(This is a unique challenge for 2-hand synchronization). Practice shred guitar licks on one string. Then practice to close the gap between your 2-hand sync guitar speed threshold and your overall guitar speed with these harmonic minor licks.Īnother way to get your hands in sync (and build guitar speed) is to: This is called your 2-hand synchronization guitar speed threshold. … and guitar speed where you can keep your hands in sync. To play these neoclassical shred guitar licks clean & fast, your hands had better be in sync.įirst: find the gap between your overall top guitar speed on the neoclassical guitar licks I showed you… Neoclassical Guitar Shred Tip #5: Get Your Hands In Sync They had to work much harder (and longer) to play their shred guitar licks at fast speeds. So, they developed their guitar speed in spite of the inefficiencies of strict alternate picking… not because it is a superior technique. Most guitar players from the 1980s & 1990s (when neoclassical guitar playing was gaining momentum) and 2000’s did not have anyone to teach them directional picking. Question: “But Tom Hess, if directional picking is the best technique for guitar speed, why do many neoclassical guitar players use strict alternate picking in their shred guitar licks?”Īnswer: Directional picking is a relatively new guitar technique compared to alternate picking. Practice directional picking on the harmonic minor shred guitar licks I showed in this article. This makes directional picking the ideal technique for neoclassical playing (where you need to building a lot of guitar speed). This reduces the motion of your picking hand by 1/3 (which is ideal for playing shred guitar licks). Sometimes it means you’ll be playing 2 downstrokes or 2 upstrokes in a row. …and change strings by picking in the direction of the next string You’ll have a much easier time playing shred guitar licks fast & clean with directional picking.ĭirectional picking is where you use alternate picking on the same string…
![harmonic minor scale guitar harmonic minor scale guitar](https://www.jazz-guitar-licks.com/medias/images/harmonization-of-the-harmonic-minor-scale.png)
Neoclassical Guitar Shred Tip #4: Use Directional PickingĪlternate picking is NOT the best technique for neoclassical guitar playing. Meaning: you are less likely to accidentally let some strings ring out when you play your shred guitar licks. And efficiency is key to playing fast neoclassical shred guitar licks.Īlso, having the thumb on the strings makes your muting more consistent. That means you can play more efficiently.
![harmonic minor scale guitar harmonic minor scale guitar](https://www.guitarhabits.com/wp-content/uploads/Dharmonicminorscale.jpg)
With thumb muting, your pick is at rest between strings. Question: “But Tom Hess, can’t I play neoclassical shred guitar licks just as well using palm muting? Do I have to use thumb muting to play in neoclassical style?”Īnswer: You don’t have to use thumb muting… but thumb muting helps you build more guitar speed and makes your shred guitar licks sound a lot cleaner.