I began with just sweeping the 1,2,3 strings at the 12,11,10th frets in that order. Then slide down to the 2,34 frets, very meodic sounding.
Also, an exercise I've been doing is "drumming" my fingers. we usually do it from pinkey to index, braap, braap, braap. Try druming you fingers from index to pinkey-- In the opposite direction.
This has helped me a great deal in co-ordination development. And you can do it anywhere! Pinkey to index and index to pinkey. As fast as I can and keep a beat.
ALso PICK ECONOMY. Never heard of it till this site. **And I'm a veteran Bluegrass picker! I learned to cross-pick like a mad fool only to learn that moving your left hand around a bit will keep sir-pick moving in the same direction more often. Not eliminating X-picking, put minimizing it.
ANyway, from one novice shredder to another. Start small, 2-3 strings. That's where I am and it does sound BOSS once MR. Marshall is sweating a bit!
Cheers...Randy