[ragser]

I'm just curious how you started out when you wanted to learn how to sweep or shred. I've only been practicing some scales so far and working on some speed with the sweeping.

[Chaotic Kittie]

As for the shredding, I can't remember "starting out". All I've done is to play every solo, every piece of melody, every scale I ever learned, indeed, every piece of music I've ever played to a metronome, and speed has simply been coming gradually over time.

What you can do is set the metronome, to a relatively slow setting, perhaps around 50-60 bpm, then start out with 1 note/beat, then 2 notes/beat, then 3 notes/beat, 4/beat, 6/beat and finally 8 notes/beat.
If you feel you're pushing yourself at 8 notes/beat, then lower the tempo about 6-8 beats at a time. If it's slow enough not to be a challenge at all, then increase the tempo!

The important thing here is that you should NOT play just one specific pattern using this exercise, or you'll end up having your fingers used to only this pattern, and as soon as you're gonna play something that uses another pattern, your fingers won't want to. Stick to one pattern for perhaps 5-10 minutes, and then try another one. The different scales + the chromatic scale are decent patterns, or you can figure out various patterns yourself by looking at which finger movements you need to practice most.
Sorry if it's a bit muddy, ask if there's something unclear.

As for the sweeping, I did what you do yourself, and I don't really know if there's much more tips on that one... apart from using a metronome there too.

[JessThrasher]

Being a metalhead myself. I am a big fan of shred solos especially. I would love to be able to do them someday but it takes patience. Shredding would not be so impressive if it was so easy.

[ragser]

Originally Posted by Chaotic Kittie

As for the shredding, I can't remember "starting out". All I've done is to play every solo, every piece of melody, every scale I ever learned, indeed, every piece of music I've ever played to a metronome, and speed has simply been coming gradually over time.

What you can do is set the metronome, to a relatively slow setting, perhaps around 50-60 bpm, then start out with 1 note/beat, then 2 notes/beat, then 3 notes/beat, 4/beat, 6/beat and finally 8 notes/beat.
If you feel you're pushing yourself at 8 notes/beat, then lower the tempo about 6-8 beats at a time. If it's slow enough not to be a challenge at all, then increase the tempo!

The important thing here is that you should NOT play just one specific pattern using this exercise, or you'll end up having your fingers used to only this pattern, and as soon as you're gonna play something that uses another pattern, your fingers won't want to. Stick to one pattern for perhaps 5-10 minutes, and then try another one. The different scales + the chromatic scale are decent patterns, or you can figure out various patterns yourself by looking at which finger movements you need to practice most.
Sorry if it's a bit muddy, ask if there's something unclear.

As for the sweeping, I did what you do yourself, and I don't really know if there's much more tips on that one... apart from using a metronome there too.

Sadly I don't own a metronome but I suppose I'll have to get me one. You said that I should practice different scales. The only scales I've been practicing this far are the 13 major scales that kirk uses in his "Ultimate Stretching excercise" on these forums. I'm still having some problems to reach the fifth fret smoothly with my index finger while I'm still keeping my middle finger on the 7th fret but I'm working on that. Do you have any other patterns or scales to suggest apart from these? I'd greatly appreciate anything that could be useful.

[Tekker]

Originally Posted by ragser

Sadly I don't own a metronome but I suppose I'll have to get me one.

I mostly use free metronome programs for my PC.
Practicing With A Metronome

I also have a Qwik Time metronome as it's nice to have a portable one too.

I like the PC one better because it can go to a much higher bpm, you can create your own metronome patters, and even change the sounds to make simple drum beats instead of the "click' 'click' 'click' sound.

-tkr

[ragser]

Originally Posted by Tekker

I mostly use free metronome programs for my PC.
Practicing With A Metronome

I also have a Qwik Time metronome as it's nice to have a portable one too.

I like the PC one better because it can go to a much higher bpm, you can create your own metronome patters, and even change the sounds to make simple drum beats instead of the "click' 'click' 'click' sound.

-tkr

Thanks for that one. I never played to a metronome before but it was quite fun. I managed to play all the major scales at 250bpm without screwing up but once I got to 300 I started to mess up. Lol, guess I need more practice.

[Chaotic Kittie]

at 250 bpm, did you play just one note/beat? If so, I'd recommend lowering the tempo and instead play 2 notes/beat, 3 notes/beat, 4 notes/beat, 6 notes/beat and 8 notes/beat, for the sake of timing.

[ragser]

Originally Posted by Chaotic Kittie

at 250 bpm, did you play just one note/beat? If so, I'd recommend lowering the tempo and instead play 2 notes/beat, 3 notes/beat, 4 notes/beat, 6 notes/beat and 8 notes/beat, for the sake of timing.

Yea I did but I must've done something wrong with the program. I checked a shredding lesson where a guy put his metronome on 80bpm and by judging from that I couldn't possibly have played in 250bpm, must've done something wrong. Sorry about that.

[scotty_b]

Something to remember with working on speed is to not forget tone and volume in your playing.
Too many of us speed up and lose both of those essential ingredients.

[JessThrasher]

I think you need to call the "shredaholics anonymous" hotline.

haha don't worry, I'm one of them too.

[justinthyme]

So far the only sweeping and shredding I can manage is sweeping the balcony and shredding documents ... don't suppose they count?

[JessThrasher]

Originally Posted by justinthyme

So far the only sweeping and shredding I can manage is sweeping the balcony and shredding documents ... don't suppose they count?

I wonder if cheese and lettuce count... But I'm off to SHREDAHOLICS ANONYMOUS if it does!