Why You Can't Play Faster and How To Fix It!

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[@GL64]

I taught myself to play at 16. That was 30 years ago. I pretty much haven't gotten any better ever since.

[@Bigjimi6was9]

same

[@robbadapple6085]

Haha me too. I thought I'd be amazing now by proxy.

[@viking2304]

Me too, you probably (like me) are playing on and off and didn't take it seriously enough. Well now it's time for a change 💪🎼

[@robbadapple6085]

@@viking2304 yes it is

[@gomezthechimp1116]

I don`t have many regrets, but one I do have is that I didn`t start playing until I was in my 40s. I know I`ll never progress beyond chords and riffs, no mater how I try :(

[@chrisdempsey2379]

"Ya gotta get a metronome" *Pulls out phone* #2019

[@walburk]

@LPS IITU ja linnea videot Why is it sad?

[@Hardcaslte]

For me it was: "Ya gotta get a metronome" uuuughghg nooooooooooooooooooooo *flash backs to studying in college 15 years ago*

[@SoroBoio]

Herra Makunautinto fortunately*

[@chs2385]

@allu1231 it's great that people don't have to buy a million different things

[@onfire4000]

"what kind of guitarist are you?" Me: lazy! Oh wait not an option?

[@EnterJustice]

It's like strength training. Progressive overload. Progressive acceleration.

[@tavicotavio]

*How to play really fast in 5 steps* (At least the way i learned) 1:Play hella fast 2:??? 3:??? 4:??? 5:Profit

[@martigras87]

Lawyer Morty What about your pog collection?

[@GuitarGoddess]

This is such a great lesson! Thank you so much, Robert. I've been practicing lead on electric a lot recently and this was really helpful. Going to practice this later. :)

[@RyanPortugal]

I am looking forward to an update video on your electric guitar progress!

[@GuitarGoddess]

@@RyanPortugal Thanks! I'll be updating soon. :)

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

I start slow to a metronome and once muscle memory is there gradually increase speed while playing clean with good tone and accurately. So far I have increased from 30BPM to 130BPM for most runs. Goal is 300 BPM for metal.

[@xdxd-br5jv]

Did you make it?

[@c4662]

One thing that helps me play faster is not to try too hard to play faster. You gotta relax and not to overly tense your hands while playing.

[@PooNinja]

Lots of coffee and chocolates then hybrid picking and sweeps Delay Makes you sound faster sometimes

[@The.Adam.D]

I think ive bookmarked like 85% of all the vids ive watched of yours haha..

[@Lancercat255]

Same. I just save them to watch later.

[@mrfender5001]

How do you bookmark? I'd love to be able o make a spot in a video!

[@The.Adam.D]

@@mrfender5001 If you use chrome, click the the 3 little dots, and then click the star!

[@mrfender5001]

@@The.Adam.D oh ok. I thought you were talking about on phone in the KZbin app. I know about it on Chrome. Thanks.

[@breezecam1099]

@@mrfender5001 you can make a playlist on youtube to watch later

[@Hardcaslte]

7:27 I wasn't paying attention and heard "before, we were doing as porno sequence" Which of course is how I'll refer to a 4 note sequence for the rest of time.

[@gregorymacdonnell7914]

Gotta love Robert! He is a down to earth,and helpful dude. I like watching his vids even if I am not trying to learn something, he is just great as he always gives some good advice and I personally always get a new perspective, and learn something without even expecting it!!! Keep it goin Rob!!! You are the man.

[@chigimon]

Great video, I’ve been playing for years and I suffer from a form of Tourette’s that causes me to shake quite badly so I struggle with speed and accuracy with my picking hand. Definitely going to give this a try. Thanks.

[@boseifrit5480]

I have tourette's as well. Mine us usually facial ticks or whatnot.

[@beaukneaus]

I suffered from it as a kid. Would have face twitches, but it was, at it's root, voluntary. It was self-stimming behavior really. I started smoking weed and got rid of like 3 different tiks. Been smoking ever since.

[@bradleestone5344]

Smoke Sativa instead of Indica 😁

[@billysink9742]

John Petrucci: Salvia you say? *shreds*

[@DJMerck]

@@billysink9742 lmao

[@KrypeaxFX]

smoke meth 😳

[@bryanbrett6037]

@@KrypeaxFX that'll do It!!!

