How To Play Faster On Guitar Using A Unique Exercise To Improve 2-Hand Sync

by Tom Hess

Becoming a faster guitarist does not mean repeating the same lick over and over at slow speeds until you eventually build speed. This common approach fails because there are mistakes that only occur at fast speeds (that you don’t see while playing slow).

Increasing your guitar playing speed significantly requires playing at the speed you want even if you make a lot of mistakes. When you do this, you occasionally succeed in playing some or all of the notes correctly at your desired speed. Observing the other notes tells you what mistakes you need to correct in order to consistently play with synchronization between both hands. This is how you become a much faster guitarist.

This exercise helps you improve your 2-hand sync and identify your mistakes to become a faster guitarist:

Step 1: On the B string, play a short 3-note pattern several times (stay in one position on the guitar). Play at a speed that is easy to control.

Step 2: Immediately move to the high E string and play the same pattern with at least two times the speed. You will likely miss many notes, this is okay. Focus on keeping your hands in sync for the first note on the high E string. 

Step 3: Immediately return to the B string, and repeat step 1. Focus on keeping your hands in sync for the first note on the B string. 

Going through this exercise helps you prove to yourself that you CAN play at faster speeds… even if you can only play the right notes sometimes. Once you can do this, being able to consistently play the right notes at this speed is only a matter of time.

Learn 10 more ways to play guitar fast and clean.

Forward this article to your friends