Rate of Improvement


TheDirt
Registered User
Joined: 03/28/02
Posts: 569
TheDirt
Registered User
Joined: 03/28/02
Posts: 569
04/20/2002 10:51 pm
I've been playing around 2 and 1/2 years now and I know a lot of theory, and I've decided that I want to work specifically on my technique for at least 30 minutes per weekday for a while. Right now I can play ascending/descending groups of three/thirds/runs all at least 85 b.p.m. (sixteenth notes). What kind of improvement rate should I be expecting? Also, is it weird that I can play anything descending faster than I can ascending (I mean a lot faster. I can play an A Minor descending run in groups of three notes around 110 b.p.m, 20 b.p.m. faster than I can ascending)? Runs in groups of more than three are really tricky for me. Should I not do them much, or practice them more? Also, what's more important, practicing legato or picking every note? Sorry for so many questions.
"You must stab him in the heart with the Bone Saber of Zumacalis... well, you could stab him in the head or the lungs, too... and the saber, it probably doesn't have to be bone, just anything sharp lying around the house... you could poke him with a pillow and kill him."

- Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Universal Re-Monster
# 1
albo
Member
Joined: 04/21/02
Posts: 37
albo
Member
Joined: 04/21/02
Posts: 37
04/21/2002 1:31 am
I believe that there is no standard rate of improvement. Everybody learns at a different pace because everybody is different. Some people, learn different techniques quicker than others. Also, someone may be able to learn faster than others becuase they have natural talent.
# 2
lalimacefolle
Moderator
Joined: 09/25/01
Posts: 1,887
lalimacefolle
Moderator
Joined: 09/25/01
Posts: 1,887
04/21/2002 9:11 am
I have just bought the book 'rock discipline' by petrucci, because the one al di meola had written is out of print, and there's a lot of exercices you might want to check out. As for the rate of improvement, is will be tremendous at the start, then you'll have to stagnate a little, then you'll go up again (or over and over..) Just know that's there's a speed limit that's determined by your muscles... (Check out the fastest guitarist thread to check some monsters out)
# 3
FretSlug
Member
Joined: 01/02/02
Posts: 82
FretSlug
Member
Joined: 01/02/02
Posts: 82
04/21/2002 12:32 pm
It's very usual to play descending scale forms or anything descending much faster than ascending, because it is easier to pick alternating (hmm.. Can you say like that? Dunno..) when you descend than it is when you are ascending.. Hmm.. My English sucks.. Big time.. But hey.. Hope you got the point.

Lali, has Al Di Meola written something like the rock discipline or so? Must order... Must.. What is it called?
"If practise makes perfect, and no one is perfect, why practise? Duh.."
# 4
lalimacefolle
Moderator
Joined: 09/25/01
Posts: 1,887
lalimacefolle
Moderator
Joined: 09/25/01
Posts: 1,887
04/21/2002 3:55 pm
Al di meola has written 'picking techniques' but I guess it's out of print... It's based around the up/down strokes, and it is considered as the bible for improving speed and technique...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/079351018X/qid=1019404457/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-3609521-1218551

Well, on Amazon, it seems they have it in stock!!
# 5
albo
Member
Joined: 04/21/02
Posts: 37
albo
Member
Joined: 04/21/02
Posts: 37
04/23/2002 7:11 pm
Forgot to mention this...but, you can't say that legato is better than picking, or vice versa. It is really dependent on preference and what you want your solo to sound like. Someone like Yngwie will do a lot less legato than someone such as Joe Satriani
# 6
lalimacefolle
Moderator
Joined: 09/25/01
Posts: 1,887
lalimacefolle
Moderator
Joined: 09/25/01
Posts: 1,887
04/23/2002 7:13 pm
Depending on the accents you want to give to your phrases, you need alternate picking, once again, it's possible to do it legato, but the only one that does it decently is Allan HOLDSWORTH
# 7

Please register with a free account to post on the forum.