Welcome, fellow guitar enthusiasts, to an exciting journey into the realm of speed picking and precision guitar technique. In the vast and diverse world of guitar virtuosos, few names command as much respect and admiration as John Petrucci. Renowned for his unparalleled mastery of the instrument and jaw-dropping speed, Petrucci has mesmerized audiences around the globe with his lightning-fast solos and intricate riffs. In this guitar speed lesson, we delve into the secrets behind Petrucci’s extraordinary skills, uncovering the techniques that have defined his playing style and propelled him to the forefront of the guitar world. Whether you’re a seasoned shredder or an aspiring guitarist looking to take your skills to new heights, this lesson will unlock the door to unlocking the true potential of your speed picking prowess. So, let’s buckle up and embark on an exhilarating expedition into the world of guitar wizardry, guided by the maestro himself, John Petrucci. Its a great guitar warm up lesson.
Guitar tapping is a technique that has become increasingly popular in modern electric guitar playing. It involves using the fingers of the picking hand to tap on the fretboard to produce notes, instead of using a traditional picking or strumming motion. Guitar tapping can add a new dimension to a player’s sound and allow for fast, intricate solos and melodic lines.
Guitar tapping was popularized by guitarists such as Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, and Joe Satriani in the 1980s and has since become a standard technique for many guitarists across a range of genres, including rock, metal, jazz, and fusion. With the rise of modern technical metal and progressive rock, guitar tapping has become even more prevalent, with many guitarists pushing the boundaries of the technique to create new and innovative sounds.
Why you should learn Guitar Tapping:
One of the reasons this technique become so popular is because it allows for fast, precise playing that can create complex and intricate lines. It also allows guitarists to create a unique sound by using both hands to produce notes, rather than relying solely on the fretting hand. Guitar tapping can be used in a variety of ways, including creating fast arpeggios, playing chords, and creating melodic lines that would be difficult to play with traditional picking or strumming techniques.
In addition to being a popular technique in modern electric guitar playing, guitar tapping has also influenced other instruments such as bass guitar, keyboard, and even drums, where players use tapping techniques to produce unique sounds and rhythms.
To become great in guitar tapping, advanced guitar players can benefit from practicing more challenging tapping exercises that incorporate advanced techniques and concepts. Here are five tapping exercises for advanced guitar players:
How to be great in guitar tapping:
Four-Finger Tapping Exercise: This exercise involves using all four fingers of your picking hand to tap on the fretboard. Start by tapping each finger separately on a single fret and gradually increase the complexity by moving up and down the fretboard.
Tapping Arpeggios: This exercise involves tapping arpeggios by using a combination of tapping and hammer-ons and pull-offs. Start with simple arpeggios and gradually increase the complexity by incorporating more notes and chord progressions.
Tapping with Chord Progressions: This exercise involves tapping along with chord progressions to create unique and interesting melodies. Start with simple chord progressions and gradually increase the complexity by incorporating more advanced chords and progressions.
Tapping with String Skipping: This exercise involves tapping while skipping strings to create unique and complex patterns. Start with simple string skipping patterns and gradually increase the complexity by incorporating more advanced patterns and techniques.
Tapping with Tonal Centers: This exercise involves tapping along with a specific tonal center to create interesting and melodic lines. Start with simple tonal centers and gradually increase the complexity by incorporating more advanced tonal centers and modes.
The minor chord scale is a collection of chords that are built from a particular minor scale, for example, an Am chord scale would include chords built from the notes of the Am scale (A, B, C, D, E, F, G). Like the major chord scale, the chords in am chord scale can be derived using a specific formula.
The most common formula for constructing Am is the following: Minor – Diminished – Major – Minor – Minor – Major – Major. This pattern is different from the formula used to build a major chord scale, which is Major – Minor – Minor – Major – Major – Minor – Diminished – Major.
Breaking Down the Minor Chord Scale:
Now that you know the formula for constructing a scale, let’s take a closer look at each chord in the scale:
Minor: The first chord in the scale is always a minor chord. In the key of A minor, this would be an Am chord.
