Increase speed

[NaNoW]

I didnt knew where to exaclty post this, but education makes sense.
[MENTION=4033]Bad Mofo[/MENTION] [MENTION=11904]Ranger Taffles[/MENTION]

How do I increase speed for fingering notes....I cant seem to shred for the life of me...using metronome to judge it, but it all sounds terrible (missed finger placements) either fretting it or missing it entirely.
Only thing I can muster even a lil bit of speed is with when trying to play off using anchor finger....

 

[Ranger Taffles]

Dude I gave up on guitar long ago.

Can't help you. Gonna tag [MENTION=12458]Benighted[/MENTION] if he can help.

 

[Bad Mofo]

That's a tough question. Speed is partly a physical thing. As in, you need to exercise your fingers. Are you practicing scales? Group the notes of a scale, say the minor scale, into groups of three to begin with. Alternate the picking between up and down, and pluck each note once, and work back to one note above what you started with. As in with an A Minor scale, you'll start with an A on the 5th fret of the heavy E string. Group the A B and C. Use a different finger and pluck each note alternatively. Then go back to the B and play B C and D. Move on to C D and E and so on and so forth. You need to train your fingers and also the fleshy part of your palm. That's the muscle that'll get exhausted at first, and that's what's keeping us from playing insanely fast.

I hope I made sense. But picking exercises.

 

[Benighted]

Tough question, indeed. How long have you been playing, NaNoW? Speed comes with time. Are you sure it's not your picking hand that's failing to keep up with your fretboard hand? All too often beginners focus entirely on their frethand when accurate speed-picking is actually, in my personal experience, the more difficult part of shredding. But one thing at a time. It is usually easier to play a series of hammer-ons and pull-offs than picking them when playing fast. That's called a legato. So if you feel you're struggling with your fretboard hand, forget about picking for a while and give your attention to giving your fingers free rein and building strength in them, as Bad Mofo said. Start relatively slow, add speed gradually as you see fit.

 

[NaNoW]

Tough question, indeed. How long have you been playing, NaNoW? Speed comes with time. Are you sure it's not your picking hand that's failing to keep up with your fretboard hand? All too often beginners focus entirely on their frethand when accurate speed-picking is actually, in my personal experience, the more difficult part of shredding. But one thing at a time. It is usually easier to play a series of hammer-ons and pull-offs than picking them when playing fast. That's called a legato. So if you feel you're struggling with your fretboard hand, forget about picking for a while and give your attention to giving your fingers free rein and building strength in them, as Bad Mofo said. Start relatively slow, add speed gradually as you see fit.

Well..how long is difficult to answer

I played for an year and half 11 years ago ..then stopped player till a couple of years ago then played for 4-5 months, then got busy..now playing for 2 months...So basically most chords / scales are fine within 80 bpm..anything faster and your brother loses the plot
@Bad Mofo : Alternate picking is something I REALLY struggle with......she beats me down and I cry myself to sleep...hate alternate picking

 

[Benighted]

See you haven't played for long enough to know whether there's a place for you in teh guitar world or not. There is hope for you yet. Your practice so far has been quite casual and irregular. First thing you gotta sear in your mind about learning guitar is that it requires inordinate struggle, perseverance and self-discipline. It is not a pleasant journey. Half-hearted practice sessions here and there will get you nowhere. You must apply yourself, exert yourself regularly. I'm not saying you have to play for hours on end everyday. Play 30 mins, but do it everyday, with attention and determination.

It is good to be ambitious, but it's unwise to let it overwhelm a realistic attitude. I know you want to shred like Buckethead without going through the trials by fire that the learning process demands. I do too. But it's not gonna happen unless you are ready to gear up for the ride.

Sorry for the Yoda-esque lecture. I couldn't help.

So your lofty ambitions aside, start with the basics. Start slow. You said you can't alternate pick. I think that's a major reason why you are unable to break the speed-barrier. I'm sure there aren't many expert players who can play fast beyond a certain speed just down-picking. Alternate picking is the tool of trade of every shredder there ever has been.

I think you are trying to begin your alternate picking from a faster speed than you can hold at this point. It is frustrating to start every new technique from the ground up, but it's the only way. If 80 bpm is the fastest you can do without alternate picking, try dropping some bpms and find the right bpm where you CAN alternate pick comfortably. Gradually work up from there.

Don't doubt yourself. Achieving a decent enough alternate picking speed is not that difficult. You can do it with a little patience.