Added: 5 years ago
From: toddsquadxyz
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  • thanks O-O wwooowww!!!

  • Hey are you using thin or thick pic?

  • @SCMusic15 Thick picks always :) When playing this type of lick, the "flex" of a thin pick can really get in your way. Try a thick pick with a sharp point.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • @toddsquadxyz Haha thanks man, you rock.

    But when you say thick, does it mean 2mm? Cuz i have one of those, I guess i could try it out!

  • @SCMusic15 I'd say "THICK" is somewhere about 1.5 mm or better. 1.2 is really a Minimum for what works well for me. But 1.5 is better :) 2.0 is bordering on too thick IMHO but whatever works :)

    Practice!

    Todd

  • @toddsquadxyz Cool! :D

    By the way, is "Practice! - Todd" you're automatic signature on youtube or do you type it everytime? :P

  • @SCMusic15 I actually type it ;) It's just something I try to reinforce constantly. Practice, practice, practice! :)

    Todd

  • Can I use pinky in 15 fret??

  • @ALONVI95 Sure, why not! :)

    Practice!

    Todd

  • @toddsquadxyz

    fuck yeah!! jaja Thanks, I MUST PRACTICE!!

  • @toddsquadxyz

    ooo Thanks, I MUST PRACTICE!!!!

  • @ALONVI95 Well said! :O) You gotta be willing to earn but. If you are, anything is possible.

    Todd

  • @MARMARR1 Well said! :) It's just slang for "Alternate Picking" in this case.

  • Hay, man, this is great, i'm a proper beginner and really want to be a shredder, this has been really helpful. :) Rock on \m/

    Oh and any chance of lessons on how to do a full song or maybe in chunks like verse by verse instructions? that would be good.

    Also can you recommend any songs to get me started on?

    Thanks,

    Yvonne

  • @TuomasWinglessAngel Thanks for watching :) I have not done any songs yet as I haven't done copyrighted material since I'm a "youtube partner" and they don't dig that. But there are tons of resources here on youtube and on the net so you don't need me for that. I'd say pick songs that you really like and get the tab for them on the web and practice!

    Todd

  • hey todd, appreciate your making these videos. ive been playing guitar for over 3 years, and can play guitar extremely well. but i think i finally have the patience to learn how to shred. im going to practice your videos, one by one, and see where that takes me, ive already gained a lot of speed from this video.

    thanks again man

  • @crollyboy3 Great to hear ;) I"m glad the videos are helping! I'd say start at this video and work your way up! By the time you get to the end you will be ripping!

    Todd

  • @toddsquadxyz

    haha thanks man. question for ya, i tend to mess up a lot when i practice, and i feel like it's because my pinky is slowing me down, because even though it's built a lot of strength over the last few years playing guitar, it's definitely not as strong as my index finger. do you think i should build up the strength in my pinky even more first before i work on shredding? or will the shredding just come in time regardless. thanks for your replies.

  • @crollyboy3 The pinky is a weak spot for almost everybody. Don't think you are alone in this. The only way to make it stronger is to work it. You need to do scales/shapes that make you work your pinky a ton. As I mentioned, most of my lessons have some pinky work involved. Start working your way up my lessons and once you think you've gotten it, move to the next one. Eventually your pinky won't be a weak point.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • @crollyboy3 I'd say start at this video and work your way up! There are more than 70 Lesson Videos I've put up. By the time you get to the end , your pinky will be much stronger and faster, you will be ripping!

    Todd

  • Can you tell me the tabs to this? it is hard to see what strings youre picking! itd be much appreciated!

  • @TH3xFaNt4sY It's very simple, just start on the G string 12th fret, then 14th, then 15th. Repeat that on B and E strings. Then reverse the pattern.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • does anyone know how i would get my picking speed to where im fast enough to down pick master of puppets

  • @slicer841994 That's easy! PRACTICE!

  • Whats Double Pick?

  • @AssassinSteven Double Picking is just slang for "Alternate Picking".

  • awesome!

  • @hullumies9797 Well thanks :) More on the way. Check out the other lessons in my series.

