Shredding.

Part 1 - Fundamentals
author: Spanner date: 04/12/2005 category: guitar techniques

rating: 9.3 / votes: 154 

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In this lesson I am going to teach you guys how to really build your speed and technique,
and end up playing like your heroes (Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai, whoever you are in to). This
is the first in a series of lessons (they are all too long to put as one). Introduction.
Shredding is a guitar style that most players like to refer to as literally taking the guitar
up and playing as fast as you can (with proper guitar playing of course not just random
notes and random times), and since I have been playing/listening to it for the last 25
years of my guitar playing life, I have been led to believe the same thing. If you people
do not know I am talking about when I talk of a "shredder," take Zakk Wylde for example
or Kirk Hammet or Steve Vai. Still lost? Well simply put, they literally pick their
instruments up and let them scream! In this lesson (series of lessons), I am going to
teach you all how to become great shredders like the men mentioned above, lets get
started. There are many different styles that can be applied to shred as a musical style
(guitar style) itself, but we will just spend these first few lessons building up your speed
and technique. There are hundreds, of techniques used in shredding, and to list them all
would probably take up a full page on your Microsoft word, so let's just stick with the
main ones for now. The main techniques used in shredding include: 1) Legato 2) Tapping
3) Alternate picking 4) Sweep picking 5) Economy picking 6) String skipping You have all
undoubtedly dealt with these techniques before, so here is just a quick recap/revision 1.
Legato - Legato is simply a technique where you play notes "smoothly" (Legato means
smooth) which means hammering on and pulling off. When playing legato make sure you
keep your fretting hand in a boxed position and make sure you can not differentiate
between the picked and legato notes. Check Legato Lesson out if you want a better intro.
Legato as I mentioned above is to try to emulate smooth notes in your guitar playing, or
very fast position shifting. Legato is good with the fact that it is one handed (in some
cases) as it means you can tap with your right hand while simultaneously tapping with
your left hand, which can produce some cool sounds - we will look into this in future
lessons. 2. Tapping - Tapping is a form of legato. Left hand tapping could be described as
legato if you don't pick any notes as you tap them. However right hand tapping, means
fretting notes with the fingers of your picking hand. When performing tapping licks, tap
with the side of your finger and then draw it back into your hand, and if possible use the
other fingers of your tapping hand to mute unwanted noise. Check Tapping Lesson out if
you want a better intro. Tapping could be described as a technique used to emulate wide
intervals or just simply notes going all over the place Eddie Van Halen. There are a lot of
cool things you can do with tapping, but we will stick with the fundamentals for now. 3.
Alternate Picking - This is a technique where you simply (instead of picking towards the
floor constantly) you down pick towards the floor, and then when bringing it back up, pick
the string again. When alternate picking, make sure you keep your picking hand loose, as
if you try too fast, you will be slowed down, and make sure you have good control of the
pick - hold it tight, but not too tight. Check Alternate Picking Lesson out if you want a better
intro. This technique could be used to emulate a fiery and aggressive style Dick Dale -
Pulp Fiction theme or to emulate a long sustained note Jimi Hendrix. 4. Sweep Picking -
This is a technique where you play the notes by "sweeping" across the strings. If you
finger a chord and just play the notes contained in it (play each string separately) you are
sweep picking. When sweep picking, again keep your wrist loose (use a wrist action when
performing sweep and alternate picking), and when sweeping down towards the floor, tilt
it slightly to increase your speed. Check Sweep Picking Lesson out if you want a better
intro. Sweep picking is again mainly used to emulate wide intervals or just arpeggios
themselves. 5. Economy Picking - This is a technique which combines the ideas of sweep
and alternate picking (taking the most direct route to each new string). If you alternate
pick any standard scale fingering, while playing your next notes on other strings, you are
economy picking. When you economy pick you are basically combining the ideas of sweep
and alternate picking, so make sure you keep your wrist loose and try not to tense up,
and when switching strings make sure the pick is ready to (it is moving in the correct
direction). Economy Picking is the method most shredders use to beef up their playing
and double their speed. 6. String Skipping - This is simply a technique where you use the
ideas of sweep picking and "skip" strings, while sweeping. When string skipping, you are
using again the ideas of sweep and alternate picking, except you have to think of it as
going over ramps (the strings you have to avoid are the ramps). Check String Skipping
Lesson out if you want a better intro. This is also a technique used to emulate wide
intervals (or vice versa - depending where you start). Shred tunes. Did you think I was
only going to leave you with the fundamentals? Oh come on, I am not that evil. When I
am teaching my students complex techniques or styles such as this, I try to put it in a fun
sort of a matter (must be why I am a genius), so I am going to leave you with a tune to
practice the techniques I mentioned above. Some of you may have heard of this tune,
some may have not; it is called "Colorado Bulldog," by Mr. Big. Now this tune will take an
awful lot of time effort and practice but it will pay off and prepare you for the hard
lessons coming up. Since this is a long tune and would take up a lot of space, I am only
going to transcribe licks I feel you do good learning.
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------4-7-9------7-9-12---------9-12-14---------12-14-16---------|
D|-2h5h7-------5h7h9-------7h9h12----------9h12h14----------12h14h17-|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|---------------------------------------10-12-15-----------12-15-17-|
B|-----------------------12-15-17----------------10h12h15------------|
G|-14-16-19----------------12h14h16----------------------------------|
D|---------14h17h19--------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|-19p17p15-----------17p15p12------------15p12p10-------------------|
B|------------17-15-12-------------15-12-10-----------------17p15p12-|
G|----------------------------------------------------16-14-12-------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------15p12p10-----------------------------------------------------|
G|-14-12-9--------------16p14p12------14p12p9------12p9p7------------|
D|----------------17-14-12--------14-12-9-------12-9-7-----9-7-5-----|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------s7|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------8-10-12-15p14p12------------------|
B|------------------------8h10h12--------------------15-13-12-15b(17)|
G|------------------5-7-9--------------------------------------------|
D|------------5h7h9--------------------------------------------------|
A|------3-5-7--------------------------------------------------------|
E|3h5h7--------------------------------------------------------------|