[@Selzor]

Cocaine is the right way to do it 80s style

[@SHENDOH]

Excellent lesson. Metronome in the house. Thanks

[@licksnkicks1166]

What I really love about this man is his personality. Robert you are so humble and you really put out amazing lessons. I appreciate all that you do. I keep challenging myself to get better. When I think back to the very beginning and where I am now! I have come a very long way. It’s been a frustrating as hell journey at times but I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s made me the guitar player that I have become! I have poured my heart and soul into getting better. I am obsessed with getting better and being the best I can be. It’s extremely important to me.,

[@death_jockey5759]

I use a combination of downpicking and hammer ons and pull offs, I am at 150ish BPM

[@nealatthecrossfishing]

Man you’re showing me stuff that I definitely should’ve learned a LONG time ago!! I’m so far behind in my playing than I should be to have been playing basically 32 years! In some ways I haven’t moved further than a beginner’s stage of my playing.

[@AndyXHDGaming]

Your tone always amazes me Rob.. also the BEST guitar youtuber out there, you've been helping me so much with my guitar playing and my musicianship. Much love from Norway!!

[@MrAntsrules]

i find drum backing tracks on utube easier to jam too as they are more natural sounding than a beep

[@CatPickStudios]

Dude what a killer lesson, thank you so much. I’ve been getting better at every aspect of my guitar playing but I’ve felt the speed hasn’t really changed at all. I love rock guitar (as you probably know) and part of it are the shreddy things. Will give these exercises a proper go and let you know how it goes. Keep up the awesome work, brother!

[@MikaelLV]

How did it go?

[@lindaguertin7711]

A fantastic lesson ....ty ...well put together ..😎

[@chrisdrummer200]

The start of one of those practise riffs is The verse to crazy train but backwards

[@JohnJones-ep7of]

Let's be honest if your not getting better or faster your not playing enough. I have played since 13 yrs. old I'm now 45 I've grown as a musician because I play every day without fail . I love it though it's pure joy what sucks is inheriting arthritis in my hands and trying to find ways to keep my soul soaring. Lighter gauge strings and changing the way I play with a gentle touch and not as aggressive. I will not stop even if I have to learn to play with my feet!Rock On!!!

[@ppb1877]

Totally agree Playing every day is the key!

[@aquatichighs]

@@ppb1877I’ve put thousands of hours into speed alternate picking and still suck.

[@plausibledeniability4016]

Now I know where you got the "woooh!"

[@RobertBakerGuitar]

100%

[@Babs42]

Kids these days ;).

[@Heartwork17]

the pick holding technique is very important, i used to hold the pick so that i couldn't play fast, and was very very hard change my picking technique, i was very used to it.

[@hogerswolf]

So get your lessons. Magic!

[@ThunderFalcon333]

Cant believe this is a free lesson thanx RB. WOOOOooooo

[@TroyShaw]

Great video. I’ve been playing guitar for over 30 years and I’m kind of stuck in my ways of playing. This will definitely help.

[@pawelos4]

Is the thumbnail a mfn rising force reference?

[@RobertBakerGuitar]

yes it is!!!!

[@alexsousa2992]

Right now, I'm trying to increase my Speed, so This is perfect to me right now! Thank you!

[@Chilajuana]

Awesome lesson my brother......

[@stratman103]

I had a major speed increase when I started to learn the intro to Thunderstruck. That really forces you to be precise.

[@boseifrit5480]

1 hand tapping my guy😂

[@Kay_OC]

@@boseifrit5480 it's originally picked not tapped

[@JediCrackSmoke]

Wrong, numb skull.

[@Twazuhsmalvenner]

I don't think I use a metronome the right way even explained 100 times I don't really get it if I'm doing it right need i mind I can play decently fast but have clue where my bpm is at

[@abraham1O2]

Play 16th note death metal riffs at 230 bpm

[@tommartin7728]

I love these exercises

[@earthpart3]

Play scales with all fingers and use metronome... Especially use the pinky if it's ur weakness

[@PhillipLandmeier]

Fascinating. I've never seen it broken down this way. I'm the last type, I suppose. I use hammer-ons and pull-offs wherever I can, as long as it doesn't seriously harm the sound I want. This probably stems from my piano background.

[@jonnyquest8774]

Whoever disliked this can only play grunge chords

[@tombosch2750]

How can I get faster with the C chord ?

[@evaderknives]

C major? C minor? C5? and is it just that chord or is it transitioning from certain chords to the C? If it is a transition, concentrate on your strumming hand, not your fretting hand... If you keep strumming at a steady pace, it will force your fretting hand to work faster. A lot of guys stop strumming between chord changes... you'll hit wrong notes at first, but just keep strumming.... Hope this helps...

