Guitar/Speed

Hi,
Ive been playing for about 2-3 years. I have a beginner guitar and an acoustic, and i think im ready to step up to a nice guitar. Im 13 years old and im getting a guitar for my birthday. Im thinking about a fender american standard strat, because im pretty good at most things and it would be nice to learn and perfect on this guitar. The only thing i cant do, is get the speed down. i can do everything quick, except for single notes(both left and right hand). i was wondering if anyone had tips, or exercises to gain this. Also do you reccomend a strat or a tele(and what model). i like all styles.

-Justin

Schlege:
An instructer here pasted the below links in another thread. Check them out.

The idea of practicing a scale on two strings is contained & expanded upon in these tutorials.

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=928
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=929

Then you can expand the idea across the fretboard!

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=419
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=898
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=899
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=453
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=887

Thanks i appreciate it. ill check those out later tomorrow

Do u know about the guitar though?

My first guitar was a telecaster. I hated it, it was a great guitar, but I hated the feel of the neck. I traided it and some cash for a Gibson SG. I played that till I was in a music store and played a Hagstrom Swede. I fell in love with neck and feel and the way it played.
i traided in the Gibson and have not found a guitar i like better since.

I told you all that to say, forget the name, play a few stiles with different necks before you buy.

My first guitar was an encore strat copy, not a great model and weighed a lot, but played ok. Years later I got a mexican strat which felt and played much better. I've also owned and Ibanes and PRS SE. Ibanez have good necks to accomodate speed so it might be worth checking them out too.

Hi Justin.

Regarding a guitar, I think the best advice you can get is, go try some. What works for one person may not work for another. I like blue, you may like green and hate red. I strongly encourage you to go to a local guitar store and try some.

From my experience and I stress MY experience, I find that I like a thin neck. I feel as though I can move around with greater ease. Some folks like a thin neck, some like a big ol fat baseball bat neck.

Regarding speed? It will come in time. For gawds sake, you're 13 years old. You have PLENTY of time. I'm 45, I don't have as much time left here as you do, and I still don't consider speed to be one of my focal points. In fact, speed is on the bottom of the list when I practice. I'm more concerned about accuracy, making chords and notes ring clear and precise.

The goal here is to get the chicks shakkn' that butt with a killer groove, not plugging their ears due to a headache because you playing 20 notes a second with the gain maxed out on your amp WITH a distortion pedal in front of that.

Something to think about. ;)

To add to the rest, you're 13 years old...Your hands are not fully developed. Not that this info should be discouraging but that it is a simple consideration in your choice. It's gotta be comfort. If it's speed you seek, a thinner neck might be the ticket. A neck like many Ibanez guitars might be the best deal. However, these tend to be geared towards metal. So it also depends on your style.

I have a Gibson with a thicker (50's profile) neck and a Strat with a thinner, smaller neck. I'm cool with both but it is easier to play the Strat if it's a little extra speed I need.

In reality, there isn't an ideal answer to your question. It depends on you and your style.

Thanks to all you guys. I stopped by guitar center last weekend and took advantage of the labor day sales and got a american standard strat. I can play pretty fast on it, i think it was just my old guitar. I didn't really want to play super fast, just some alternative songs that had some tricky parts. I like the strat because i can play all styles, and still have it sound good. Thanks for everything though(:

Congratulations, on the new guitar!

Originally Posted by: justg720Thanks to all you guys. I stopped by guitar center last weekend and took advantage of the labor day sales and got a american standard strat. I can play pretty fast on it, i think it was just my old guitar. I didn't really want to play super fast, just some alternative songs that had some tricky parts. I like the strat because i can play all styles, and still have it sound good. Thanks for everything though(:

Nice. I have an older American Strat and I really like the guitar. I'm guessing you will too.

Enjoy and congrats!