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Advanced Picking Lines

Welcome back, everyone. In this lesson I will be showing you some picking lines to take your speed, accuracy and coordination up to the next level


Welcome back, everyone. In this lesson I will be showing you some picking lines to take your speed, accuracy and coordination up to the next level. It is important to make technique practice as musical as possible and always make up exercises that sound good. I like to apply new ideas to tunes that I am writing - if there is a section you have a hard time playing, you will master it over time by rehearsing the tune. Be sure to use your imagination when you are practicing, as this will help you develop new ideas. Remember to always practice with a metronome or drum machine.

Example 1:
This first line is based off a quintuplet pattern in the key of C# minor (C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, B). This means you will be playing five notes per beat. Quintuplet patterns are not as common as four note phrases - four note phrases are more predictable. Make sure you accent the one of every beat to make this line more effective. Your first finger will start off each five-note pattern when moving down the scale on each string.

Example 1

Example 2:
This one is based off the same five-note pattern, but we will be using the whole range of the fretboard. This line is in the C# harmonic minor scale (C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, B#). Like in the first example, each five-note phrase starts off with your first finger moving down the scale. Always make sure both of your hands are in sync.

Example 2

Example 3:
Now let''s look at a three string pattern in the C# mixolydian scale (C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B). This one can be tricky at high speeds, so start very slow at first and then build it up. I like to palm mute this example - you will hear all the notes more precisely when you''re palm muting, and that makes it is easier to tell what you are missing. Be sure to follow the suggested fingerings.

Example 3

That about wraps up this lesson. These are just a few examples to start you off; be sure to experiment. Visit me on the web at mikecampese.com.