First,lets dispell the Myth that Speed Playing has to be clean to be exciting.The first true "shredder" was Alvin Lee of Ten Years After.This guy had blues chops out the Yang Ying,and made players like Hendrix stop in their path to admire.Check out Alvin Lee's ferocious fast blues playing in the Woodstock '69 film.Simply great for the time,and still is great,AND fast.Also in this fast blues category are Ted Nugent's fretwork in the 70's and Angus Young.Both deeply rooted in the blues,but fast chops nonetheless.

The 2nd style of fast came along in the early 80's,I'm talkin Kerry King from Slayer and Dave Mustaine.These 2 giants reinvented the wheel,and didnt worry abot diatonic scale positions.Anyone who says kirk Hammet WAS NOT influenced by Dave Mustaine hasn't done their homework.Players may contend King and Mustaine played a lot of Chromatic,eratic solos,but tell me those solos weren't exciting period.Plus,if you ask the average person who they think the fastest guitar player out there is,9 out of 10 say it's either King Or Mustaine.I'm talkin opinions of NON-players now.Take a poll sometime yourself.

The 3rd Style of Fast was obviously guys like Yngwie,Gilbert,MacAlpine and Moore.Speed based in pure technique and a myriad of scales,with an emphais on CLEAN,for some reason.The great advantage about this style is,you don't have to listen to the notes to practice achieving speed.I agree,play those diatonic, 3 note per string scales over and over,while your online,in the bathroom,while watching TV,take it to a party,out at the park,wherever.Just keep repeating those patterns over and over again,and it becomes a second language,you won't even think about it.But don't forget the emotional impact of the first 2 styles I mentioned.A great solo is a great solo,,,period.Listen to the 90's releases of Megadeth with Marty Friedman as the Other Axe player for example.You ever notice most of the exciting,intense solos on those albums were played by DAVE.Just a fact,emotion is the key.Jam on.