E|19-17-15-----------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------19-17-15--------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------16-14-12-----------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------16-14-12--------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------14-12-10-----------------7-9-10|
E|---------------------------------------------14-12-10-7-8-10-------|

E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------17-------19-|
G|-------17---------19p17-19-19p17--17-------17h19---20p17---20p17---|
D|-17-1919p17-19----------------19---17h19--------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|-------------------17---------------17-----------------------------|
B|---20p17--17-2020p19-20b(22)--20-19h20p19p17--17-19p17---17-20-19-|
G|-20--------------------------------------------20----------20------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-h20p19p17-20-20p19p17--17-----------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------20---20-19p17--19-17-----------------14-|
D|------------------------------------------19-----19-19--14-16-17---|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|----------------14----------------14----------------14----------16-|
D|-17-16-14-16-17--17-16-14-16-17-17-16-14-16-17-17-16-17-19---19----|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|----------------16------------------16-------------------16--------|
D|-17-16-17-19----19-17-16-17-19----19-17-16-17-19----19-17-17-19-21-|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------17-------------------|
G|---------17----------------17----17h19h20--20-19-17-19-20-17-19-20-|
D|-21-19-17-19-21--21-19-17-19-21------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 Tremolo picked-----------|
E|----------17--------------17-19-20-22b(24)--12-13-14-15-16-12-16---|
B|17-19-20---20-19-17-19-20-----------------11-13-14-15-16-----------|
G|-----------------------------------------------11-12-13-14-1513-16|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---7h8-t(9)-7h8-t(9)-7h8-t(9)-7h8-t(9)-7h8-t(9)-7h8-t(9)-7h8-t(9)--|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|-------10-t(14)p10p9--t(14)12-t(14)p12p10p9-t(14)p10p9-------------|
B|9h10h12-------------12----------------------12--------12-t(14)p10p9|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

Legato
author: UG Team date: 07/31/2003 category: guitar techniques

rating: 6.5 / votes: 47 

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This week we'll do a technique/style that's covered a lot on the Internet, but is always
touched on very lightly. Full of musical terms and breif explanations with hardly any
practical excercises in sight. The technique we're going to be covering is a favourite of
musicians such as Hendrix and Satriani. This technique is legato. For those unfamiliar
with the term, learn your theory! Alright alright we'll define it here. Legato means to play
smoothly, so that each note contains no pause between them. This is accomplished on a
string instrument using slurs (wich we defined last week as being hammer ons and pull
offs) and slides. One of the best examples of heavy use of legato on guitar is the song
"Flying In a Blue Dream" by Joe Satriani. We'll start of extremely simple for the first
example. We'll play the C major scale in legato.
D|-----------------9/10--
A|---------8h10h12-------
E|-8h10h12---------------

The we can go back

 D|-10p9p7-------------------
A|--------10p8p7------------
E|---------------10p8p7/8---
As with any excersise play it slow and work your way up. You want each note to be
smooth and clear. That's the basic idea behind legato on the guitar right there. We'll do
several more excercises to get the feel of some of the things we can do. We don't have to
do triplets. Here's an example of quadruplets and quintuplets:
E|--10h12p13p12p10--12h13h15h17----
- Garett Spencley (http://www.mp3.com/garett_spencley)

