Would you like to
play guitar faster? Although speed alone will not make
great music, having the ability to play a little faster always make it
easier to play a little slower. But how do you go about building more speed
on the guitar? Here are seven speed improvement tips for you to try.
1.
Make Speed Your Goal
If you want to get faster at playing guitar then you should make that an
explicit goal. Fill your goal list with songs and new techniques to learn
then you won't have time to work on your speed.
To make best progress at increasing your speed work with techniques and
songs you know already. Set speed goals for them and track them.
2. Practice Every Day
To move quickly around the fingerboard your fingers must get to know it
intimately. Daily practice is the best way to ensure this, so if you are not
practicing every day then make sure you start.
3. Slow Practice
To get faster you often have to get slower. More speed results from
better accuracy and the best way to ensure your finger movements are
accurate is to practice slowly.
4. Reduce Finger Movement
To play guitar faster you must reduce the amount of movement your fingers
make. Use slow practice to study each chord change, scale or lick and try to
figure out how to play the same thing while moving your fingers less.
5. Take Your Mind Off It
Your own concentration can be a barrier to faster playing. When you
concentrate intensely, thinking about every movement you make your muscles
move less fluidly and your overall playing will be slower.
Try to let your mind wander as you practice and give your autopilot a
chance to take control. You can develop this ability by playing with
distractions - turn on the TV, chat with someone, or go and practice out
doors in a place where there's plenty to watch.
6. Film Your Fingers
An effective way to see how efficient your finger movements are is to
film yourself. Fix a camera focused closely on your fingering or picking
hand as you practice - for best results film from several angles. When you
review your film you'll notice problems you don't see while you play.
7. Get The Right Tools
There's no doubt about it, the right tool makes any job easier. Make sure
you have at least one of the following tools to help you practice your
guitar speed: metronome, jam tracks, sampler/looper, slow-down (and speed
up!) software, Guitar Pro (has loops and speed controls), guitar speed
trainer software, guitar speed training program.
There you have seven different ways to improve your guitar speed. Pick
one and add it to your guitar practice routine this week if you're serious
about playing faster.