Diminished: The second chord in the scale is always a diminished chord. In the key of A minor, this would be a Bdim chord.
Major: The third chord in the scale is always a major chord. In the key of A minor, this would be a C chord.
Minor: The fourth chord in the scale is always a minor chord. In the key of A minor, this would be a Dm chord.
Minor: The fifth chord in the scale is always a minor chord. In the key of A minor, this would be an Em chord.
Major: The sixth chord in the scale is always a major chord. In the key of A minor, this would be an F chord.
Major: The seventh chord in the scale is always a major chord. In the key of A minor, this would be a G chord.
Applying to Guitar Playing
Knowing the chord scale can help you figure out the chords in any minor key. You can use this knowledge to improvise solos, write chord progressions, and understand the relationship between chords in a song. If you can figure out the home chord of a song, in 90% songs you will see other chord within other 6 chord of the chord scale
Today we will learn a very advanced Guitar Shredding Technique that I like to call the “Guitar Note Jump Technique.” This technique involves skipping over certain notes in a scale or melody in a specific order, such as every 3rd, 4th, or 5th note. This can create a sense of syncopation or dissonance, and can be used to add interest and variation to a guitar solo or melody. In this advance guitar shredding lesson we will also incorporate some string skippings.
This method can be challenging but with practice, it can open up a lot of possibilities for expression and creativity in your guitar playing.
So what is the method ? So here are 6 diffrent parts, In first part we skipped 2nd note and jumped to 3rd note, then in next part we skipped 2 notes and jumped to every 4th Note, and cronologically in next parts we jumped to fifth note, 6th note, 7th note and then we did octave jump? Cool, is not it?
An odd time signature is a musical time signature that does not have a simple whole-number ratio between the number of beats in a measure and the note value that represents one beat. Examples of odd time signatures include 5/4, 7/8, or 11/4,These time signatures can create a complex and irregular rhythmic feel, and are often used in jazz and experimental music. Composers and musicians often use odd time signatures to create a sense of tension and dissonance, and to challenge the listener’s sense of expectation and familiarity. You can start with these odd time guitar plucking exercise.
Some song examples with Odd time signature:
The Count Of Tuscany – Dream Theater : 15/8 and 9/4
Last Goodbye – Circus Maximus : 7/8 & 9/8
Plini – Selenium Forest : 7/4
Frame by frame – King Crimson : 7/4
I hung my head – Sting : 9/8
Example 1: 15/8 and 9/4 count:
“The Count of Tuscany” is a song by the American progressive metal band Dream Theater. It is the opening track on their ninth studio album, “Black Clouds & Silver Linings”. The song is known for its complex and dynamic structure, featuring multiple time signature changes and shifting musical themes. The song is also considered as one of the longest songs in Dream Theater’s catalog, clocking in at over 20 minutes in length. The particula part we learn from this song today is 15/8 and 9/4.
This part is from Song “The last goodbye” by Circus Maximus. One of my most favorite band of all time and this song is from my favorite Album Nine (2012). In this part they mostly used 7/8 but in 4th bar only they used 9/8 in a beautiful natural way. I prefer natural way that most progressive bands are miss in these days.
“Selenium Forest” is a song by Australian instrumental progressive rock/metal musician Plini. The song is from his second studio album “Impressions” released in 2018. It features a complex and intricate guitar work, with a mix of melodic and technical playing. The song showcases Plini’s skill as a guitarist and composer, with a delicate and nuanced approach to both melody and rhythm and has been well received by critics and fans alike and is considered as one of Plini’s standout tracks, praised for its emotional depth and musical virtuosity. The song is also part of a number of playlists of instrumental progressive rock and metal.
This partiucalr part is one of the main theme that used in whole song and its on 7/4 Count.
“Frame by Frame” is a song by the British progressive rock band King Crimson. It is the opening track on their fifth studio album, “Discipline”, released in 1981 and Most of this song is on 7/4 count and some parts are in 4/4.