Sweep Picking
author: UG Team date: 07/31/2003 category: guitar techniques

To start things off I'm going to do a lesson on a technique that's

becoming very popular as of late and that people on UG seem to talk
about frequently: sweep picking. The idea
rating: 7.7 / votes: 139 
behind sweep picking is that you're going to
play notes, one after another, that are on Vote
strings next to each other, rather than
playing notes on the same string. It's the same idea as strumming a
chord, except with pick sweeping you want the individual notes to
stand out rather than playing them all at the same time. This allows
you to play notes one after another much faster than if we were
using other techniques such as alternate picking. The first exercise we'll do will be an
arpeggio in D minor (v = downstroke ^ = upstroke):
v v v ^ ^ ^ v v v ^ ^ ^
E|-----5-3---------1-0------
B|---6-----5-----3-----1----
G|-7---------5-3---------0--
D|--------------------------
A|--------------------------
E|--------------------------
The first set of 3 notes are played strumming down, one after another. The next step are
played in up strokes. When you play each note, instead of lifting the pick up after plucking,
let it fall onto the next string. You're "sweeping" the strings. The next exercise is almost
identical except we're adding another string.
v v v v ^ ^ ^ ^ v v v v ^ ^ ^ ^
E|-------5-3-------------1-0--------
B|-----6-----5---------3-----1------
G|---7---------5-----3---------0----
D|-7-------------5-3-------------2--
A|----------------------------------
E|----------------------------------
We can then add a 5th string to this riff if we want.
v v v v v ^ ^ ^ v v v v v ^ ^ ^ v v v v v ^ ^ ^ v v v v v ^ ^ ^
E|---------5---------------3---------------1---------------0-------
B|-------6---6-----------5---5-----------3---3-----------1---1-----
G|-----7-------7-------5-------5-------3-------3-------0-------0---
D|---7-----------7---5-----------5---3-----------3---2-----------2-
A|-5---------------3---------------1---------------3---------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------
The possibilities are endless. You can use any notes, any arpeggios. We can even add
hammer ons and pull offs if we want.
v v v ^ ^ ^ v v v ^ ^ ^
E|-------5-3-------------1-0h1p0------
B|---5h6-----3h5-----1h3---------1----
G|-7-------------5-3---------------0--
D|------------------------------------
A|------------------------------------
E|------------------------------------
That concludes this week's lesson. I hope people find this lesson to be useful. I'd appreciate
any input, corrections, suggestions, critiques etc. - Garett Spencley
(http://www.mp3.com/garett_spencley)

Tapping In Depth
author: urgey_rock date: 01/19/2005 category: guitar techniques

rating: 9.5 / votes: 171 

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Hello everybody. As I know that many of you have had difficulties learning tapping
through the other lessons, I am going to try to make a more in depth lesson, for those
who struggle. Because it is a fairly difficult technique to learn, but I wouldn't know
because I had a video explain to me. However, for more advanced tapping folk, I highly
suggest that you read another lesson, because this only covers the basic tapping
technique, so don't get your hopes up. Enough of this intro though, and onto my lesson.
To learn tapping, I am going to take you back to basics to start off with. Hammer-ons.
The hammer-on, is a pretty basic technique. This requires you to use your left hand and
pluck a note, perhapes to start with, use your index finger to fret it. After the note is
plucked, leave it ringing and, without the right hand, push any other finger on it, so it
gracefully switches to the new note that you just made. It may need excessive amounts
of practicing (depending on your skill) to master, but I'm almost positive most of you
know how to do it. On a tab, hammer-ons are usually represented by an "h," except on
actual tabs, which have a curve thing with h. o. above it. But on net tabs, like the ones
on this site, the "h" is the most common occurrence. Here is a visual example:
|--5h6---------------|
|--------6h8---------|
|--------------8h11--|
|--------------------|
|--------------------|
|--------------------|
Once you can do that (and I advise you be able to do all of it, especially being able to do
8h11 with at least your index finger and pinky. If you can't even do that, you need to
learn how), then try this excercise below:
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------9h10h11h12--|
|--------------------------9h10h11h12-------------------|
|--------------5h6h7h8----------------------------------|
|--1h2h3h4----------------------------------------------|

|--------------1h2h3h4--|
|--5h6h7h8--------------|
|-----------------------|
|-----------------------|
|-----------------------|
|-----------------------|
Note: Those 2 chunks are the same excercise. Now, I know some of you will be tempted
to just slide your finger up the neck and say, "Hah! I can do that excercise!" Hell no. on
this excercise, use all 4 fingers, and hammer on nice and clean. It doesn't have to be
incredibally fast or anything, just make sure to use all your fingers, Once you can do that,
we can proceed. Pull-Offs. Are the complete opposites of our friend, the hammer-on,
above. Just put, say, your ring finger (the one next to the pinky) on a fret, and have a
finger bhind it on a lower pitched fret behind it. Nowe just pull the higher pitched finger
away, while sort of plucking it with the same finger, and be sure to leave the lower
pitched finger on the same fret. The pitch should drop, its variance depending on the
space you left between your fingers. On a net tab, a pull off is a "p," and on a regular tab,
it is a curve with p. o above it. Heres a visual:
|--6p5--------------|
|--------7p5--------|
|--------------8p5--|
|-------------------|
|-------------------|
|-------------------|
Now, if you can do that, then try to do this excercise:
|--12p11p10p9------------------------------|
|-------------------8p7p6p5----------------|
|-------------------------------4p3p2p1p0--|
|------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------|