[@tombosch2750]

Dave Erving Evader Knives yes , it really helps me , thanks a lot 👍🏻

[@evaderknives]

@@tombosch2750 Awesome, good luck

[@davekiddie4467]

Lol

[@tom434911]

Another chord transition tip - grip the first chord, strum once, then lift your fret hand fingers but keep them in the same position (as much as possible) then place them down and strum again, repeat a few times, paying attention to what the fret hand feels like. Then, slowly transition the fret hand to the new chord, paying very close attention to what each finger needs to do to go from one to the other. Grip the new chord, then repeat the bouncing thing, and then transition back to the first chord, again paying very close attention to the movements of each finger and your hand in general and how it feels. This helped me with several tricky chord shapes. I found that one of my problem areas were shapes where my pinky would need to extend or retract while other fingers needed to do the opposite. This "bounce and slow transition" technique helped slow me down and focus my attention enough to really identify what the problem area was. Then, I could direct my focus to fixing it, specifically practicing moving the problem fingers in opposite directions at the same time, for example. Hope this helps!

[@zachs.7013]

Thank you SO much!

[@noeffnwaypal]

I struggle with speed because I am so heavy handed. Been trying to lighten my touch, but when I get into it, you can literally hear my fingers thumping on the fret board.

[@The.Adam.D]

I tap the shit outta my fretboard haha you can hear me thumping the wood.. really annoying. Back when i was playing all the time i never had that issue. But after not playing for a couple years its so evident. I have no idea how to fix it..

[@royalcat10]

An exercise you could do is to take a couple minutes before every practice session to *very slowly* press down a string and pick until you get the note to ring. This is help you train the muscle memory of how much is just enough pressure to get a note to ring out, and you don't need to use any more than that. Alternatively, bump up your string gauge a gauge or two. Not only will it simply be difficult to press too hard... the pain will make it so you won't want to. Think of it as... added motivation.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

I play fastest by picking first note and hammeron the others.

[@smck20]

The tee shirt alone gives this video a thumbs up! Whooooo!

[@swanofnutella4734]

Why you used Papyrus and how to fix it.

[@larsdahl6594]

To all the old folks hating on each other in this thread: I taught myself guitar @ 15 and even played in a band for a couple of years. Then life did what it does and I didn't touch a musical instrument for 45+ years. I've now committed to picking up the guitar again in my golden years and just enjoy it for what it is and what I reasonably can accomplish. Much thanks to Robert Baker for sharing his knowledge in a way that wasn't possible when I was a youngster. Love beats hate. Yeah, I'm a Boomer, deal with it!

[@douglaschristine8387]

I've only been playing for two years and all I do is learn songs but when I follow a song it shows me how out of time I am. I'm getting better slowly, lol.

[@danielpaddonshealingspace2481]

I always pick downwards need to fix that

[@ukguitarnoodle]

because I'm old and I suck ?

[@derpimusmaximus8815]

#metoo That's the appropriate use of this hashtag, right?

[@HeadbangoO]

@@derpimusmaximus8815 No, it's when you're young and you suck old things. But it was close. Edit: Got it backward 😜

[@mattgilbert7347]

I'm old as well and don't bother with this "Faster" business. It'd be like getting a one-legged blind person to climb Everest. So, I try to play "smart". Less is more (suck on that, Malmsteen, James Cameron et al!)

[@mattgilbert7347]

@@HeadbangoO Either way can work. It's all relative (not *relatives* , mind you. Unless you're in Tasmania....).

[@boseifrit5480]

Aha I'm young and suck

[@corbinsmith6777]

That third exercise reminds me of life force by Vinnie Moore, it has the same picking dynamic just faster and on more strings, you should look vinnie up if you haven’t seen him, he has really improved my playing and is shreddy and places notes well, not a very common combo. Thanks Robert, will definitely use to teach my students!

[@beaukneaus]

LOVE that record. I don't know if it was just not well made or not, but I had to re-buy it. Could be, I just wore it the hell out! The breakdown in Hero Without Honor makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up every time.

[@arnnavgupta874]

Hey! I am thinking about doing 600 dollar upgrades on Epiphone goth explorer.I it worth it ?

[@dixee6498]

It took a moment for my eyes to focus on your shirt to realize that it wasn't Colonel Sanders on stage......

[@Locoandchooch]

I like the sound of picking each note.

