How I Got WAY BETTER at Guitar in a Month

[@samuraiguitarist]

Update: I've been experimenting with some right hand stuff, if I keep on this and have any breakthroughs I might do another installment in this series. Also, I might be switching to the Dunlop Flow 1.5mm...they're pretty good.

[@evaskoklamut9479]

I'd love another installment. Watching you work on something and then seeing the improvement is really inspiring.

[@starrk7158]

I feel as though everyone likes these practise routines and updates as content. I found this video to be highly entertaining personally so yeah more of this would be great.

[@Eskimogunslinger]

Dunlop Flow picks are great. Ended up using the 3mm Jumbo and I'd like to try out the 4.2mm next 😁

[@EasyHeat]

I ran basic scales 3 years ago as a way to cope during addiction recovery. I ran them for like, 3-4 hours a night for about two months or so every night. Needless to say, after all that, I stopped one night and just started to jam nornaly to a backing track, and was completely shocked at how much better I got with basic leads and muscle memory. Post recovery and during Covid I will admit that I have slacked on practicing that way lately. Thanks for posting this. Feeling really inspired. Pete is a personal guitar hero of mine! Awesome guy! Cheers!

[@danielboutwell6244]

So funny, I came to the comments to tell you to try the Dunlop Flow 1.5 haha, it seemed like exactly what you described liking. Also try out the Dunlop Ultex Sharp 1.4 or 2. They Ultex ones aren't like the other sharps, and they are so good once worn in a little!

[@NateNavarro]

Sammy G, sneaking in a beard progress vid with guitar. Always inspiring.

[@jomalomal]

the legend himself descends

[@SamTomMillerMusic]

As a music teacher, I LOVE this video. Kids learning instruments always expect to be perfect right away, and all they ever see is flashy finished projects. Nobody ever posts their practice routine and documentation of improvement, so when you tell them that they need to take the time to practice, they just won't hear it. Great video. Wish more people did stuff like this. Also love the ship dawgs merch. Let's live happily!

[@Vector-X777]

So true, thank you.

[@matthewsullivan2017]

Listen to this at 2x speed to get WAY BETTER in 15 days

[@ronniefnd]

7 minute abs

[@firdausyunus1404]

screen record the video at 2x speed. then play that recorded video at 32x and Voila. get better in a blink of an eye.

[@foresterblack]

The amount of improvement would be exactly the same

[@Lupine___]

@@foresterblack yeah youd still improve by the same amount - but this time it takes 15 days instead of 30

[@thatfellow5770]

I love the fact that this guy that I believe to be so accomplished takes time to show us some stuff that he's struggling with/working on. It normalizes a lot of the stuff that I feel as a beginner to have someone who can actually play pushing through.

[@phaaaze9984]

Yea definitely. And not even just for beginners. Been playing for years and can basically only play at the speed he started this video at. Gotta just practice more speed routines.

[@ianerickson2210]

Hell yeah brother. Everyone starts somewhere

[@PaulDavids]

Sammy G in G3 when?!

[@ethanbennett6822]

no

[@pureviolet2742]

Sammy G3

[@louismachin9681]

@Paul Davids what is that guitar you're playing!?

[@jecky82]

Paul, what kind of PRS is that? It looks like even if I sell my kidneys, I still won't be able to afford that.

[@louismachin9681]

@@jecky82 if you go to one of his more recent videos on beautiful chords you might be able to see it properly, but I still couldn't figure it out exactly

[@fudgesauce]

It is nice seeing you again, Sammy G.

[@willmurphy8650]

It's funny seeing how relative things are. Having spent all my time in my conservatory years learning classical guitar + technique, my chops are great and I can sight read almost anything but I'm now wishing I spent more time working on composition and improvisation. I think, as musicians, we all feel like we are weak in some area or another.

[@seandaniel23]

Dovydas Rydes.

[@spectrumfloyd9297]

It's so weird watching him without a beard

[@Pitchaxistheorem]

Oh! I was trying to figure out what's different lol.

[@carlosflores4179]

He had a beard ?

[@ShermanKyle]

I think this is how he pulled off the “convo with my 16yr old self” haha

[@Groteskfull]

@@creamwobbly 😆 brilliant!

[@TheRealMtnDewMike]

Once I saw Sammy G talking I literally shouted “What the hell happened to his beard?!”

[@BigFatCaulk]

the beard is no more, vanished

[@patmckeownmusic6478]

@@BigFatCaulk gone, reduced to atoms...