|------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------|
|--12p11p10p9------------------------------|
|-------------------8p7p6p5----------------|
|-------------------------------4p3p2p1p0--|
Now, just remember not to slide and to use all of your fingers. And no picking, except 1
to get started. Before you go on to the next section on trills, get comfortable with these
babies first. Trills. Trills put everything covered above and utilize them to make a whole
pile of legato phrasing. Legato means gracefully. So basically, no picks=legato.
Everything above is forms of legato phrasing. So don't use picks for any of it. Also, trills
and the stuff above is done with the left hand. Remember that. So, back to what I was
saying, tills are combining hammer-ons and pull-offs into one crazy combo. All you have
to be able to do, is be able to hammer-on then pull (with the same two fingers) fluently.
It may seem difficult, but it will soon become a breeze.
First of try this:
|---------------------|
|--5h7p5h7p5h7p5h7p5--|
|---------------------|
|---------------------|
|---------------------|
|---------------------|
Now just remember to read the hs and ps and use your index and ring fingers to make
that stretch. And, if you haven't done it YET, for heaven's sake use your left hand! I can't
stress this enough, because if you are thinking, "Oh look at me I can tap," and you use
your right hand for thse excercises, it won't sound anything like tapping. Now, I'm sure
most of you won't do that, but you'd be surprised what people do these days. Heres a
more difficult excercise:
|--1h3p1p0h1h3p1p0h1h3--|
|-----------------------|
|-----------------------|
|-----------------------|
|-----------------------|
|-----------------------|
Repeat that for a while, and you will be surprised how helpful it can be. This next
excercise is good for trilling with all of your fingers:
|---5h6p5h7p5h8p5h7p5h6p5--|
|--------------------------|
|--------------------------|
|--------------------------|
|--------------------------|
|--------------------------|

Then try this:

|---6h7p6h8p6h7p6--|
|------------------|
|------------------|
|------------------|
|------------------|
|------------------|

And finally this:

|---7p8h7--|
|----------|
|----------|
|----------|
|----------|
|----------|
For the above three excercises, what you are essentially doing is keeping one finger
stationary, while the others trill on it. If you practice all 3 of these alot, you will become
an ultimate master (haha) at trilling. If you want a good audio example of a good trill
excercise, listen to the begginning of AC/DC's thunderstruck. Practice that. If you want to
see it, I will post it below: this is all done on the B string (second thinnest and second
highest pitch).
|---0h4p0h7p0h4p0h7 Repeat a few times

|---0h5p0h8p0h5p0h8 Repeat a few times

Repeat above sequence twice, being sure to use your pinky and index finger to make that
stretch. Following that, the rest of the intro is like this:
|---12p0h10p0h9p0h10p0h9p0h7p0h9p0
|---h5p0h7p0h4p0h5p0h4p0h5
In my opinion thats a good trill excercise. After you are comfortable with that, we can
move onto the subject of the lesson. Tapping. The above tells it all. Tapping is one of the
most overused techniques around these days. But I like it. So now, I should explain what
tapping is. It's a giant trill. Only with an extra hand thrown in, to make phrasings that
would otherwise e impossible with one hand, a breeze with two of them. So I want you to
get your guitar, and just do this trill right here:
|--------------|
|---5h8p5h8p5--|
|--------------|
|--------------|
|--------------|
|--------------|
Now I want you to do it, but in slow motion. If possible, use you index and ring fingers to
reach that stretch. it may seem hard now, but it will make things a bunch easier. Now do
it in slow motion. Now, when you are ready, hammer-on your right index finger onto the
twelfth fret (if your finger seems a bit weak at first, do not fret (I made a funny) you will
get the hang of it in time), and then pull it off (all done in slow motion) and continue with
the trill, with that newly added note. Now I'm guessing that it sounds kinda funky, but
hopefully you aren't lost just yet. So play that piece with the added right finger and keep
it going for as long as you can. Be sure not to use a pick, but you may feel more
comfortablr with your right hand middle finger instead of your right hand index finger.
Either way is fine, but do not use a pick. Tapping is still a form of legato phrasing, no
matter how you look at it. So, you are probably saying, this is pretty lame. Well try this
next excercise, and it will sound better:
T T T
|---------------------|
|---12p5h8h12p5h8h12--|
|---------------------|
|---------------------|
|---------------------|
|---------------------|
Notice the "T" means, you guessed it, Tap the note below it. Now, to get a nicer sound,
when you get to the point where a finger is hammer-oned to the 8th fret, do not release
it until the 12th fret has been tapped. Because you would have to move your finger on
the 8th fret in order to pull off to the 5th fret, by the use of your right hand. Still don't
get it? Well an audio example ought to help. Ever heard of a little song called Eruption? If
you haven't, you probably should. It is by Van Halen on their first album entitled (get
this) Van Halen. At the very end is a very nice sounding tapping part, that is actually not
that difficult to do. Here is the tab for that part:
This is all done on the b string.

