Playing fast guitar became famous around the 1980s when most guitarists wanted to play fast like Steve Vai and others. The need for speed has never really gone away, and today guitarists like Satriani still give shredders the taste of what is possible. But its not as easy as it looks, how do you play guitar really fast, because a lot of teachers can’t do it themselves.

It is easy to learn the steps that will increase speed over time, and being persistent with each one will pay-off as time goes by. Learning to play really fast doesn’t happen over night, it takes great discipline. You will have to work on your left and right hand technique consistently, no slacking, because both hands have to be co-ordinated together to increase speed and dexterity. No co-ordination means no accuracy, which means it will sound awlful. You will also want to develop proper thumb and finger placement along the neck. The two basic thumb positions that are mostly used by professional players are putting the thumb over the top, and resting the thumb behind the neck. Behind the neck will give you bigger reach on the fretboard and will improve control and consistency. If you practice guitar scales and exercises slowly in these thumb positions, you will increase your accuracy and speed in time.

Placing your fingers on the neck in the right positions when you play is vital for speed. Your four fingers should be resting just above the first 4 frets until needed. Keeping your fingers there will help optimize speed when playing scales and exercises, but finger motion is a bit more tricky. Guitarists can either press the finger down when used, and leave it there until it is needed (finger anchoring), or lift each finger as the next one comes down (finger movement), for speed, finger movement is most effective. Finger accuracy involves consistently fretting a note right behind the fret, this improves dexterity. Remember to use the flat part of the finger tips and not the side of the finger. The more discipline you have, the quicker you will become.

Having just one technique down is not enough. Everything you do, from how you hold the pick, to the alternating pattern you use will all have an impact on your speed. Picking can be alternating, sweeping or circular, and should probably be acquired in that order as they increase in complexity as well as speed. One technique is not better than another, it depends on the situation.

How you hold the pick is a matter of taste, but for speed the pick needs to be almost perpendicular to the strings and only using the very tip of the pick to strike the string, in order to decrease resistance. The motion that you use is as important, and you want the motion to come entirely from the wrist for speed, although some people use wrist and elbow effectively. Always avoid using finger and thumb muscles.

All of this will take discipline and practise. You will have to make time everyday to get better, a big splurge at the beginning of the week then nothing for the rest of the week is no good. Remember to practise with a drum machine, start at slow speeds and then increase tempo gradually.

These simple techniques will, with a lot of practise and dedication, get you playing guitar really fast!

Ultra fast guitar playing reached its heyday in the 1980s when everyone wanted to play fast like Yngwie Malmsteen and others. The craze never really ended, and today guitarists like Zakk Wylde still give guitarists the taste for speed. But how to play guitar really fast isn’t that easy to learn, as many teachers can’t play so quickly themselves!

There are some basics that can help you build up your speed, and focusing on each of these will reap rewards. You need to work on right hand technique, left hand technique, and know how to practise to build speed rather than just play for fun or to learn new songs. You won’t increase speed and accuracy by developing just one of these areas, and speed without accuracy won’t sound good! Left hand technique takes a while to build up. You need to develop good finger and thumb positions, and good finger movement and accuracy. The two basic thumb positions used by guitarists are over the top of the neck, and resting behind the neck. Behind the neck will give you greater reach on the fret board and better control and stability. If you practice scales and exercises fast in this thumb position, you will maximise your speed over time.

Having your fingers ready on the fretboard, in the right positions is a must if you want to play really fast. If your fingers are already resting above the first 4 frets until needed, your hand won’t have to physically move as far, because it is already in position. You then can either press the fingers onto the strings, and leave it there until you needthem (finger anchoring), or raise each finger as the next one comes down (finger movement), for speed, finger movement is what you should use. Finger accuracy involves consistently fretting a note right behind the fret, this improves dexterity. Remember to use the flat part of the finger tips and not the side of the finger. The more discipline you have, the quicker you will become.

Having just one technique down is not enough. Everything you do, from how you hold the pick, to the alternating pattern you use will all have an impact on your speed. Picking can be alternating, sweeping or circular, and should probably be acquired in that order as they increase in complexity as well as speed. One technique is not better than another, it depends on the situation.

If you want to play really fast, holding the pick lightly above the strings will do the trick, we have to reduce the drag factor as we sweep across the strings. Use the motion of the wrist, keeping it as loose as possible. Remember to not tense up your fingers and thumbs.

To increase speed you just have to set time aside to practise. Regular daily schedules of scales and arpeggios will build speed into your playing. Try to not watch the tv when you practise, as you can get side tracked and get no work done. Practise with a metronome ” it’s essential if you want to play really fast. Start slowly and increase the speed over time.

These simple techniques will, with a lot of practise and dedication, get you playing guitar really fast!