How to Play Fast Guitar Solos

Guitar double pick technique

One of the greatest challenges a beginning guitar player can have is playing solos fast. Fast guitar solos have long been a part of rock music, as well as other musical genres, and playing with the speed and intensity required for faster songs means developing both your fret fingers and your picking hand. Increasing the speed of your guitar solos requires learning and practicising basic playing technique exercises.

Instructions

1. Find a comfortable place to sit with your guitar. A lot of beginning players feel the need to stand. Save standing for live performances or when you become more experienced at playing. While you're learning to speed pick, being comfortable is important.

2. Find the first position C major scale. This same technique will work with any scale, but for starters, begin with an easy major scale. Mentally number your strings one through six, with one being the thinnest (highest) string. The notes of your C major scale are C-D-E-F-G-A-B and C played: third fret (fifth string), fifth fret (fifth string), second fret (fourth string), third fret (fourth string), fifth fret (fourth string), second fret (third string), fourth fret (third string) and and fifth fret (third string). For the purpose of building speed, this is the only scale you need to work with. You can apply this exercise to any scale or solo pattern.

3. Play the C scale pattern on an established repeated count of one to four. The count should go one and, two and, three and, four and. Play the first note of the scale on the count of one by picking down, the second note on the count of two picking up, and so on through the scale. Do this until you are able to move through the notes of the scale playing one note per count without missing a beat.

4. Play the scale again, this time picking the notes two times per count, once on the number and once on the word "and." This is an eighth note feel. Play the first note by picking down on the count of one, then play it again on the "and" by picking up. Play the entire scale until you can do this smoothly and without missing a beat. You should already hear the difference the eighth note pattern makes to a simple scale. Once you're able to do this smoothly, you'll notice more strength in your fingers and your ability to play faster will be starting to develop.

5. Change your count pattern to "one, e, and, a" and play the same note four times, striking the note on each syllable of the sixteenth note pattern. Use an alternating down/up picking pattern as you as you go through the scale. This speed-picking technique is the foundation for playing fast solos because you can transfer the technique to anything you play. Vary this pattern by playing each note only twice per count. Example: Play the C on "one, e" with a down stroke and the next note on the "and, a" on the second two counts of the pattern, following through with this pattern until the end of the scale.

Tips & Warnings

• Try using the very tip of your pick when you play notes. Less surface contact with your guitar strings can help you play faster and smoother.

References

• Berklee Shares: Double Picking on Guitar
• Gerard Ferini: Speed Picking Exercises
• YouTube: Speed Picking