T T T
|---9p2h5h9p2h5h9p2h5

T T T
|---10p2h5h10p2h5h10p2h5

T T T
|---10p4h7h10p4h7h10

T T T
|---12p4h712p4h7h12p4h7
 T T T
|---12p5h9h12p5h9h12p5h9 This is a hard stretch

T T T
|---13p5h8h13p5h8h13p5h8

T T T
|---15p7h10h15p7h10h15p7h10

T T T
|---17p9h12h17p9h12h17p9h12
Remember to take it step by step, and if you need to, slow it down a bit. For the rest of
the tapping part, there are about a gazillion Eruption tabs out there, so go get it if you
want it, but it s a bit difficult to do at this level. So folks thats it. You (hopefully) have
mastered at least the basics of tapping, although, it covers the other techniques o, more
so than the tapping, I find those are essential in learning to tap. If you have any
questions, please e-mail me at [email protected].

Sweep Picking
author: UG Team date: 07/31/2003 category: guitar techniques

To start things off I'm going to do a lesson on a technique that's

becoming very popular as of late and that people on UG seem to talk
about frequently: sweep picking. The idea
rating: 7.7 / votes: 139 
behind sweep picking is that you're going to
play notes, one after another, that are on Vote
strings next to each other, rather than
playing notes on the same string. It's the same idea as strumming a
chord, except with pick sweeping you want the individual notes to
stand out rather than playing them all at the same time. This allows
you to play notes one after another much faster than if we were
using other techniques such as alternate picking. The first exercise we'll do will be an
arpeggio in D minor (v = downstroke ^ = upstroke):
v v v ^ ^ ^ v v v ^ ^ ^
E|-----5-3---------1-0------
B|---6-----5-----3-----1----
G|-7---------5-3---------0--
D|--------------------------
A|--------------------------
E|--------------------------
The first set of 3 notes are played strumming down, one after another. The next step are
played in up strokes. When you play each note, instead of lifting the pick up after plucking,
let it fall onto the next string. You're "sweeping" the strings. The next exercise is almost
identical except we're adding another string.
v v v v ^ ^ ^ ^ v v v v ^ ^ ^ ^
E|-------5-3-------------1-0--------
B|-----6-----5---------3-----1------
G|---7---------5-----3---------0----
D|-7-------------5-3-------------2--
A|----------------------------------
E|----------------------------------
We can then add a 5th string to this riff if we want.
v v v v v ^ ^ ^ v v v v v ^ ^ ^ v v v v v ^ ^ ^ v v v v v ^ ^ ^
E|---------5---------------3---------------1---------------0-------
B|-------6---6-----------5---5-----------3---3-----------1---1-----
G|-----7-------7-------5-------5-------3-------3-------0-------0---
D|---7-----------7---5-----------5---3-----------3---2-----------2-
A|-5---------------3---------------1---------------3---------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------
The possibilities are endless. You can use any notes, any arpeggios. We can even add
hammer ons and pull offs if we want.
v v v ^ ^ ^ v v v ^ ^ ^
E|-------5-3-------------1-0h1p0------
B|---5h6-----3h5-----1h3---------1----
G|-7-------------5-3---------------0--
D|------------------------------------
A|------------------------------------
E|------------------------------------
That concludes this week's lesson. I hope people find this lesson to be useful. I'd appreciate
any input, corrections, suggestions, critiques etc. - Garett Spencley
(http://www.mp3.com/garett_spencley)