[@cesartalves]

Wow, I have to slowly increase the speed in the metronome? Revolutionary study technique

[@fiveish77]

César Alves It’s just a way for players to have a starting point and see gradual improvement. Improvement typically leads to inspiration and snowballs for obvious reasons. I think for those of us who have been playing for a long time this is common sense but I would have loved to have had this video when I first started.

[@lambdashiftakadavidheikkil2657]

How to instantly play faster, get a thin neck jumbo fret guitar. Learn fingertapping. Play with less effort, picking harder makes you slower. Practice scales slow at first than fast. Practice the pinky! The pinky finger is faster than the ring finger, I notice Tosin Abasi mainly uses his pinky over his ring finger.

[@DavidNwokoye]

That opening tapping sounded like Dragonforce

[@Bullittbl]

I’ve worked on this since you posted it. It does work, I still not fast but I can see progress.

[@Den._]

Do more "How to shred for beginners" please…

[@LOVEYOURLAND]

Do you literally mean 5 minutes at 120bpm then 5 minutes at 123bpm? That seems like a seriously long time.

[@juztinking8813]

That is what it is, but it is a way faster way than just trying it without metronome because it gets your brain to work quite a bit and associates the faster speed as the comfier speed, and goes on.

[@diontillman5247]

Robert is a great gutiar player and a good teacher

[@MisterNiles]

I'm really trying hard to play slower. My band Glacial is still recording our first song. We are on the 16th bar and we've been recording it for 6 years now.Two notes so far. Playing fast is overrated. I got to the point where I could play along with Holdsworth solos with the record on 78 and knew I had a problem.

[@ArtGuitarLTX]

I can’t get over the fact that you sound and look like Mark Morton from Lamb of God 😂. Minus the beard. Diggin your channel man! It’s awesome. Love the 80s!!! Keep on keepin on!

[@joaocaaampos]

I've been trying to learn economy picking for weeks with no success because I was told I couldn't play very fast with alternate picking (I play mainly alt. rock/Grunge so I don't even wanna be that fast). This video just blew my mind.

[@Alex-sc8fx]

I think more importantly, that shirt exists... Wooooooo!!!!

[@jessetate9701]

I thought a metronome helps with rhythm and speed? Could I be wrong Robert? But I’m more a blues/rock player:)

[@nonyabusiness665]

"ya gotta figure out what kind of guitarist are you?" I'm the Steve Vai, Michael Angelo Batio, Yngwie Malmsteen, Guthrie Govan, Jason Becker, Van Halen Wannabe.

[@dniehausdc]

Awesome technique video. Thank you for sharing! I enjoy most all of your content, but this one gets an extra star by it. I don't know how I missed it a few months ago. Thank you KZbin for suggesting it!

[@eknathsravanam3967]

I can do it at 80 bpm today... I will get back here to comment once I get to 120

[@dimebagdarrell2390]

...

[@eknathsravanam3967]

@@dimebagdarrell2390 Yeah... got there... forgot to come back here lol...

[@MudderFukker-m6g]

@4:50 "It just requires a lot of dedication from you, the player, to practice this stuff" ... and there it is. ;)

[@boseifrit5480]

That first a minor lick... I tap it Edit: Ialso barre the third fret and then just hammer on with my ring finger with another barre

[@dpgriffin]

Really great lesson once again. I always pick up something new to work on by watching your vids. Quickly followed by hand cramps. LOL. Thanks for the great work, Robert!

[@WrathVictory]

That Les Paul is beautiful. Also the room is Great and whatever the weather is doing outside looks awesome too!!

[@cookiehunter3294]

I also watched your pinch harmonics vid. And man, I've never had such a nice tutorial like these. I keep watching you. I already improved my playing within a week. Thx man. Keep it up

[@ryanbrayguitar2473]

Downward pickslanting brought my speed to a level I previously just accepted I could never reach. Love your channel my guy ✌🏻❤️

[@Zorax2144]

Signed up for the course after this one. Been ghosting this channel for months without subscribing, but this video and the recent influx of content cements it. I love -big brother- Robert Baker

[@Isaiah-ft5nx]

Robert: “You’re going to use these basic chord shapes...” Me: *Blank Stare*

[@dbern939]

Very very good video

[@georgemijatovic4060]

I hurt my neck.....you swung your headstock at the camera and I jerked back, now I'm a pairalaisiass....thing....you know....the thing....someone please send me some money......EEEEEHAAAAA!!! Happy and Healthy New Year to You, Your Family....and your VIEWERS!!