[@LongDcik69]

He turned into Keanu Reeves

[@grester5929]

He turned into a sixteen year old

[@jbasti227]

He trained so hard that all his beard hairs fell off

[@LieLikesMusic]

Some awesome exercises here! Thanks for sharing :)

[@JulesCalella]

When I tried learning to sweep, I did it with the guitar unplugged a lot because I could move around the house and play more and multitask. What happened is once I was starting to pick up speed, I noticed when I added distortion/overdrive I could hear all the noise of my fingers releasing the strings which I couldn't hear unplugged, and had to relearn to play it differently. A clean tone will hide a lot of the string sliding noise but a distorted sound might hide all the dynamics you get with a clean tone. It seems it's important to practice with the sound you want to play with in the end too.

[@gian323]

That sweet sweet new content Also it's great seeing him be completely vulnerable by showing us his struggling with something despite being a professional musician. It's brave, educational, and entertaining. Thanks Sammy G. Really stoked to see you post vids again. Sweet new ax btw

[@jacobdejongh9042]

Loved the track at the end man! I really enjoyed seeing your improvement as a guitar player in the form of a song rather than just demonstrating that you got quicker at the exercise

[@derekbender]

Welcome back! 🎸

[@MickyD]

This is the kind of video makes me feel insecure about my guitar skills. But also shows that with enough determination and persistence that it can improve drastically in even a short amount of time. Great video as always! Incredibly motivational.

[@Y33tastic]

I've actually been binging your content in the background while working on speed exercises only to find your comment here all this time later lol, keep up the awesome content

[@ssully150]

My experience with the Jazz III regarding that “catching” issue relates to some imperfections cutting them from the molds. It can create little burrs along the edges. I typically use either some reasonably fine grit sandpaper or an Emory board to smooth them down. Hands down, night and day difference.

[@fatjunk7973]

I think anyone interested in picking faster should look into pick-slanting mechanics Troy Grady style. You're otherwise missing out on the fundamental barrier to playing fast when there are string changes.

[@Cyndaquills]

That PRS at 12:45 is gorgeous

[@bassanup]

i was literally wondering about a minute or two ago, haven't seen ol SammyG for quite a while... and boom, he's back. but, who's this ?

[@kevinvivian7274]

I have the opposite experience of Sammy G. I concentrated a lot on developing good technique since I didn't have a teacher to learn theory. My knowledge of music came mainly from learning songs and developed my musical ear that way. I learned enough songs over the years that I internalized patterns that sounded good to me and used my ear as a guide. I learned just enough about scales that it gave context to the songs I was playing. I got what I wanted and can rip through Yngwie, Marty Friedman, and even Jason Becker, but wanted more knowledge to be able to expand my musical vocabulary. During all this down time indoors, watching Sammy G's videos and other KZbinr's content on music theory gave me the foundation I needed to add formalism to my playing. It was like having a turbo-charged car driving down familiar roads, but now it's like studying the map and driving wider distances. Sincerely, The other side of the spectrum

[@SammyMakepeace]

Other side of the plectrum?

[@MikeMeierJapan]

Wow, the solo at the end was really good! Not too much fast licks, but just enough for the Oh! effect. Well done!

[@oliviamelendezz]

“practicing makes my brain get fatter” has got to be the best sentence i’ve ever heard

[@i-ate-bread]

Interesting because the brain is 95% fat

[@codayanthony1639]

This was a fun ride man. I can tell it was a trip to get through. At the end of it all, it was just so refreshing to hear you play some music. That's what it's all about man! Much love to ya! Keep on playing man. You have a gift.

[@antlereddruid8359]

honestly paul is an amazing shredder but he scarcely shows it.

[@BHPOfficial]

@antlereddruid That’s what I got from this, he’s way better at shredding and speed than I thought

[@5000rgb]

He seemed to appreciate the opportunity to show off.

[@TheJammerman]

Paul is the most musical KZbin musician

[@ilmisxx2]

You can't dance to shred, speed can be nice but speed just for the sake of speed is boring. Holding a tight groove is just right on the other hand

[@5000rgb]

@@ilmisxx2 You got that right. It's all about the groove.

[@mattstrings]

This was such a great video. Love the honesty up front. As someone who also went to school for music but haven't done much with it since I've noticed my speed and dexterity suffer on the instrument. Really inspired my to focus on technique as well. And also as a recent joinee of the "raising a new musician" club, congrats!