String Skipping
author: UG Team date: 07/31/2003 category: guitar techniques

rating: 9 / votes: 30 

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Here's a lesson on string skipping, the bane of many a guitarist's life. String skipping can
be quite difficult to do, but if you master it you can create hi-tech sounding licks that can
help your solos really stand out. If you want to hear some cool string skipping, listen to
Paul Gilbert and/or buy his videos Intense Rock, Intense Rock II, and Terrifying Guitar
Trip. Lets start with simple repetitive patterns:
Fig 1:
v = upstroke
^ = downstroke

v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ etc.
e|-12-13-15-------------------------------|
B|-------------------12-14-15-------------|
G|----------12-13-15----------------------|
D|----------------------------12-14-15----|
A|----------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------|
e|----------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------|
G|-12-13-15-------------------------------|
D|-------------------12-13-15-------------|
A|----------12-14-15----------------------|
E|----------------------------12-13-15-12~|
That one was in E diminished (half-whole). One thing you may have noticed about that
lick was that it consists entirely of mini phrases of three notes each. So, initially, you'll
want to set your metronome to triplets (what, you don't have a metronome? Buy one! ).
But, if you want to make things sound even more complex, set it to semiquavers. (More
on this in the lesson on phrasing, also on this site). Also, if you followed the picking
arrows correctly, you might have seen that you were using 'outside' picking, meaning
that with each string skip, the pick first travels over and past the string in the direction of
the last pick stroke, changes direction and hits the string on the 'outside'. The alternative
to this is of course called inside picking. To execute Fig 1 using inside picking, simply
switch the pick stroke directions. I personally prefer outside picking because I find it
cleaner and easier, although physically it is slightly less efficient than inside picking.
String skipping is often used to play scalar passages like Fig 2. Nuno Bettencourt,
formerly of Extreme, often played lines like these:
Fig 2:
repeat
e|-8---------------8----------------------|
B|----------------------------------------|
G|---12-10-9-10-12---12-10-9-10-12--------|
D|----------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------|
Here's a Paul Gilbert lick off of the Intense Rock II video that involves string skipping to
play arpeggios:
Fig 3: (D major)
repeat
e|-10----------------10----------------10-|
B|----------------------------------------|
G|----14-11----11-14----11-14----11-14----|
D|----------12----------------12----------|
A|----------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------|
If you're really brave, use string skipping in conjuction with sweeping, legato and tapping
to create really wild licks!
Fig 4: (E phrygian dominant, one of my fav. modes)

( ) = r/h tap.

e|-------------------12h13h16h(17)/(19)---|
B|----------------12----------------------|
G|-------------13-------------------------|
D|----------14----------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------|
E|-12h13h16-------------------------------|

Fig 5: (A whole tone)

e|-------------16/18h20h(21)b(23)~--------|
B|----------------------------------------|
 G|-------14/18----------------------------|
D|----13----------------------------------|
A|-12-------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------|
E-mail me if you have any questions about this stuff or anything else guitar related.

More UG Team lessons:

How to Get a Metal Sound

Edited by Musicmann, Teresa, Tryme2, VermontGal and 1 other

This article is going to show you how to get a metal sound/tone. I will assume
you're on a budget and list low priced but great quality items.
Ad

EditSteps

1. 1

Choose a guitar. If you're wanting to play hard rock and metal songs, one thing I recommend
you do is put your Les Paul away and find a guitar better suited for metal. You should be able to
find a guitar as low as $250 used and $3,000+ new.

Ad
 2.

2
Choose an amp. If you're on a budget and need a good quality and low priced amp, I
recommend Line 6 Spider IV models. These amps have built in distortion and the 75w alone is
loud enough to get every dog in your neighbor hood howling.

3. 3

If you go with an amp that does NOT have built in distortion or if you want a separate
distortion pedal. To give you an example of what sound you can get from this, listen to The Dark
Eternal Night by Dream Theater. Petrucci used the Overdrive pedal in that song, and the tone
especially during the outro will put almost any metalhead on their knees. With your amp and
pedal remember 1 thing, use a lot of GAIN.

Shredding. Part 2 - Speed & Technique

author: Spanner date: 07/01/2005 category: guitar techniques

rating: 9.3 / votes: 99 

Vote

Hello my shredders, and welcome to the second lesson in a series on shred. Now before I
begin, let me presume, that you have read the previous lesson, and understand the
techniques, and have a decent technique, if not, go back and read it first, if so, lets get
going. As mentioned above, this lesson is a follow on form the "fundamentals," and I am
going to show you guys how to really build up your speed and technique, and end up
playing like your heros. We are going to focus on 6 main techniques: 1. Legato 2. Tapping
3. Alternate Picking 4. Sweep Picking 5. Economy Picking 6. String Skipping Which are all
vital echniques in learning when becoming a shredder. We will focus on other ones as
well, but these will be the main ones. Lets start with some practice licks:
1. Legato:

(Easy)
e|------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------10h12h13s15-17--|
G|------------------------------------9h11h12-----------------|
D|------------------0h2h4h5s7h9h10s12-------------------------|
A|----------0h2h3h5-------------------------------------------|
E|--0h2h3h5---------------------------------------------------|
Repeat this lick in reverse

