Fast Playing Technique

It is definitely tough...Hybrid picking and alternate picking are pretty essential essential...And really knowing the runs you're trying to play fast and being able to nail them in time...I would maybe check out some Eric Johnson lesson books or videos on youtube...

Have you tried coffee?

Three things that I have found to help with developing speed...

1) Barriers can be mental and not just physical. I had once been at a point where I could not mentally visualize myself playing faster. I simply could not imagine it, let alone actually do it. Once I was able to break through the mental barrier, as soon as I picked up my guitar next, I had made a great leap in my speed. I guess the lesson for me was, "Free your mind and your hands will follow!" 

2) Be sure to practice in such a way that your technique is consistent when playing slowly as well as at top speed. This seems obvious, but many players will practice a phrase slowly and their technique will be different than when they play it fast. Just as walking is not the same things as running in slow motion, a lot of guitarists practice a slow technique different than how they play it fast. For instance, their alternate picking will be less economical in terms of motion and they will use a different proportion of wrist and forearm movement; their sweeping will not be a single smooth stroke through the strings, but instead made up of small individual strokes as they start and stop slightly as they sweep through each individual string; movements will be exaggerated; etc. What you are attempting to do when playing slowly is train your muscle memory and mind in the exact movements that you will use to play fast. If these are inconsistent, the speed will not come.

3) Practice to a metronome, a drum track, or something with a steady rhythmic pulse. A lot of hang-ups in speed technique come from the picking and fretting hand being out of sync. This is usually from inconsistencies in the speed of one or both hands throughout a phrase. The best way to get both hands moving at the same time is to have a steady reference to lock to. Its like dancing... If both partners are dancing to their own beat, the chances for getting out of step are great. If they are both listening to the same music, they have a better chance of moving together.

Hope this helps!
-Matt

I can get pretty fast when it's traditional 3 note per string ascending or descending runs, but when there's a bit more too it, I have a lot of trouble

for instance, consider the Eric Johnson type riff at 1:29-1:32...I have a lot of trouble with that

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6ZCgcsTiCM

good one Spider I have been luaghing for 10 min
Cheers Ron

For me, it´s most fun and rewarding to practice fast runs with a backing track. For example I start out with a slow blues backing track, and end with a fast rock playalong to practice some bluesy/pentatonic shapes.

I used to practice patterns with a metronome, and although I think a metronome is a good thing for practicing I never end up using those patterns live. On the other hand, I will most likely use the fast runs and licks I´ve played with  a backing track.:cool: