Three Amazing Guitar Technique Shortcuts That Increase Your Speed & Make Playing Guitar Feel Effortless
Why are shortcuts so great?
Because they make things a lot easier.
We use shortcuts whenever we have the opportunity to do so.
Your computer, your lawnmower, your microwave, your vacuum… all of these things are just shortcuts to help make your life a lot less difficult.
So does this mean there are shortcuts in guitar playing too?
You know it!
Now I am giving you the greatest guitar playing shortcuts from THREE amazing guitar teachers (who are all former students of mine).
Let’s get into it!
Guitar Technique Shortcuts Group 1: Efficiency Shortcuts
(Demonstration given by myself and pro guitar instructor Dan Mayhew, from the UK)
Get started by checking out this video to see how to make guitar technique more efficient:
How can you use this to improve your guitar playing?
Here is a breakdown of the concept:
Picking Hand Efficiency:
Don’t take your pick away from the strings until you have no choice but to do so.
Why?
Because you slow down your speed bit by bit with every additional millimeter of motion you make.
Consider this:
Imagine that you want to play at a speed of one thousand notes per minute (this comes out to 16.7 notes per second).
Every additional millimeter of motion you make reduces the number of notes you can play for that second.
Additional efficiency tip: Keep the pick still between your fingers at all times and don’t move it using your index finger and thumb.
General rule: While picking on a single string use your wrist to move the pick. While changing from one string to the next, use your forearm.
Fretting Hand Efficiency:
Read below to find out how to make your fretting hand very efficient:
1. Fretting notes using the tips of your fingers (not by using the padding). This is how you make clear sounding notes while using the least pressure possible.
Want an easy way to tell if you are doing this the right way?
Play guitar in front of a mirror and watch your fingers.
2. Keep your fingers close to the strings after playing a note.
This is especially important after a pull off. The closer your finger stays to the string, the faster you can perform pull offs.
Also: Don’t lose articulation for the sake of more efficiency. It’s perfectly possible to play pull offs with good power while moving your fingers efficiently too.
Want to learn more about developing better guitar technique? Download this free guitar speed improvement eGuide and see how to play guitar amazingly fast.
Guitar Technique Shortcuts Group 2: Excess Tension Control Shortcuts
(Taught by expert guitar instructor Mike Philippov from the USA)
Having tons of muscle tension in your body kills your guitar technique.
How do you get rid of it?
Watch this video to learn three easy shortcuts to remove excess tension from your playing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X2cN3peFEQ
Here is how to utilize these shortcuts to your guitar playing today:
Step 1: Choose any exercise you want to improve.
Step 2: Select a metronome tempo where you can confidently play without excess tension.
This means not having any tension in:
…your face, tongue, shoulders, arms, forearms, fingers, stomach, chest, legs and feet.
Repeat your exercise at that tempo for a total of seven times.
Step 3: Raise your metronome tempo by 5 beats per minute. Then play your exercise 7 more times and keep relaxed as before.
Raise the tempo gradually and focus on keeping your body relaxed.
When you do this, your guitar playing becomes easier and playing guitar licks and solos that felt unplayable before now become effortless.
Guitar Technique Shortcuts Group 3: Fretting Hand Bio-Mechanics Shortcuts
(Taught by professional guitar teacher Tommaso Zillio, PhD from Canada).
Having a hard time playing large stretches on guitar?
Then you need to watch this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHZhwlDVMWk
How to use these shortcuts in your guitar playing:
Tip #1: Practice the guitar licks that you struggle with while paying close attention to your fretting hand’s position.
Pay particular attention to your thumb.
Change your thumb position to be like what you just saw in the video.
…and see how much easier these licks start to feel.
Tip #2: Sometimes you need to wrap your thumb over the top of the neck to play something.
Why?
Because it’s the most effective way to bend strings in tune and make your vibrato sound great.
Want to see an example? Watch this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpGXjNTe0EU
Here’s your action step:
Practice both playing with your thumb wrapped around the neck and playing with it behind the neck. Focus on switching between the two positions effortlessly to make it easier to play fast and clean.
Tip #3: When you change positions on guitar, make sure your thumb is behind your middle finger.
This is what NOT to do:
Do not allow your thumb to point parallel with the neck of the guitar.
Why not?
This makes it impossible to stretch your fingers and play guitar with speed.
After you correct your thumb position, it’s easy to play stretches that felt unplayable before.
You now know how to make your guitar playing feel effortless and sound great. Next, learn other powerful strategies that massively improve your technique and speed. Download this free guitar speed improvement eGuide and see how to play guitar amazingly fast.
About The Author:
Tom Hess is a guitar teacher online, progressive rock guitarist/composer and a touring musician. He teaches guitar players in his rock guitar lessons online. Go to tomhess.net to get more guitar playing resources and follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