[@joelmiddaugh8229]

When you said "four note sequence", the captions thought you said "porno sequence".

[@victorlow6955]

Haha

[@r4vr4c]

Paul Gilbert picking... Nice 🤘

[@BlueJayWaters]

Some good exercises. Interesting doing the chord progression one as I don't use a pick. Still good for increasing finger picking speed.

[@Bullittbl]

Ok. Now I know what I’m doing for the next year. ✌️

[@dcaudio1]

This is exactly the kind of guy i would love to take lesson from in person...

[@steinaastudios9452]

Just discovered your channel, and I see I have a lot of catching up to do. Really dig your videos. So educational, chill and spot on. Keep it up!

[@karlosed]

great class maestro Robert!

[@hank987]

The triad exercise just by itself is amazing! Thank you!

[@cycomiko73]

I'm not watching this I'm just gonna comment on the title.......ITS CALLED PRACTICE AND REPETITION!!! That's the ONLY WAY to get better and faster, how do I know, bc when I first learn a hard run of some kind at first it's almost like I'm a beginner on guitar, then days weeks a year latter I'm absolutely shredding it!! There's no short cuts for REPETITION bro, stop click baiting people!!!

[@royyazzie6028]

Brings me back when starting 👍🙌 great instructions there 😎🎸👏

[@kingofdragontown9680]

The best part of this video is the parody of the Yngwie Malmsteen album cover for the thumbnail.

[@lona7]

Thank you so much for these lessons! Every day I’m sitting down with these lessons with my metronome. The improvements are unreal

[@jameslightningappleby]

"If that's economy picking, what I do is expensive picking'

[@whatwouldjeebusdo377]

rob baker does the voice of chris griffin from family guy

[@Sublight77]

One huge thing that took me years to realize, if stuck with speed.....LIGHTEN UP. I was picking waayyyyyy too hard for wayyyy too long, even as a metal player. I lightened my picking hand way up, to a point where its like im not even 'playing' the way i used to, just barely strumming, my single note picks just like loose little strums. it made a HUGE difference in my playing, unlocking the next levels of speed, and also sounds much much better. also dont dig the pick into the strings at all, like pick just on the very top, it enabled alternate picking across any string in any direction much easier instead of getting stuck. i mean you can get a bit heavier as you adjust and dig in for accents and all, but generally i practice with a very light touch now. even that light touch though i still have a strong attack, just not a clenched, tense grip anymore.

[@simondevine1657]

Just wanna say that always find something good and inspiring to get me motivated again so thanks for all your tutorials 👍🎸

[@williamseurkamp2240]

Can I use drums as my metronome

[@yonikup2865]

Yap. Highly reccomended as well imo

[@royalcat10]

Either work equally well. It's all a matter of preference. The important part is that you have a *100% steady pulse.* Any way you can get that works perfect. (Which means don't play with a living drummer that can't keep time.) Although, I would stay away from drum tracks that have too many, or too complex, fills. This could throw you off.

[@jamesholmberg3158]

It you can play the drums and the guitar at the same time...he'll yeah

[@FelixIsBestGirl]

I don't think Robert emphasized this nearly enough, but proper technique is extremely important when playing fast. If your technique is very sloppy, practicing to a metronome will not be effective at improving speed and you will likely end up bored and frustrated. You can also seriously injure yourself if you try to force yourself to play faster. The most important thing to remember when practicing something slow is to practice it exactly as if you were playing it fast. When you play fast, you don't have time to make big motions with your hands in between notes, which means you'll need to use very small motions. So, when you practice something slowly, use the least amount of movement possible, then gradually bump up the tempo.

[@hepgeoff]

Thanks for this lesson! I'm pretty slow, so this will be a challenge.

[@philgraves4998]

I love these videos but unfortunately none of them seem to help me! I feel like I've been practicing the wrong way and my bad habits for 20+ years and now changing to pick slanting and other stuff feels unnatural and makes me worse even after hours and hours of trying I pick more sloppy even slowly!

[@chuckratcliff2429]

Robert I love your videos,but on this subject can’t help but notice the million dollar set up in your studio.Please correct if if I’m wrong in thinking your gear helps you along in this kind of lesson?

[@DNYS8N]

I try to work on slow first but still very little progress. I have a hard time knowing where to go. I can’t tell what chord and default to staying within the 5 pentatonics within the key. Not much fun. Not sure which of the 3 I can never find my pick.