  • Great professor!!! You´re my favorite guitarrist

  • @ungerdass Well thanks :) These lessons have been great fun to make and the feedback has been amazing. This is the first one from waaaay back.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • hey todd thanks for the lesson watch my video and my recording :) and tell me hat you think ! :) rock on !

  • OK time for learning! thx

  • @RandomnessMii Thanks for watching :)

    Practice!

    Todd

  • hi todd!

  • @Mmmalvina18 Hello to my fav Trio of Swiss Misses :) Keep singing!

  • @toodsquadxyz ok thank you

  • @toddsquadxyz how long did it take you get good at hammer ons and pull offs or an est time?

  • @MrDemonninja86 I get this question quite a bit and the answer is not usually what folks want to hear, but the truth is it comes down to the player and how much you practice. But if you practice about an hour every day, you should be able to play anything you want in about a year or so. but it's like anything else, how long does it take someone to get good at basketball, or karate? Usually, it varies quite a bit but depends on how hard they work at it.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • Are we supposed to actually play that fast to "pass" this lesson? Like, I can play it pretty fast, but I use a spectrum guitar with baritone strings, so to play the same notes I have to capo the 5th, and then the frets are so small it's crazy, and alternate picking in general on these strings even not using those same notes is ridiculous because of the guitar.

  • @StricknSTW The fast pass is just to show you how it will sound once you get it up to speed. You can play this pattern anywhere on the neck so if it's giving you trouble, move to new spot. Try to play it with a metronome once you know the pattern and work your BPM up, up, up.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • thanks..........

  • @goodkings No problem :) More on the way.

    Todd

  • Practice Practice Practice!! :D

  • @Dropsiq Well said :)

    Todd

  • how do u get your fingers to move so fast

  • @DaGuitarlearner69 Great question. Here's the simple answer, PRACTICE! :) Seriously, it just takes time. Start with a metronome and a pattern like this one and work your way up BPM.

    Todd

  • Sorry for my newbiness, but what is double picking?

  • @ryansilversimpson Good question. It's just slang for alternate picking. I should probably stop saying it as it confuses people.

    Todd

  • i wish i have that fast fingers.. ^_^ . . thank you for the lesson.. time to practice ..wish my fingers could cope up at that speed!..xD

  • @kael0910 I'm sure you could play that fast :) It just takes practice and some time. Try to put in an hour a day and play with a metronome and bump up the BPM.

    Todd

  • Thanks for watching! More on the way!

    Practice!

    Todd

  • practice, practice, practice!!! :D

  • Well said! Practice!

    Todd

  • @EdWaRdseven777 Very well said :)

    Todd

  • Do you think guitar frets distance between the strings really care to play faster? or the picking hand technique?

  • Those factors and others play a part in speed. The Ibanez necks with jumbo frets and really thin depth help speed quite a bit which is why so many shredders use them.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • i see that you are alternate picking up down note per not, when you say double picking are you adding an extra note in there with the picking hand by sort of tremelo picking the strings or are you actually just alternate picking note per note and youve just had tons of practice? i have been playing guitar for 9 years n i cant reach that speed yet by just alternate picking note per note

  • Believe it or not, I'm just alternate picking up, down, up, down. It's really just a matter of dedicated practice. Try to play one pattern with a metronome and speed it up over time.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • i damaged my pinky for life.. so is there a a way to be fast still?

  • with speed picking and shredding over all should i use the neck pickups

  • @Sk8ingGuitarplayer Good question. It really depends on you. I use the bridge pickup mostly but many players prefer the tone of the neck pickup as it picks up the percussive sound of the pick better. Try both and see what works for you.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • well i have decided to ue the neck pickups and have gotton alot better at speed picking thanks 4 the advice

  • @Sk8ingGuitarplayer Happy to help :) Stay tuned!

    Todd

  • well i can hit the stumming and hit the strings sacronized but i dont know wat to to with it to get a got sounding tune. because wen i play the picking and notes are clean but i dont no wat to do with it. any suggestions?

  • @Sk8ingGuitarplayer Well, try to pick a given Key or root note. Say "E", then play around with that pattern in an actual scale such as E Minor.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • thnx for the help

  • hey man...is it bad technique if ur right hand index finger touches the string while picking?And how far away should the thumb be from the string when picking??