(Easy/Moderate)
e|------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--0h2h3h5p3p2p0-0h3h5h7p5p3p0-0h5h7h8p7p5p0-0h7h8h10p8p7p0--|

e|--------------------|
B|--------------------|
G|--------------------|
D|--------------------|
A|--------------------|
E|--0h8h10h12p10p8p0--|
Repeat this lick in reverse and ignore the time space between the bars.
(Moderate)
e|--------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--0h2p0h3p0h5p0h3p0h2p0-0h3p0h5p0h7p0h5p0h3p0-0h5p0h7p0h8p0h--|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------|

e|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------|
A|--7p0h5p0-0h7p0h8p0h10p0h8p0h7p0-0h8p0h10p0h12--|
E|------------------------------------------------|
Repeat this lick in reverse

(Moderate/Advanced)
e|-------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--0h1h2h3h4p3p2p1p0-0h4h5h6h7p6p5p4p0-0h7h8h9h10p9p8p7p0h12--|
Repaet this lick in reverse
(Advanced)
e|--------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------12-15p14p13p12|
D|--------------------------------12-15p14p13p12----------------|
A|----------------12-15p14p13p12--------------------------------|
E|12-15p14p13p12------------------------------------------------|

e|----------------12-15p14p13p12-----------------------------------|
B|12-15p14p13p12---------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------11h12-10h11-9h10-8h9-7h8-6h7-5h6-|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--4h5-3h4-2h3-1h2-2p1p0-8p7p6h7p6p5h6p5p0-8h10p8h11p8h12p8h12--|
Repeat this example in reverse.
Practice tips: when playing Legato, it is important that you can you play each note
smoothly and cleanly, if you are doing it properly, the listener should be able to
differentiate between the picked and legato notes. When playing Legato, it is important to
keep the fingers of your fretting hand in a "box" position, as this will help you exert more
power on the strings.
2. Tapping:

(Easy, left hand throughout)

e|--t3p0h2h3p2p0-t5p0h3h5p3p0-t7p0h5h7p5p0-t10p0h7h10p7p0-t10s12--|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------|
G|----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------|

(Easy/Moderate, right hand throughout)

e|--12h15t19p12h15t19p15p12-12h15t20p12h15t20p15p12-t24--|
B|-------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|

(Moderate - left and right hand)

e|---------------------------------------------------|
B|-t19p15p12---------------t20p15p12-------------24--|
G|---------------t19p15p12--------------t20p15p12----|
D|---------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------|
this exercise requires you to alternate your tapping finger, use your little for the B string,
and your ring for the G (or whichever you like)
(Moderate/Advanced)
e|-----------------------------------|
B|--t17p8p5-t15p8p5-t14p8p5-t12p8p5--|
G|-----------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------|
This lick (like the one above) requires all 4 fingers of your tapping hand, choose which
fingers you are most comfortable with.
(Advanced - left and right handed)
e|t12h15t19p15p12---------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------t12h15t19p15pThe12--------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------t12h15h18p15p12----------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------t12h15h18p15p12|
A|------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------|
This exercise requires excellent coordination, and will take a lot of practice. Practice tips:
when tapping, as with legato, make sure all the notes are played smoothly and evenly, as
it will sound an awful better. Tap with the side of your finger and draw it back into your
hand, as this is what would happen if you performed a pull off anyway. 3. Alternate
Picking:
(Easy)
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--0-0-0-0-2-2-0-0-0-0-3-3-0-0-0-0-5-5-0-0-0-0-3-3-0-0-0-0-2-2-0-0--|

(Moderate, tremolo picked throughout)

e|--12-14-15--17-19-21-22-24-22-21-19-17--15-14-12--|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|

(Advanced)
e|--0-0-0-0-12-12-0-0-0-0-10-10-0-0-0-0-8-8-0-0-0-0|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|

e|-7-7-0-0-0-0-5-5-3-3-0--|
B|------------------------|
G|------------------------|
D|------------------------|
A|------------------------|
E|------------------------|
Practice tips: make sure you keep your picking hand loose when speed picking and try
not totense up at all, as if you do you will end up with some serious arm problems.
4. Sweep Picking:
(Easy)
e|------------3------------------0-------------------0--|
B|----------3---3--------------0---0---------------0----|
G|--------0-------0-----------2------2-----------0------|
D|------0-----------0-------2----------2-------2--------|
A|----2---------------2---0--------------0---2----------|
E|--3-------------------3------------------0------------|

(Moderate)
e|15p12----------12-19p15-----------15-22p19---------19-22b(24)--|
B|--------12---12-------------17----17-------------20---20-------|
G|-----------12-------------------16--------------------21-------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------|

