Hi all, I have been playing guitar now for about 14 years or so. Started off with private lessons to teach me the basics, then i decided to pretty much teach myself. Just by putting a cd on and playing along to songs.

I came across a band called Iced Earth, a cross between Iron Maiden, Metallica and Judas Priest. Their sound was jaw dropping, never heard such a tight clean rhythm guitar before, Ok early Metallica stuff was cool but this blew it away.

I have tried to copy that galloping sound but can never quite get the desired sound or keep the rhythm for very long. I have seen clips of Jon Schaffers' picking hand on some videos and its just a blur.

Does anyone know how to perfect this technique? I have tried all sorts of things from thin plecs, thick plecs, slowing some of the songs down using software, that does help but i just cannot seem to get the rhythm any faster or sounding any better. Have been told he uses 8 and 16th notes to produce this sound.

Please help!

Steve