Technique Rebuild
Well it’s been quite a long time since my last post here and for that I apologize, but I’m coming back now with a new column series. Starting today I will be doing a complete technique rebuild. This is stemming from some gaps in my playing that I’ve found and really just wanting to get myself to the next level. My goals are as follows (and are subject to change as of now):
1. Alternate Picking – Play ANYTHING starting with either a down or up stroke.
2. Rhythm - Playing in groups of 3′s, 4′s, 5′s, 7′s, 9′s, 10′s ect. in any given situation.
3. Legato - Control, power, and volume when playing with hammers and pulls.
4. Sweep Picking - 2,3,4,5,6, and 7 string sweeps(major, minor, dim., arpeggios, sequenced pentatonics ect.), Â clean and accurate, loud and proud.
Obviously there are a lot of other factors to consider, things like muting, combining techniques, stylistic elements, phrasing, vibrato ect., but this is my basic “Where I want to be at the end of all this” statement. I am still gathering my exercises and my resources for this project so please be patient until I can post my actual practice schedule. What I can say as of now is that I will be focusing my study on Guthrie Govan, Rusty Cooley, Martin Goulding, and Jeff Loomis. I am going to be pulling exercises from Guthrie’s Creative Techniques 2 book, Rusty’s Basic Training video, basically everything Martin writes for Guitar Techniques, and Jeff’s instructional. Additional material will probably come from songs by all of those guys and more than likely some Dream Theater, Protest the Hero, Kiko Louierio and that sort of stuff. I should have a good update within a week.
Looking forward to the journey
Ty
