Originally Posted by: geoffyARE THERE ANY ECONOMY PICKING EXERCISES?

Seriously dude, don't try to learn economy picking at the same time as alternate - it'll screw you right up! As the others have said, you have to think your licks out more for economy to make sure they 'fit' the pick movement. Economy is theoretically faster with the 'economy of movement' philosophy, but it's marginal in my opionion - alternate picking is a solid basic of guitar.

Also on hammer and pull exercises - one of the first ones I did was to trill between every combination of 2 fingers:

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Do it as fast as you can - I started off doing a minute on each pairing each day (6 minute fretting hand workout!). Builds finger strength and technique. Careful on the timing - if a minute is too much for your hands, don't be a hero... nothing celever about tendonitis! Adjust it to fit - the 3+4 pairing is likely to hurt a fair bit, so maybe do it for less time to start with.

As RandallPaul has said, a certain amount of speed comes from just playing - it doesn't have to be graft. You'll get there quicker if you focus, but muscle memory is all it is.

It's a nice way to think on it - no-one is actually better at guitar than you, they've just practiced longer.... so you know what you gotta do, right? :D