Hey Hey Hey!

Hey! I just signed up to this site a few days ago to try and break free from the 'plateau' effect that I'm suffering from. I've been playing for just about 8 years, and have started taking it more seriously for the past 5 years. I have 2 years of guitar lessons under my belt and continue to perform twice a week, and play/practice maybe 2 other times during the week. I have definitely hit a wall here, and I would like to get faster and learn more theory. I think Ive grabbed onto some bad habits over the past few years too...and I'm wondering if anyone has any tips to get me started toward my goal of getting faster...

Ive tried a few of the exercises here but I jsut cant seem to get 'fluid'...I get jsut to the point where its pretty quick...but Im not jumping over that 'wall' of quickness...

Any tips...encouragement...or testimonies are GREATLY appreciated ;) !!!

Thanks,

Ty

If you don't know them yet, start working on 3 note per string scales.

http://www.guitartricks.com/2000/trick.php?trick_id=3050&s_id=28

Learn em backwards and forwards for a few months and I guarantee you'll be a lot faster.

Next, try some tapping stuff.

http://www.guitartricks.com/2000/trick.php?trick_id=1873&s_id=13

Even if you don't like tapping, just learn the beginner stuff. It forces you to speed up your left hand... especially your pinky finger... because almost everything is using hammer-ons and pull-offs at a greater speed than you'd play while picking.

Lastly, learn a bunch of little 'tricks' that make you sound faster than you actually are, like pulling off to open notes. Most of the instructors on this site have a ton of little 'secret' riffs they use just to freak people out.

http://www.guitartricks.com/2000/trick.php?trick_id=1653

Appreciated! I'll be sure to check out the links you showed me...
Keep the replies coming!!! Testimonies would be cool too...;)

Before i even start to play anything on my guitar I do the chromatic run through of the scale.I hit that wall and my friend who plays bass told me thats the best way to increase speed so ive incorporated it in and so far, i have improved a ton. Alternate pick so you can try to cross that barrier.

Dude! Thanks....ahaha...the wall hurts ;) I'm starting to have more fun practicing though...this site is awesome!

I never counted the years I didn't really take guitar playing seriously. Because if I did I would just feel worse than I already do about my guitar playing skills. I've been playing 9 years if I count the years I didn't take it seriouslly. Thats insane. When people ask me how long i've played i usually just say the amount of years I took guitar lessons, which is 5 years now.
Bah, everyone gets better by playing in front of an audience. I only get to do so once or twice a month. During the summer I'm not going to be able to at all, save for my beach bum friends.
Well, anyways welcome to guitar tricks. Lots of keen stuff on here. :cool:

NOt playing live is terrible...I went from playing once or twice a week atleast, in a South African metal band...now in London for a year, been here four months and not played on stage once...It is terrible...I miss live performance so much.
Cant wait to go back home and all...got a band out here that I am working with...It is only two guitarists(the other guy makes weird noises using groove boxes ad samples...is sounding very industrial) and a bassist at the moment, but we are all South Africans and all going home in Dec, also, we all knew eachother back home because our old bands would gig together, so we have lotsa prospects for a drummer and singer. I cant wait to get home and release this band on the general public.


Playing Live Rocks!