[@ethanmorrow1337]

I use the John Petrucci jazz III pick. I love this pick because I can play fast and clean while still having good note definition. Both are important to me when playing guitar and this pick delivers.

[@pa-pyro2804]

I think this really shows a great lesson to people like me who are still in the beginning stages of guitar playing and shows what good steady planned practice sessions can yield and how to realize what to work on.. I learned a lot from this and honestly it really takes some of the stress off of always wondering if ill ever make it past simple cord transitions and play an actual song.. thanks for sharing

[@BrandochGarage]

Your section on how you tackled your issues in section 2 is really brilliant. Well done, dude! I haven't seen you in a while, so it's nice to check in, and this is a great video.

[@clench13]

So inspiring to watch you practicing and struggling and achieving your goals in this task. I find myself on a similar journey where speed isn’t the ultimate goal to shred. But, speed as a tool for varied dynamics using speed is a goal Of mine. Well done.

[@chadwilliams8083]

Honestly,as far as KZbin guitarists I think you are in a league all by yourself.I love your chord play and note choice for riffs and leads.your humbleness makes you even more badass.cheers

[@trevorwarner1322]

Paul Davids has such a great tone. And his guitar sounds pretty good, too! I'm glad you did those exercises because your solo at the end smokes.

[@RC32Smiths01]

Makes me happy to see you upload again!

[@Paksusuoli95]

5:56 that slaps harder than it should, damn

[@bazzer124]

Hey, Sammy - not like it's a big stretch or anything, but a ¼" hole (~6mm for our friends up north) drilled thru the top of any pick makes for GREAT gripping power. Cheers....

[@JTuaim]

I use a key color ID plastic thingy. It's made to fit key grips, but it also fits picks. This from me, a finger picker.

[@bazzer124]

@@JTuaim pretty ingenious....for a finger picker! lol. Cheers....

[@JTuaim]

@@bazzer124 fingers get sore. Gotta know how to operate a pick once in a while.

[@AJ-vw7nn]

Dude! I’ve been hesitating about launching into a big practice regiment to improve my ability but you’ve inspired me to go for it! This video came at a perfect time, speed has always been a weak point for me and after seeing you tackle it, I think I’m ready to try it myself. Thanks so much for this!

[@niamhfeeney2891]

Welcome back Sammy G! It's great to see your technique and speed progress, and see your beard return at the same time. Like watching Commander Riker get tough after growing the beard at the start of Star Trek TNG season 2.

[@KenoxProductions]

12:50 - What a beatiful guitar. Love that neck.

[@levimarinucci4731]

@samuraiguitarist: Your final thoughts sounded like a confession with the sentimental piano music, and that solo at the end was wicked!

[@leandrokrutsininfestozo7895]

Damn I laughed HARD reading about not being a idiot driver lol

[@TheRedOctoberProject]

I felt comforted knowing that this wasn't a uniquely American problem lmao

[@Kreioftze]

@@TheRedOctoberProject same Problem in germany

[@evm7368]

So COOL to see Dovydas on here!! Love the guy and he's playing his new guitar gifted from a subscriber

[@exquisiteoath]

You raise a few really good point throughout - more speed does provide more confidence and more tools in the toolbox but at the end of the day I'm not convinced (as you suggest at the end) there are other tools in the toolbox and I think speed is probably the least useful.

[@hugoleonardoamaral586]

Your phrasing is already one of my favorites in the YT guitar community. Now that you have the chops I just can imagine what amazing stuff you'll be able to come up with. Well done Sammy G!

[@RotemSivanGuitar]

Love this one. Was working on very similar things last few weeks

[@rtcrook3219]

Thanks for this! As a beginner-ish guitarist it's soooo helpful when good guitarists post practice and progress on techniques they're working on. Especially being mostly self-taught (because pandemic) - seeing how other people go about practicing, and seeing them be less-than-perfect at something, is so useful and makes me feel like I'm actually on a track to getting better. This kind of video makes me so much more motivated to go practice than watching some person shred something way out of my league. There's a time and a place for those videos too, it's just nice to see something different.

[@samuraiguitarist]

Get "Sammy G's Practice Guide For Playing Fast" as part of the Digital Deal over at www.patreon.com/samuraiguitarist 🙏🎸

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

Petition to rename it "Sammy G's Center For Kids Who Can't Play Fast And Wanna Learn To Do Other Stuff Fast Too" here.

[@Selrisitai]

What I love about your song-writing (composition? melodies? I don't know what the word is) is that your guitar solos don't sound like just wankery, nor are they repetitive. You do a great job of mixing it up but keeping the atmosphere of the piece consistent. Would love to hear more music from you, really.

