW mags and have been working on the triplets exclusivly trying to build as much speed on that before i move on to somthing else. I am not sure if will be picking up the one thats out now, simply because i am still working the exercise from the first part, and second part is two strings so that will keep me busy for a while. I feel like once you learn how to play on two strings fast the rest will fall easy.

[papersoul]

Like you i only have the first two GW mags and have been working on the triplets exclusivly trying to build as much speed on that before i move on to somthing else. I am not sure if will be picking up the one thats out now, simply because i am still working the exercise from the first part, and second part is two strings so that will keep me busy for a while. I feel like once you learn how to play on two strings fast the rest will fall easy.

I don't have the first...only second. But there is so much out there! Go to InsaneGuitar.com and look at his alt picking exercise! With that and the Troy Sttina book...I should be cool...I guess. I might get it though.