I have been playing for around 3 years, I can play loads of songs and solos but anything with any fast parts I struggle getting up to speed. It's like my fingers will go no faster.
Anyone got any good drills to do to work on speed with my fretting hand, picking hand and synchronisation between the two to get my speed up.
As an example, I can play Ace of Spades really well except the solo, I can play it at 80% no issue but can't make that 20% jump as there is one fast lick near the start that I just can't do fast enough.
Thanks
Chris
Comments
Looking at classical musician practice advice I came across a classical guitar lesson that dealt with the initial lesson. It advised on a technique for placing the fingers on the strings, not making any sound, just placing the fingers. The instructor went on to say that should be practiced every day for 3 hours for at least seven days. I went back to my crazy practice method and thank fully it paid off. My picking became more accurate and mistakes decreased so enjoyment and speed increased.
The whole point is the brain has to be trained to know where everything is accurately for any physical activity and this starts with conscious effort. Tying your shoelaces is a good example. Really hard as a kid requiring lots of effort. Instinctive in later life.
However, at a certain point the conscious approach has to be abandoned as the body does these things best instinctively. Once I reach a level of playing with any single exercise I realise now I have to move from thinking about what my hands are doing and let them get on with it as I did when I was originally stuck.
Looking back, my problem boiled down to trying to learn how to play songs rather than learning how to play guitar.
One important thing I discovered is that peoples hands are not the same. Some people have tendons connected in one way, 30% will have a different connection. Some people have tendons joined as they run through the carpal tunnel limiting independent finger movement but increasing overall strength, others don't. The variations are considerable. The upshot of this research was advice to piano players that some exercises that benefit one group of players can harm others. The example given was with a hand flat on a surface trying to raise the third finger independently to the same height the rest could achieve individually. This was good for developing independent movement in most cases but about 20% risked tearing tendons linked in a certain way.
If it hurts, STOP. Just because someone else can do it doesn't mean you can. Those connected/disconnected tendons may mean you have a natural ability in one area but limitations in another.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.