Shredding

[Pig17]

Is there some sort of secret to getting this down pat? I have been playing for 4 years and still can't get my pick and fingers to move that fast at the same time. What am I doing wrong?

[chr35919]

personally, i believe it lies in using your wrist, not your forearm or hand as much to strum/pick. also, important is maintaining the counterbalance between your right forearm anchor and your left thumb pushing the guitar up --- how you hold the guitar

without proper technique, it would be so much more difficult to play.


edit: i see a lot of people in videos on this board(even semi-successful people) using their arm more than their wrist. it's amazing how they don't use a fundamental teaching of guitar when they play. how they hold the guitar up is just wrong a lot of times.

[Pig17]

Thanks for the advice Chris. I'll now go rip out my Michael Angelo Batio tabs and try them again. :lol

[Haiku Jimi]

edit: i see a lot of people in videos on this board(even semi-successful people) using their arm more than their wrist. it's amazing how they don't use a fundamental teaching of guitar when they play. how they hold the guitar up is just wrong a lot of times.

*shrug*

I agree, but then again, its not really super important...take players like Hendrix or Clapton for example...Clapton wouldn't use his pinky as much and would just make the stretch with his ring finger instead of sticking to standard finger positioning; Hendrix would just envelop the whole neck with his thumb :lol

[chr35919]

*shrug*

I agree, but then again, its not really super important...take players like Hendrix or Clapton for example...Clapton wouldn't use his pinky as much and would just make the stretch with his ring finger instead of sticking to standard finger positioning; Hendrix would just envelop the whole neck with his thumb :lolbut he was still counterbalancing the neck

[Haiku Jimi]

but he was still counterbalancing the neck

oh nevermind, I misread your post

[Butterfingerz]

Is there some sort of secret to getting this down pat? I have been playing for 4 years and still can't get my pick and fingers to move that fast at the same time. What am I doing wrong?

A lot of it is technique. Like Chris said, keep the motion in your wrist and use 'short' picking strokes....the less movement, the better when shredding.

I think the key to developing fast fingers and quick picking is working with a metronome on simple patterns. Start slow and work your way up when you feel comfortable, but make sure you're playing the licks clean before you max out the tempo.

[VanHorneDog]

my question, why would you want to "shred" i mean, i can play pretty fast and could "shred" if i wanted to. but why?

i never understood this.

[Butterfingerz]

my question, why would you want to "shred" i mean, i can play pretty fast and could "shred" if i wanted to. but why?

i never understood this.

I don't think shredding is that important either. It can be fun, but I haven't concentrated on playing fast in years. I think writing good riffs comes first.

[VanHorneDog]

I don't think shredding is that important either. It can be fun, but I haven't concentrated on playing fast in years. I think writing good riffs comes first.

i mean i had my playing fast stage. you know like how tim plays. but then i do it on an electric and it sounds terrible. i can turn on the metal distortion i have and it sounds like shredding, then i act like some idiot making fun of shredders and stop and play something beter.

its actually kinda funny. :lol

[hylidaea]

Nothing wrong with shredding in the right songs. Sometimes it really works and adds to the music. If a band plays all shredding on all songs, that's when it sucks.

[VanHorneDog]

Nothing wrong with shredding in the right songs. Sometimes it really works and adds to the music. If a band plays all shredding on all songs, that's when it sucks.

or after every solo the lead gutiarist acts like he is shit, smashes his guitar, brings out another lights that one on fire, brings out another and signs it throws it to some kid, but a 52 year old guy takes it from himw hile he knocks his mother out, then he brings out another guitar ready to do it all over again.

thats lame. :thumbsdow :lol

[hylidaea]

or after every solo the lead gutiarist acts like he is shit, smashes his guitar, brings out another lights that one on fire, brings out another and signs it throws it to some kid, but a 52 year old guy takes it from himw hile he knocks his mother out, then he brings out another guitar ready to do it all over again.

thats lame. :thumbsdow :lol
http://www.antsmarching.org/forum/attachmentviewer.php?attachmentid=40923&d=1178411594

:lol

[bubba40]

Drugs.

[chr35919]

my question, why would you want to "shred" i mean, i can play pretty fast and could "shred" if i wanted to. but why?

i never understood this.

i mean i had my playing fast stage. you know like how tim plays. but then i do it on an electric and it sounds terrible. i can turn on the metal distortion i have and it sounds like shredding, then i act like some idiot making fun of shredders and stop and play something beter.

its actually kinda funny. :lolhmmm. i don't think that's what he means. he means being able to play fluently while playing fast.

a lot of people can play better than tim when it comes to this anyway

[JohnK86]

The most important thing when learning to play fast is to pick with a good natural tone. Each note needs to be cleanly articulated and dynamic. You should always practrice with a good tone and listen very carefully to what you´re playing. Another important thing, especially considering right-left hand co-ordination is rhythm. You need to pick and finger each note EXACTLY on the beat, otherwise you´ll be out of sync. Good timing+good tone+relaxed technique+proper motion/mechanics = good techique. If you can play with proper technique, you can quickly improve your speed. Pay attention to HOW you are picking the string. Your pick shold be not be in an angle; that will produce a poor tone. Your picking hand movement also needs to be quick, like swinging a bat. Try to practise with a mirror and copy someone with great technique like Eric Johnson. The most imperative thing is to LISTEN. Regarding your left hand, apply very light pressure; that´s the only way to move ´em quick. If you are picking each note, your left hand should apply almost NO pressure; just enough to push the string down. Make sure that the fingers you are not using aren´t tense either. Try to observe your hands and force yourself to play with minimal motion. It´s hard to say exactly what your problem is without seeing you play, but these are the general points. It´s great to be able to shred, because then you can play any song and expand your creativity on the instrument. However, most people don´t use it to create anything substantial.

P.S. Don´t try to play things that are too difficult for you. Keep it comfortable and slowly add challenge. Also, don´t prcatise too much. That will cause stress and tension.

[MGH4007]

My friend and I jam a lot with two acoustics. I usually dont shred with him, more of rythem and fills. I dont even know if I would be aby good at shredding. I can play fast but I dunno about that

[MGH4007]

hmmm. i don't think that's what he means. he means being able to play fluently while playing fast.

a lot of people can play better than tim when it comes to this anyway

Yes, but no one can can mix with Dave better, and no one could come up with an original like some of timmys

[VanHorneDog]

hmmm. i don't think that's what he means. he means being able to play fluently while playing fast.

a lot of people can play better than tim when it comes to this anyway

i just dont like the word shredding, cuz it reminds me of stupid metal bands that "shred". however, saying something like.

"how to play 16th notes?" then yeah thats more musical and cool.

[chr35919]

Yes, but no one can can mix with Dave better, and no one could come up with an original like some of timmys
for sure:thumbsup

[GuitarGuy305]

Tim is not all speed. If you go to a live Tim show, you'll find that about 10% of what he'll play is super fast. He has gotten the reputation of being a mindless shredding machine from a lot of the DMB camp because that's something he does with Dave and the band. He has said that the fast stuff is actually the easiest for him to play, which I simply don't comprehend.

I jam with a few acoustic guitarists around here, and there are certain songs where I like to let loose and play some fast runs, but I didn't do them the first time I played certain songs. For me, it's knowing the scale/key you're in, and even knowing the song a bit better so you know what you can and can't pull off with it. I suggest just jamming a long to different songs, or even recording yourself playing a certain chord progression or rhythm part, and then just jamming with it.