[@Balin_James]

this morning I thought, man, I haven't seen a video from samurai in a while only to remember you were taking a break. then, on my lunch break I checked my sub feed and low and behold, you had uploaded. weird, right?

[@StevenRice]

I played JAZZ III's for 10+ years, I have huge hands so they were always great for speed and pinch harmonics and all.. I randomly decided I wanted a slightly bigger pick but not as big as the Dunlops... I ended up going for (former) Planet Waves "Black Ice" picks - now D'Addario makes them - they're smooth against the strings, and sit size-wise right between the Jazz and the Tortex. I never looked back after that. I hardly hear anyone ever talk about them - so I like to mention them just in case someone is looking for something that feels like a Jazz 3 but a little bigger.

[@barndoor1262]

I do, thank you. I will find them. ...but I have little Trump hands. 👐

[@WeSailAtDawn]

This was humorous. This was very informative. It was humble. It was honest. It was everything I love about samuraiguitarist.

[@Conquistador76]

The song at the end was well worth the wait. So cool to see you put all the practice to work!

[@musek5048]

i dont practice my chromatics nearly as much as i SHOULD but the times i have done so it does help with my dexterity while playing. i mainly do it to keep my fingers nimble so i can express ideas from my head directly through my fingers.

[@GuiasMaurelChile]

Thank you for this video! I was trying to improve on my speed and technique but thought I was to old for this (25). Watching you practice even though you are a great guitarist inspired me to do this "challenge" by myself!

[@ReizokoRyu]

My friend, I just turned 30 today, but I won't give up!

[@barndoor1262]

Peoples! I'm thirty-two and I just calculated that I'm actually Thirty-five. How am I doing *anything* anymore? I should just give up on everything except for digging myself a grave.

[@plumbummusic2051]

That was some serious improvement, congrats! Two things: while playing exercises helps you get faster, playing licks and solos (like your jam at the end) will help consolidate that. The second tip I got from Kiko Loureiro, who is one of the fastest guitarists in metal: play licks/exercises barely touching the strings with your fingers and then start pressing them lightly to the point where you hear the fretted note, THAT is how much effort you need to put when playing fast.

[@oldmanfran5523]

"By the time my beard grows back, we'll see a change for the better" truer words have seldom been spoken

[@eli-stringz8656]

What I appreciate most about this video is your honesty and transparency. This video is helpful.

[@Snufkins]

Thanks, Sammy. I'm actually a novice mandolin player, but I always enjoy your videos. This one inspired me to practice (playing a little faster), not because I want to play super fast, but because I can see how it also otherwise refines technique. I've been working off the "if you can play it slow, you can play it fast" line but I've found if you really want to play fast it's best to practice both! I have the added bonus of having a less than fully mobile right wrist, which presents some challenges, but seeing the way it can be approached from different angles has encouraged me further.

[@semin811]

nice to have you back. thank you.

[@dusthead.mp3]

No cap I love how there has been so much collaboration in da music KZbin scene for these big KZbinrs. Shii like da music Avengers irl

[@lofttm969]

Props for the turn signal commentary. People been driving horribly this week & I’ve thought of the turn signal thing like 15 times this week alone.

[@frankschwemmer7501]

amazing and encouraging, I am 62 years old and had indeed already some success after just 3 days. Thanks a lot!!

[@ReleasedFromQuiet]

Great idea for a video while you were taking a break from YT. Love that you shared other channels.

[@gavinb144]

While I was listening to your final thoughts, it reminded of the biggest problem I have with playing guitar. Time. There is never enough! Every time I practice, it’s a trade off. If I choose to spend time on improv, that’s less time for technique. If I choose to learn songs, less time for ear training. Honestly, I thought your speed thing was useless. Like, what’s the point? Then your final jam changed everything. Those flurries of notes were so nice to break up the solo. Long story short, I’m going to attempt the challenge 😂

[@barndoor1262]

Right on, Gavin. Shred lightly!

[@matthewmilantoni3961]

6:00 this is brilliant! That 8th notes mixed with 16ths is super practical too!

[@TheCanadianWifier]

Loved the driving rant. Good to see there are just as many fools on the road in Winnipeg, and it's not just isolated to Thunder Bay .. Really cool exercise, your improvement was neat to see.

[@lyanporto]

This video made me feel like less of a failure as a guitarist. I sound exactly like you starting out. It was quite nice, thanks.

