Lesson: 22<br>
Title: Technique from Hell<br>
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced.<br>
Style: Technique<br>
Instructor: Tim Fullerton


      Behold, the dreaded technique exercise from Hell! Use this to develop 
and maintain almost unlimited speed. This exercise covers and drills every 
possible combination of motions between the pick and the fingers.

      I beg you not to do this until you are quite comfortable with all of 
the technical aspects that I provided across six lessons. If you are not 
using good ergonomic technique, and you reinforce these bad habits with 
this exercise, YOU WILL INJURE YOURSELF! If you are not using good tonal 
technique, your bad habits will be that much more difficult to dig out of 
your technique later.

      Here is a summary of the points of good technique as I know it:

A) Guitar Position (see part I)

B)1. Left Hand Thumb Position and range of motion (midline [G string] to
     edge... see lesson II)

  2. Left Hand Thumb Pressure (NONE! PERIOD! again, see lesson II)

C) Left hand wrist. (Straight as a ruler, palm away from the neck...
                  again, lesson II)

D) Left hand wrist. (parallel to the underside of the neck... 
                 lesson III)

E) Finger placement. (close to the neck... lesson III)

F) Overall position of right forearm. (lesson IV)

G) The pick, angled for the least noise (Lesson IV)

H) Alternate Pick (lesson IV)

I) Do not brace the right hand

J) Use a very tiny motion to pick

K) Relax

      If you are not absolutely comfortable with everything, for God's sake 
do not do this yet. Keep up with the six lessons until you can dependably 
keep track of all of these points, however slowly you have to play. I keep 
a consolidation of all six lessons on my hard drive; if you wish it, mail a 
request to fullerto@cis.ohio-state.edu and I will be glad to mail it to 
you.

SETTING UP THE CHART

      Make this chart that you will practice from each day. First, write 
the permutations of 1234 down the left side of a piece of paper.

1234
1243
1324
1342
1423
1432
2134
2143
2314
2341
2413
2431

3124
3142
3214
3241
3412
3421
4123
4132
4213
4231
4312
4321

      Write SABCD across the top. These are titles of columns, so put 
plenty of room between each.


          S               A               B               C           D
      
1234
1243
1324
1342
1423
1432

2134
2143
2314
2341
2413
2431

3124
3142
3214
3241
3412
3421

4123
4132
4213
4231
4312
4321


      The letters represent various left hand fingerings, and the numbers 
are the orders that each note is played in each fingering.

      Pattern "S" is a single string:

    Finger =====>     1     2     3     4

    E|------|-----|---0-|---0-|---0-|---0-|-----|-----|-----|
    B|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    G|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    D|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    A|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    E|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|

      Pattern A:

    Finger =====>     1     2     3     4

    E|------|-----|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    B|------|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    G|------|-----|-----|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    D|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|
    A|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    E|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
      
      Pattern B:

    Finger =====>     1     2     3     4

    E|------|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    B|------|-----|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    G|------|-----|-----|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    D|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|
    A|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    E|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|

      Pattern C:

    Finger =====>     1     2     3     4

    E|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|
    B|------|-----|-----|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    G|------|-----|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    D|------|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    A|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    E|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|

      Pattern D:

    Finger =====>     1     2     3     4

    E|------|-----|-----|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    B|------|-----|---0-|-----|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|
    G|------|-----|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    D|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    A|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    E|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|


      Choose a picking pattern for this chart. There are four to apply.
Down, up, down, up; 
Up, down, up, down;
Down, down, down, down; and
Up, up, up, up.


      Let us begin by drilling down, up, down, up. Indicate that on the 
chart:


                     down, up, down, up

          S               A               B               C           D
      
1234
1243
1324
1342
1423
1432

2134
2143
2314
2341
2413
2431

3124
3142
3214
3241
3412
3421

4123
4132
4213
4231
4312
4321


          FILLING THE CHART


      Fill the chart with metronome markings. Find the speed where you can 
play each pattern perfectly five times. Then drop that speed 25%. That is 
the number that you put on the chart, and that is the speed at which you 
will practice that particular pattern.

For example:

      Let us begin with 1234 on a single string, and let us say that we 
will practice it on the 5th fret. Start playing it.

   1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4  <== Fingering

E|-5-6-7-8-5-6-7-8-5-6-7-8-5-6-7-8-|    etc...
B|---------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|

Now while you are playing it, go through the technique check list and 
incorporate each aspect on the check list:

      For example, ask yourself "Is the guitar set up properly? Are my 
fingers staying low?" Keep slowing your speed until you can maintain all of 
the aspects of good technique.


