Shredding Guitar - Do you want to 'SHRED' like the MASTERS ?

May 1, 2010 - PRLog -- The term Shred Guitar, rather than a musical definition, is used more as a cultural term which is used with reference to Heavy Metal style of playing which involves sweep, alternate and tremolo picking, string skipping, multi-finger tapping, legato, and also trills.

Having said about these strange sounding styles, I must mention that to master these above styles require months and years of consistent practice, coupled with the right guitar learning course. Once you have full control over the instrument, you can play these styles in succession to form a musical sounding lead or riff.

If you really want to become a shredder you should learn and master certain styles and should learn to switch between them in quick succession. The techniques that Shredders should know are sweep picking, tapping, legato playing, whammy bar abuse ad speed riffing.  

A Shred guitarists should also learn to  use two- or three-octave scales or modes, played ascending and descending at a fast tempo. This run or lick can be played by individually picking all, or a selection, of the notes, using techniques such as alternate picking or economy picking.

Alternatively, the riff can be played by multiple-picking notes (tremolo picking), or picking just the first or second note of a string followed by a rapid succession of hammer-ons  and/or pull-offs ( also known as 'legato' musical terminology).

* Sweep picking is used to play extremely rapid arpeggios across the fretboard (sometimes on all strings).

* The tapping technique is used to play a couple or 3 notes or to play arpeggios using pure legato with no picking. Various techniques are used to perform passages with wide intervals, and to create a flowing legato sound. Some performers make complex combination of tapping and sweep picking. This increases speed by reducing the motion of the strumming hand.

* Alternate picking is a guitar playing technique, used only by plectrum or pick users, by alternating downward and upward picking strokes in a continuous run, and is the most common method of plectrum playing. If this technique is performed on a single note at a high speed, then it may also be referred to as tremolo picking.

* Economy picking is a guitar-playing style which is combination of sweep picking and alternate picking. Economy picking involves using alternate picking except when you change strings. The main intention here is to minimize movement in the right hand, and avoid the motion of "jumping" over a string prior to picking it, as often occurs in alternate-picking.

I would say Shred Guitar Playing Style is the back-bone of modern guitar playing. If you want to be a successful rock or heavy metal guitarist or Jazz, Blues or Blues Grass guitarist you must master these styles.

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