What is the best way to practice moving your fingers really fast on guitar?

Question

I know all my basic stuff on guitar, but i was wondering what is the best way to practice moving your fingers really from note to note like slash or santana does it?

Thanks to all who answer this question!

Answer 1

I would just find an easier song and play it as fast and accurate as possible. Scales work too, either way. After you're good with that, just try to play some fast solos.



Here is a tab for one of the first songs I learned how to play and I kept playing it for quite a while just to see how fast I could play it. It has quite a few open notes so it probably isn't what you're looking for but thought I would give you something

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/m/misc_children/are_you_sleeping_brother_john_tab.htm

Answer 2

Scales are over rated. Sure you should have a basic knowledge, but practicing scales is pointless and boring, after all scales are not music...they never have been.



The best way to get fast is to not pick every note.



This means hammer ons and pull offs and slides.



Remember, speed is a by product of accuracy, and speed is not everything...you have to know when to lay back and get some emotion in your playing.



Is BB King a shredder...of course not, but he's still considered a fine guitarist. It's your choice of notes and how long you hold each note that counts.



Best of luck and keep practicing till your fingers bleed.

Answer 3

There is no finger exercise to speed up your shifting chords, if you're not going to count "practicing chord shifting" as one. A lot of people have already said practice (which I also recommend) but you'll have a hard time practicing guitar chord shifting if your guitar is high-action (strings far from the fretboard). Have it set up at a luthier, or just get a new low-action guitar if the guitar you're using is considerably old. Be sure to try out the guitars at the store first so you'll know what feels good playing for you. Happy practicing!

Answer 4

I agree with fuel, scales are the key to playing fast, start slow and gradually pick up speed, while maintaining note clarity. Santana didn't become Santana overnight, and even Eric Clapton Mr Slowhand himself will tell you he only knows how to play a "little" guitar...... If Clapton is only playing a little, then I'm still a zygote!!



Also another good way to increase finger agility is to start typing, I am an EXTREMELY fast typist and though I'm not as good on guitar as I would like, I can still play the crap sounding crap I play EXTREMELY fast because of it. So increasing your typing speed will lend to greater agility and accuracy in playing.

Answer 5

ok whoever says scales are useless are dumb. yes it can get boring but scales aren't useless. they get you comfortable with where you're going on the fret board. so try going up and down with a metronome. go up for come back 3 then up 4 and so forth and so forth. once you start feeling more comfortable then speed it up. doing chromatic stuff also gets your fingers getting used to utilizing all of them. make sure to be able to use that pinky! people can get around it but in the end learning how to use it makes it a lot easier.

Answer 6

Practice scales...

start off slow and then go really fast.

Eventually, you'll be able to play hard/quick stuff.

Answer 7

1.typing, 2.piano,organ,3.recorded,flute and 4.play turning with a pen .