  • @1Haresha1 Technique is very personal and specific to each player. I don't think there is one "right" way, but that's just me. As long as you are not creating unwanted noise, you are doing fine. Try to mute unwanted strings with your right palm and the free fingers on your left hand.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • Hi!

    I just saw your video and I practiced has you said but in fact, I think my fingers are fast enough, my problem come from the way I pick the strings, when i want to do it fast, i always miss the strings or my pick jump out of my hand.

    So how can I do it?

    Sorry if my english is bad, im from france :)

  • @leopaul36 Big shout out to France! Thanks for watching. The problem is really getting your right and left hand to play the same thing at the same time. Being able to synch up your hands is critical. Increase speed very slowly. It will just take more practice!

    Todd

  • hey dude, for speed picking, how do you hold the pick? is it completely parallel to the string or at angle?

  • @lordOFbrooklyn I always hold my pick at a 45 degree angle to the string. You want as little pick hitting the string as possible when playing fast.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • haha good video. is this from Michael Angelo Batio's instructional DVD?

  • @kpr94777 Thanks :) Nope, this is from My Instructional DVD.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • do you guys think it would be better to practice it with the ring finger and the pinky instead of using the middle finger and the ring finger?

  • @blackseeds666 It would be more "proper" to use the pinky but I personally often switch away from the pinky past the 12th fret. I sometimes switch the other way, it just depends.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • is every note picked?

  • @BUNGAGKILLER Great question :) Yes every single note is being picked. It's the entire point of alternate picking. It's tough at first but gets much easier the more you practice.

    Todd

  • i wanna play the guitar like you can:D

  • @angee12 All it takes is wads and wads of practice :) Get started! Thanks for watching.

    Todd

  • sometimes i loose my patience and want to brake my guitar in 2 and mutilate my hand haha... its really annoying no being able to play fast! somedays I have it some days dont......

  • @GabrielNotTheAngel I understand. It can be very, very frustrating. The key is to keep at it. Eventually you will be able to summon speed at will.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • @angee12 The good news is that you can :) Just takes a bit of practice. I'm happy to help you on your way :)

    Todd

  • Thanks for uploading this video.

    I hope one day to be able to be achieving similar speed and clean picking.

    Some advice on improving my playing would be appreciated.

    Thanks,

    Franco

  • The main advice is pretty simple, PRACTICE! In specific, i'd say get a metronome and work on building speed slowly. Take a scale, and work the speed up a little bit at a time.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • Thanks for your reply!

    My problem is sticking to a routine. :~(

    How much time should I spend on practising on a scale pattern before going to another pattern... ...and what would you say is the minimum time to be spent on overall practising in a day?

    Thanks,

    Franco

  • It really depends on you. There is no set amount of time per scale. Just practice until you've got it and then add another. As for how much per day, I'd say try to practice about an hour each day. Otherwise, it's hard to see a lot of progress.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • hey. i've been playing for a long time and i'm trying to speed up now. i'm trying to correct some bad habits with my picking hand. it seems when i get to a point my hand starts to strain. any advice?

  • I'd say work up to it slowly. Don't play to the point of pain. Get a metronome and start to add speed just a bit at a time. Keep at it ;)

    Practice!

    Todd

  • thanks man. i'd say i'm a pretty odd case cuz i learned how to play right-handed even tho i'm a lefty. so i flipped my guitar and my left hand picks faster with no strain. so i'm learnin lefthanded now too. but i'll take your advice for my right hand and keep at it.

  • maybe get an ambidextrous guitar with two necks :) Or build one. Steve Vai does it. Keep it up !

    Practice!

    Todd

  • Todd.. I don't have much time for practicing my guitar, but I do in my free time (Like.. 1 hour and 30 minutes at a max.) I've been playing for a week, and I got nearly the basics (Didn't take lessons, dunno what's the name of the chordes.) I just know how to play a couple of songs, what're your advices for me to become a better guitarist. btw, the video is awsome, thanks for uploading :D Seif.

