8 Ways To Speed Pick On Guitar Faster & With Better Consistency Than Anyone Else
Playing with lightning-fast speed picking guitar technique
demands attention from anyone listening. Being able to play with consistent and fast picking technique is
a skill that many guitarists lack without even knowing it.
Speed Picking Mastery Test: How long are you able to speed pick a single note at a very fast rate with perfect consistency (without wavering)? Test yourself right now by starting a timer or counting in your head to see how long you last.
A good goal to have for this test is being able to speed pick very fast with perfect consistency for 10 seconds without stopping. If you are already able to reach this goal, great!
Now, use the speed picking practice tips below to
·
Increase your ability to speed pick longer
·
Speed pick at a faster rate
· Play higher-quality notes with better consistency while speed picking
Speed Picking Practice Tip #1: Make Sure You Are Using Efficient Speed Picking Technique
Fast picking technique does not come from simply moving your picking hand quickly. It comes from using efficient motion that minimizes the amount of time between each pick stroke.
The best picking technique for guitar not only uses efficient motion, but locks your hands together to make playing fast feel smooth and effortless.
This video shows you how to do it:Speed Picking Practice Tip #2: Make Your Speed Picking More Consistent Using Sudden Burst Training
Training yourself to speed pick at your max speed continually for longer amounts of time helps you become more consistent. However, you train your speed picking for instant speed in any soloing situation by playing in short sudden bursts with brief silence in between each one.
For example: Fret any note and speed pick it as fast as you can for no more than one second. Then rest for a second and repeat.
This concept is easily expanded to include bigger patterns such as sweep picking arpeggios, as shown in the video below:Additionally, speed picking can be applied to the notes of the arpeggio in this video.
Alternating between sweeping the arpeggio and playing each
note with tremolo picking is a killer way to improve your playing in multiple
areas at once.
Speed Picking Practice Tip #3: Make Speed Picking Easier Using A Thicker Pick
Thick picks make speed picking much easier than using a thin one because they slice through the string faster. A thinner pick stays in contact with the string longer because it bends slightly, making your technique less efficient.
To find heavier guitar picks, look for picks that are sized
at .80mm and higher.
Speed Picking Practice Tip #4: Make Your Notes More High-Quality Using More Power
Picking strings with more power articulates the notes better. This makes the notes sound clearer/louder. It also forces you to use excellent technique by not allowing the pick to drag across the strings (wasting motion and slowing you down in the process).
This video demonstrates the difference it makes for your playing when you pick with more power:Speed Picking Practice Tip #5: Challenge Your Pick Attack Frequently By Playing At Extreme Parts Of The Fretboard
It’s more difficult to speed pick while fretting the 24th fret of the high E string than it is to pick the 5th fret of the high E string. This is because there is more tension in the string and it requires more precise picking.
Speed picking the open low E string is also more challenging due to the string’s size and the fact that your hand cannot sit on any lower strings as you pick.
Spend extra time picking at the highest and lowest frets to
use this to give yourself a more versatile speed picking attack.
Speed Picking Practice Tip #6: Make Your Pick Attack More Precise & Consistent Using Rhythmic Training
Most people speed pick without thinking about the individual picking motions themselves. Challenging yourself to speed pick in specific rhythmic patterns improves your ability to process notes at faster speeds and articulate the strings better.
Try this by picking in sequences of 3, 4, 5 or 7 and
articulating the first note of each sequence with a heavier pick attack.
There are often inconsistencies in your pick attack that occur only when you play at tempos you aren’t used to. A great way to find and fix this is by speed picking at a very slow tempo, then gradually speeding up to your max speed (and back down again).
Speed Picking Practice Tip #8: See How
Long You Can Speed Pick Without Making A Mistake (Daily)
Being able to speed pick without wavering for a long time is the sign of solid technique.
Test yourself using the test at the beginning of this article on a daily basis. See how long you are able to speed pick without making a mistake. Do this 3-5 times to get your max speed and see if you can beat it the next day.
Now you have the information needed to speed pick better than anyone else! However, this is just one piece of the puzzle for your overall guitar speed. Learn how to improve all areas of your guitar speed while practicing less time using this shred guitar eBook.