How To Achieve Maximum Guitar Speed With Your Guitar Practice Sessions - Part 1

by Tom Hess

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A typical question from a student: What specific strategy should I employ to approach better guitar speed development?

Although my answer varies from guitar player to guitar player, depending on what I know about that guitarist's current abilities and musical goals (among other things), I generally recommend some variation of the following strategy during your guitar practice sessions:

Stage 1: When first learning a new guitar technique, determine (using a metronome of course) your maximum guitar speed you can play cleanly. Write this speed down on paper in a guitar practice log.

Stage 2: Practice at 20%-35% of your maximum guitar speed. Do this for 5 consecutive guitar practice sessions. Resist the temptation to play faster during this stage. Make sure everything you are practicing is still very clean. There must be NO excessive tension anywhere in your arms, hands, wrists, shoulders, neck, head or anywhere else. Watch to make sure you have no excessive or unnecessary movements in either hand. For some guitarists, this first step is very boring. You MUST remain patient with yourself, and the practicing process, during this time. This is absolutely critical! If you skip this step, you will probably train your hands to play incorrectly, inefficiently and ineffectively. At this stage you are developing the proper muscle memory for this specific guitar technique. If you are currently studying with a great guitar teacher, your progress will be much faster, easier and better than if you attempt to do this on your own. Once you have mastered stage two, you may move on to stage three, but not before! Above I said you should practice this stage for 5 consecutive guitar practice sessions. That is only a general guideline, after the 5th session, reevaluate your progress. If you have not mastered this step, continue practicing that guitar technique at 20%-35% before moving on to stage 3.

Stage 3: Practice at 50% of your maximum guitar speed. Do this for 3 consecutive guitar practice sessions. Again, make sure everything remains very clean. Play relaxed without tension anywhere in your arms, hands, wrists, shoulders, neck, etc. Watch to make sure you have no excessive or unnecessary movements in either hand. Do not move on until this step is mastered (it could take longer than 3 guitar practice sessions, but do NOT move on to stage 4 before practicing for 3 sessions.

Stage 4: Practice at 60-65% of your maximum guitar speed. Do this for 3 consecutive guitar practice sessions. Again, with total relaxation and economy of motion (no unnecessary movements).

Stage 5: Practice at 80% of your maximum guitar speed. Do this for 5 consecutive guitar practice sessions.

Stage 6: Practice at 85% of your maximum guitar speed for the next (1) guitar practice session only.

Stage 7: Practice at 90% of your maximum guitar speed for the next 10 guitar practice sessions.

Stage 8: DRILL IT! TOTALLY RIPPIN (translation play at 100%) FOR an entire week!

Stage 9: After that week evaluate where your new maximum guitar speed is (it will be higher than when you first measured it in stage 1).

Stage 10: In this stage you will rotate every 3 guitar practice sessions like this: Session 1 = 60%. Session 2 = 85%. Session 3 = 95%. At the end of each practice session DRILL IT (100%) for a few minutes.

Once a week, measure your new maximum guitar speed, and adjust your metronome speeds accordingly.

Warning: NEVER play or practice your guitar in pain. Serious injuries can occur. This is not a joke, I know people personally that have had to have surgeries on their wrists and arms!

To learn more about increasing your guitar speed, read parts 2-5 in this article series:

• How To Practice For Maximum Guitar Speed - Part 2: Build your guitar speed using the guitar practice ladder system.
   
• How To Practice For Maximum Guitar Speed - Part 3: Learn how to practice playing guitar fast so you can use your speed in 'real life' playing situations.
   
• How To Practice For Maximum Guitar Speed - Part 4: Find out how to achieve your guitar speed goals in much less time than it takes an average guitarist.
   
• How To Practice For Maximum Guitar Speed - Part 5: Learn why conventional guitar speed building advice fails and what you must do instead to become a faster guitarist.

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Maximize your guitar playing progress and become a better guitar player much faster.