“I Hung My Head” is a song written and performed by Sting, and was released on his 1996 album “Mercury Falling”. The song was covered by Johnny Cash and released on his album “American III: Solitary Man” in 2000 which was critically acclaimed. The song was also featured in the movie “The Corruptor” and the TV series “The Sopranos” This is the intro from the song.
Shredding means playing fast, precise guitar solos with a high level of skills. In this article you will learn how to shred your Guitars with 5 Guitar Shredding Exercises.
What is guitar shredding?
Guitar shredding is a term used to describe a fast and virtuosic style of playing the guitar. It is often associated with heavy metal and hard rock music, but can be found in a variety of genres. Shredding involves playing fast, precise guitar solos with a high level of technical skill. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some techniques and will learn 5 Guitar Shredding Exercises.
How to Learn Guitar Shredding?
First and foremost, it’s important to have a solid foundation in basic guitar techniques such as alternate picking, legato, and tapping. These techniques will form the basis for your shredding skills and allow you to play fast, clean, and precise. It’s also important to practice your scales and arpeggios to build up finger strength and speed.
One technique that is commonly used in shredding is alternate picking. This involves using a down-up motion with your pick to play each note, rather than using a single picking direction. Alternate picking allows you to play fast and fluidly, and is essential for playing fast runs and legato lines.
Legato:
Legato playing involves using your fingers to play notes, rather than a pick. It can be used to create smooth, flowing lines and can be incorporated into your shredding style to add variety and expression. Tapping, on the other hand, involves using your picking hand to play notes on the guitar neck. This technique can be used to play fast, fluid lines and is a staple of many shred guitarists’ styles.
Finger independence and Control:
In addition to these techniques, it’s important to work on your finger independence and control. This involves being able to play different patterns and phrases with each finger, rather than relying on a single finger or hand to play all of the notes. Finger independence allows you to play more complex phrases and patterns and is essential for advanced shredding.
Phrasing:
Another important aspect of guitar shredding is phrasing. Phrasing refers to the way you arrange and play your notes, and it’s what gives your solos personality and character. It’s important to practice phrasing and try to come up with your own unique ideas and approaches to solos.
Guitar Tapping:
Guitar tapping is a technique often used in shredding, which involves using your picking hand to play notes on the guitar neck. It is performed by using your picking hand to “tap” the strings at specific frets, creating a percussive sound. Tapping allows guitarists to play fast, fluid lines and is a staple of many shred guitarists’ styles. It is often combined with alternate picking and legato techniques to create intricate and expressive solos. Tapping can be challenging to master, but with practice and dedication, it can be a powerful tool in a shredder’s arsenal.
Sweep Picking:
Sweep picking is a guitar technique that involves using a single picking motion to play a series of notes on adjacent strings. It is often used to play fast arpeggios and can add speed and fluidity to a guitarist’s playing. To sweep pick, the guitarist uses a single down or up stroke to play a series of notes on different strings, then pivots the pick to play the next series of notes. Sweep picking requires precise timing and control, and can be challenging to master.
Practice:
Finally, it’s important to practice, practice, practice. Shredding requires a high level of technical skill and muscle memory, and the only way to build these skills is through consistent practice. Start by working on short phrases and patterns, and gradually build up to longer and more complex solos.
In conclusion, guitar shredding is a challenging and rewarding style of playing that requires a solid foundation in basic techniques, finger independence, and phrasing. With consistent practice and dedication, anyone can learn to shred like a pro.
There are lots of other guitar technique that you can learn and apply on your Shredding however those are some essential technique that are most commonly used by shredders.
5 Guitar Shredding Exercises:
Exercise 1: One String Alternate Picking
This one string phrasing method often used by neo classical players , for example the biggest name we can tell is Malmsteen. Its a lick in harmonic minor scale.
Another pedal point but in open string. This technique often used by Michael Romeo (Symphony X), John Petrucci (Dream Theater). I used this techniquest in lot of my songs as well (Though i am not famous like them :P)