      Then make sure that you are using the correct picking pattern for 
this chart...

   d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u  <== Picking

   1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4  <== Fingering

E|-5-6-7-8-5-6-7-8-5-6-7-8-5-6-7-8-|    etc...
B|---------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|

and make sure that it is played in an even tempo...

       d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u  <== Picking

       1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4  <== Fingering

    E|-5-6-7-8-5-6-7-8-5-6-7-8-5-6-7-8-|    etc...
    B|---------------------------------|
    G|---------------------------------|
    D|---------------------------------|
    A|---------------------------------|
    E|---------------------------------|


      not

       d u d u          d u d u          d u d u        1 2 3 4          1 2 3 4          1 2 3 4 <== Fingering

    E|-5-6-7-8 (pause) -5-6-7-8 (pause) -5-6-7-8 (pause)
    B|---------        ---------        ---------------|
    G|---------        ---------        ---------------|
    D|---------        ---------        ---------------|
    A|---------        ---------        ---------------|
    E|---------        ---------        ---------------|


      Let us say that you came up with a speed of 92 on a standard 
metronome. Drop that back by 25% (5 clicks on a standard metronome) and put 
that figure (69) at the intersection of 1234 (the fingering order) and "S," 
the fingering pattern.


                     down, up, down, up

          S               A               B               C           D

1234       69
1243
1324
1342
1423
1432

2134
2143
2314
2341
2413
2431

3124
3142
3214
3241
3412
3421

4123
4132
4213
4231
4312
4321


      Let us try one a little more awkward. How about pattern "A" 1324. 
Recall that pattern A is:
    Finger =====>     1     2     3     4


    E|------|-----|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    B|------|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    G|------|-----|-----|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    D|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|---0-|-----|-----|-----|
    A|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
    E|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|


thus the way you would execute that pattern (in fifth position) is:


       d u d u d u d u    <== Picking

       1 3 2 4 1 3 2 4    <== Fingering
    E|-------6-------6----|
    B|---5-------5--------|
    G|-----7-------7------|     etc...
    D|---------8-------8--|
    A|--------------------|
    E|--------------------|


      Again, slow down until perfect technique can be maintained and until 
there are no pauses between iterations. Be especially conscious of the 
picking pattern. I know this is not the way you want to do it, and this way 
is terribly awkward. That is the whole point of this exercise -- to drill 
every possible motion, awkward or not.

      Say that you can do this perfectly in quarter notes at 50. Drop the 
metronome back five clicks to 40, and mark that on your chart.


                     down, up, down, up

          S               A               B               C           D

1234       69
1243
1324                       40
1342
1423
1432


2134
2143
2314
2341
2413
2431

3124
3142
3214
3241
3412
3421

4123
4132
4213
4231
4312
4321
      Obviously, you should put your own speeds in place of the examples 
that I provide. I leave it up to you to fill out your chart.


      There are two reasons to keep the practice speed 25% slower than your 
maximum. For one thing, we are guitarists. As such, we are egomaniacs. We 
are constitutionally incapable of being honest with ourselves about how 
fast we can really play.:-) More seriously, some days our chops work better 
than others. If we try to practice at our top speed every day, some days we 
are just not going to be able to do it. Those days, sloppiness will erode 
our progress. That 25% reduction allows for a comfortable cushion to 
account for when your chops just aren't working. Fear not, your top speed 
will still rise with the practice speed.


PRACTICING

      Aspire to practice through this chart six days a week. After a week, 
make a new chart and increase each speed by one metronome increment. If you 
are using one of those digital metronomes that increments by ones, refer to 
the chart of standard metronome increments at the end of this lesson.

      Right now, I would expect that it takes a ridiculous amount of time 
to play through this chart. For that reason, I would say not to make charts 
for up, down, up, down; down, down, down, down; or up, up, up, up. When you 
are faster, then start adding charts one by one.

      Soon you are going to be REALLY fast. For that reason, I suggest that 
you acquire the habit of warming up before you do this. Unfortunately, I 
have never run across any definitive warm-up routines. I have heard that 
merely playing slowly is insufficient. Unfortunately, no one has offered 
anything better yet. If you know of anything, mail me. Meanwhile, I would 
suggest something that lightly works the fingers of your left hand -- for 
example, the pseudo chromatic exercise from the six technique lessons, any 
scales, and sight-reading. Play slowly and very gradually work up to around 
the speeds at which you play the exercise from Hell. Rest frequently.

      Also, move around where you practice the patterns. For example, do 
not always play them on the top four strings in fifth position. Play them 
in arbitrary positions on arbitrary groups of adjoining four strings around 
the whole range of the neck.


THE METRONOME

      Don't have a metronome? The kind that is best for this exercise is 
the battery powered kind with a dial on the front. The time kept is 
infallible, the dial has standard increments, and you can get from one 
speed to another instantly -- all come in very handy in the exercise from 
Hell. Other kinds of metronomes that exist are the little digital ones, the 
plug in mechanical kind, and the upside-down pendulum kind. The little 
digital ones are great for general purpose practicing. They are cheap and 
keep infallible time. They are inconvenient for this, though, because they 
increment by one and because you can't get from one speed to another 
instantly; you have to wait for it to scroll up to the speed you want. The 
other kinds just plain suck. The plug-in mechanical kind varies with 
household current, and when they wear out they get noisy. The upside-down 
pendulum kind keep time badly.


               STANDARD METRONOME INCREMENTS

    40 - 60 increment by two

40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60

    60 - 72 increment by three
60, 63, 66, 69, 72

    72 - 120 increment by four

72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120

120 - 144 increment by six

120, 126, 132, 138, 144

144 - 208 increment by eight

144, 152, 160, 168, 176, 184, 192, 200, 208

   Tim Fullerton
   fullerto@cis.ohio-state.edu
   1987 Upper Chelsea Rd
   Columbus, Ohio 43221
   (614) - 488 - 9322

copyright 1993 by Tim Fullerton.  Used by permission.