  • Thanks for watching :) I'd say try to make the most out of the practice time you do have. Any practice is better than none. The more time you make for practice, the better you will get.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • tanhks bro genial!

  • No problem :) Much more is in the works :) Should be up soon!

    Todd

  • thanks for the vid i'll practice more and more everyday

  • Thanks for watching :) Sounds like you are on the way! it really does boil down to practice. Simple as that.

    Todd

  • holy crap you can do that fast lol i can even come close to that

  • hahah  jesssssssuuuussss......

  • Well thanks :) It's really not that hard with enough practice. A hour a day keeps fingers at play :)

    Todd

  • Sorry, new question: The metrenome when I practice it, im trying to hit a note each tick right?

  • You can do it that way yes, but is can also serve just to keep time. E.G. It clicks once per four beats and you make four pick strokes.

    Todd

  • :O ..... dude youre sick....5*

  • Thanks :) I've worked hard to become so. It really is just a matter of practice.

    Todd

  • thanks man

  • No problem :) More on the way.

    Todd

  • Make sure you practice using a metronome...very important!!! Not only will your picking speed increase by practicing the scale exercises, you will constantly be improving your timing which is just as important. You can probably download a free metronome for your PC so you would have no excuse for bad timing.

  • Well said. It's always better to practice with a metronome. You can download a software metronome for free online. If you have an actual metronome, so much the better :)

    Todd

  • Awesome lesson!!

    I'm gonna practice that :)

    5*

  • Thanks :) Please do! If you can get this one down, it will prep you for lots of other things. It's a great way to work up your speed.

    Todd

  • how often would you recommend practicing speed picking a day and how?

  • Good question. I"d start by practicing about an hour a day focusing more on stuff you need work on. If your arms start to hurt, or your hands, STOP PLAYING. Don't play to the point of injury. Gently stretch before practice. Pick some scales you like and run them up and down with a metronome. It can get a little tedious if you don't switch it up. Keep it fresh :)

    Practice!

    Todd

  • Is this a bit the same like double picking? up-down

    because that's really hard =(

    trying to do a small double picking solo, practicing for like 2 hrs but still aint good :/

  • Yup ;) Same think. It just takes practice, really. Be consistent, try to practice every day and you will get it ;)

    Todd

  • do you just build up that kind of speed with alternate picking over time? or am i doing it wrong? because i alternate pick and couldn't pick that fast for the life of me. is there some sort of technique with alternate picking that I am missing out on?

  • It really does just take a lot of practice. It will get easier over time. Some players can do it in a few months, some players can take years. The secret is to practice every day.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • thanks! when you pick fast like that, are you just tremolo picking but incorporating other techniques or something? or are you really just alternate picking but can do it really fast?

    thanks a lot Todd! This clears up a lot

  • In this particular lesson, it's just up stroke down stroke, but depending on the shape used, you might use "economy picking" where you combine multiple up or down strokes.

    Pratice!

    Todd

  • isn't economy picking also where you include hammer-ons and pull-offs?

  • I guess it could include those things. Though typically, it has to do with blend repeated up and down strokes.

    Todd

  • Thanks tod

    ....

    Gotta Practice!

    [me]

  • No problem :) More to come!

    Practice!

    Todd

  • Well said!

    Practice!

    Todd

  • Ur vids r awsome do u have any vids on solo teqniques??

  • Thanks for watching :) Some solo vids are coming up!

    Practice!

    Todd

  • Thanks Todd

  • Thanks for watching ;) More on the way.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • double pick?

  • Alternate picking.

  • my notes don't sound right when i do that. The notes themselves are fine, but the sound of the pick rubbing on the string drowns out the sound of the guitar.when i play slowly, i'm fine, but when i started skimming the top of the strings only, i get in trouble. what should i do?

  • Practice?

  • Reminds me of the diminished scale, which is a good scale for speeding up.

  • what do you mean by double picking?

    great lesson by the way :)

  • Alternate picking.

  • yeah Practice!

  • thanks very much. I have a feeling your videos are gonna help a lot :).

  • That would work too :)

    Practice!

    Todd

  • todd ur GOD..!!

  • Well thanks ;)

    Practice!

    Todd

  • by the way your lessons are the best i've seen on the net :D going to follow it

  • Thanks for watching :) Much more on the way!

    Practice!

    Todd

  • Well thanks :)

    Practice!

    Todd

  • hey todd, i've been playing guitar for about a year and started to take it seriously 4 months ago. but i still suck, im struggling with the picking, my hands can do it, do you have any tips for how to hold the pick, or should i just find a way to hold it comfortable, i kinda hold it like im holding a pen -.- i really wanna get better

  • I'd say watch all of the lessons in this series and try to practice about an hour each day.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • Watch the rest of the vids and try to find a way of holding it that feels right. It really comes down to preference.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • nice. I'm gonna keep PRACTICING!!!! Your lessons have helped alot...

  • Great to hear! :)

    Practice!

    Todd

  • Well said!

    Practice!

    Todd

  • you make it seem so easy ^^

  • Thanks :) They say true skill is effortless, it's just that becoming skillful takes tons of effort :)

    Practice!

    Todd

  • Todd, where is a good site to start from square one?

  • its all about muscle memory and practice.

  • The more practice the better ;)

    Practice!

    Todd

  • sorry if i sound like a bit of a dick...

    but when you say double pick, do you just mean pick twice as fast or am i missing something :/

    -Tom-

  • NP :) It is actually just slang from back in the day. When I say "Double Pick" I'm just talking about alternate picking. Upstroke, downstroke, repeat.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • Hey Todd,

    Thanks for your videos, they are really helpful.

    Just one question: why fingers 1, 2 and 3 and not 1, 3 and 4?

  • Good question! I tend to use 123 above the 12th fret.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • practise

    practise

    practise

    practise

    PRACTISE!!!!!!!!!!

    what are you waiting for quit reading comments and go practise

  • Well said!

    Practice!

    Todd

  • Has that guitar got 7 strings????

  • Yes ;) It does have 7 strings. It's a 7 string Ibanez RG. The 7th string is a low B.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • im on technique no. 13 im following it.. :D thanks todd

  • Great! Keep it up!

    Practice!

    Todd

  • great video!

    its helped alot

    do you have any tips on increasing pinkie finger strength?

    thanks

  • Thanks for watching :) Glad the vids are helping! Great question on pinkie work. Lessons to come on that!

    Practice!

    Todd

  • Hi todd i have lost my hope i wanna be a god guitar player but its so hard to play fast ;( i cant wait no more i realy wanna play fast

    sry for my bad english

  • I feel your pain. I really there was an easy way to get from slow to fast, but the only real way is to.......Practice!

    Todd

  • hehe i know i have practice that 5 h every day now :)

  • Well said!

    Practice!~

    Todd

  • my hands hurt so much...lol...

  • I feel your pain!

    Practice!

    Todd

  • my hands are gona fall off

    xDD

  • Well said :)

    Practice!

    Todd

  • Hey todd, I've having some major issues getting my picking speed up. I'm not sure whether it's the way I hold my pick, whether the pick isn't thick enough, or if I am just picking incorrectly. I'm almost positive it is in fact my picking hand messing up me up right now.

    What can you suggest to help me speed it up? I'm getting frustrated.

    I love your videos btw.

  • Thanks for watching :) First, I'd say watch every lesson in this series. Then search for more vids on pick angle/holding. Also, keep an eye out for my upcoming DVD which will have an intense series of picking lessons. Lastly and above all, Practice!

    Todd

  • wow, i will "PRACTICE THAT!" xD

  • Well said!

    Practice!

    Todd

  • Some right hand technique, please? do u use alternate picking or economy picking or what? :) i would be happy for a fast and a really explaining answer.

    MvH

  • Much right hand stuff on the way. Keep an eye out for my upcoming DVD where I will fully explore the issue in much more detail.

    Practice!

    Todd

  • when i play e-15-12--12-15 double picked, i b------15-----

    get this annoying pull off when i lift my finger to go from b-15 to e-12. Can you please help me ? Soz i can t explain it well. Thnx !

  • It sounds like you need to work on your palm muting. Use your right palm on the bridge to mute strings you are not picking.

    Practice!

    Todd