3(Advanced)
e|12p7---------------------7-15p12---------------------------------12|
B|-----8-----------------8---------12----------------------------12--|
G|-------9-------------9--------------12----------------------12-----|
D|---------9---------9-------------------14----------------14--------|
A|-----------10-7h10------------------------14----------14-----------|
E|---------------------------------------------15p12h15--------------|

e|--19p15------------------------------15h19-24--|
B|--------17-------------------------17----------|
G|-----------16------------------16--------------|
D|--------------17------------17-----------------|
A|------------------19-14h19---------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------|
Practice tips: when sweep picking make sure you keep a wrist action as much as possible,
and try to "glide" as smoothly as possible over the string. When using this technique,
timing is a major issue, resist speeding up when picking towards the floor, and start
slowly and in time, then speed up.
5. Economy Picking:

(Easy, constant down-up-down-up picking)

e|-------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------7-9-10--|
G|----------------------6-7-9----------|
D|-----------4-6-7-7-9-----------------|
A|----4-5-7----------------------------|
E|5-7----------------------------------|

(Moderate, constant up and down picking)

e|-----------------------------------------------|
B|10-9-7---7-------------------------------------|
G|--------10--10-8-7-10-8-7----------------------|
D|----------------------------9-7-9--------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------12-13-14-15-|

e|--------------------------|
B|--------------------------|
G|--------------------------|
D|----------------12-13-14--|
A|--12-13-14-15-------------|
E|--------------------------|

(Advanced, constant up and down picking)

e|----7---7--7--7--7---7--7---7---------5-8-9-10-7----------------|
B|-5---3----------------------3---5-----5--------------8----------|
G|----------5--4------4--5------------5------------------7--------|
D|-----------------7------------------7---------------------9-----|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------10-|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------|
Practice tips: as economy picking means taking the most direct (economical way) to the
next string, make sure you keep your wrist loose, and try to use a wrist action as much
as possible. Start slow on this technique, and build up your speed gradually.
6. String skipping:

(Easy)
e|15-14-12--------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------15-13-12----------------------------------------|
G|--------16-14-12-----------------16-14-12-----------------------|
D|------------------------16-14-12------------------15-14-12------|
A|-----------------------------------------15-14-12---------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------15-12|

2(Advanced)
e|12--------------8-10-------------10-5----------------5-7---------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---10-------10-------9--------9-------------4-5----------5-7-----|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------8-12--------------7-10----------3-5------5-7-----------7-8|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
Practice tips: when string skipping, as I stated in the previous lesson, you have tothink of
yourself in a battle fireld, and the strings you dont want to play are the mines, or think of
them as ramps, and you are in a car. Make sure you keep your wrist loose when
sweeping and dont tense at all. Last notes on techniques: it is important when practicing
these techniques, to start slowly, and build up your speed gradually, as the proverb says
"you can not run before you walk," so just be patient and it will pay off. Also try to note
your weaknesses, and pay special attention to these. the When playing slow also try to
keep your timing in count, as when you speed up it will sound an awful lot better. Shred
Licks - lets steal some great licks:
1. A Dimebag Darrel style "sonic shape"
e|--------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------------11-12-15|
D|------------------------------------11-12-15-11h12h15---------|
A|------------------11-12-15-11h12h15---------------------------|
E|11-12-15-11h12h15---------------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------------11-12-15-11h12h15b(17)-|
B|-------------11-12-15-11h12h15--------------------------------|
G|11h12h15------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------|
2. A Steve Vai style Legato lick
e|8p5h7h8p7p5-----------------------------------------------|
B|------------8p5h6h8p6p5-----------------------------------|
G|------------------------7p5p4h7-5h7p5p4h5h7-7p3p5-7-3-5-0-|
D|----------------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------|

3. A Paul Gilbert style picking lick

e|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|------------14---------------------14--------------------16------16-|
D|14-16-17----17-16-14-16-17----16-14-16-17-19---19-17-16-16-17-19----|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------|

4. An Yngwie Malmsteen style picking lick

e|14-16-17-16-14-21-14-16-17-16-14-21-14-16-17-16-14-21-14-16-17-16--|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

5. An Eddie Van Halen style tapping lick

e|--------------------------------------------------------|
B|t12p5h8-t12p5h8-t2p5h8t12p5h8-t13p5h8t13p5h8-t13p5h8p5--|
G|--------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------|

6. A Paul Gilbert style string skip lick

e|---------5------8p5--5-----------|
B|---------------------------------|
G|---5h9---9p5-----9---9p5---------|
D|7-----------------------------7--|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|

7.

e|12p8---------8-13p10----------10-12p8--------8-10p7------7-------|
B|------10--10-----------12----12----------10--10---------8---9----|
G|---------9------------------13-----------------9--------------10-|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|

8. Kirk Hammet style picking lick

e|15-14-12-17-15-14-19-17-15-20-19-17-22-19-17-24--|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|
And for a metronome (for increasing your speed and working on your timing) click
www.guitarknowledgenet.com. Hope you enjoyed it and I will see you in part three