[@sophisticatedgentlemen8342]

I’m so happy to see you, I was worried we lost you

[@rb240tuner]

Welcome back, Sammy G! Love that Crestwood!

[@davids5080]

I just got home from a delivery shift and that driver section was absolutely amazing as I was was dealing with this stuff all day LOL

[@MrChuklzz]

I am absolutely loving this video. Makes me want to practice. Something about seeing musicians I enjoy practicing and honing their crafts.

[@inkandpaper951]

What a comeback Sammy G 💥 I admire what you put in this video, thanks and bravo! Loved the tips from the community too. Remember to shake!!

[@profesortrip]

great job!! its a big step forward and i hope to hear more shreddy stuff on the channel in the future!

[@lollipophugo]

I feel like the tension is showing in your right hand pinky - when you start to gas and tense up it shoots out like you're gonna sip tea English stylee. I think Rick Graham has amazing tips for this stuff. Thinking about breathing and posture helps from tensing up and staying relaxed helps keep even and tension free playing. I also love his tip about practicing "planting" the pick ready for the next stroke - when you're playing slow, play stacatto and plant the pick immediately ready to play the next stroke without actually plucking it straight away. It keeps your pick straying away from the string as you get faster.

[@barndoor1262]

Good tip.

[@DIGITAL7Media]

I was given the Gravity pick exactly like yours at NAMM a few years ago. I have never kept 1 pic for so long. It's the best for acoustics as well. it just makes everything brighter. First time watching a video of yours. keep up the great work.

[@victorcurtis6400]

Great video! Makes sense. Seeing it laid out this way helps. Thank you.

[@ryanclifford6489]

I'm a "fast" guitarist, and I've been using Dunlop Big Stubby 2mm picks for probably 13 years now and I've never been able to get away from them. They're thick enough to not flex against the strings, made out of Lexan so the material is very stiff, the thickness tapers down at the point so it doesn't feel like a giant unwieldy standard 2mm pick, and the middle is recessed and textured which provides an excellent grip (for me). Sounds like you have the same preferences for electric guitar picks that I do, so I'd suggest trying them out. Also, thanks for putting together the samurai guitar theory course. It's been a great experience so far.

[@Burnt_Gerbil]

Try the Stylus pick for alternate picking speed. It forces you to only use the very tip. There’s a cone shape that catches the string if you dig too far into the string. It’s f**king annoying at first... but it works. 😄

[@davidrivera5829]

That's what I love about you Samurai Bro, You are so humble and down to earth that if you feel there's something that you feel benefit's you that, you share with us... God bless you for sharing all that you feel is worth sharing cause... I do benefit from it my friend. The approach is not only different but, I found it to be a bit of a game... learning to be better doesn't have to be boring... I love learning new things and challenging myself... It makes playing come alive with-in us...

[@loknathshankar5423]

With a month of practice I can now pentatonic at 100 BPM and C Major at 80 BPM and Chromatic at around 110 BPM (~50 Min Pactive every day), Overall I have improved by 20 BPM, You may feel stuck at some point just continue at the same bpm until you get to that eureka moment where technique is refined and you can jump up easily

[@9ZenMedia]

As someone who has done a lot of driving occupationally, I can say that unless your trip is over an hour (the majority of which are not) 3 minutes is definitely on the high end of possible time saved. Probably won’t save you more than a minute. Unless you are straight up ignoring any and all regular decorum regarding the rules of the road.

[@eljuanchosf]

This is probably the best video I've seen on the subject. You are a fantastic artist, Mr. Sammy G. Congrats!!

[@samwisegrangee]

Gypsy jazz picker here: My three main picks are Gator Grip (green 1.5mm or black 2mm) and Dunlop 207 picks (1.5ish?). In any case, I always play with the shoulder: it's a faster and warmer tone that complements my pick attack and reststroke gypsy picking.

[@MikeBradleyofficial]

Great video Steve! Great to see the progress!

[@stevejazzband]

Great video! Thanks. So many people on KZbin are out there fronting like they were born being able to play at 160 BPM with no mistakes. Thanks for showing us the process.

[@markarolee]

Great breakdown Sammy G! Goes to show self-reflection and smart practice plays a huge part in improving!

[@Riddlemewalker]

Loved the little tune at the end!

[@craigadean7]

Love this, more of your improvement processes please! This is actually immensely helpful!

[@MrLostdude]

Thanks for keeping it real! A definite reminder that we’re only students in an endless sea of technique to learn and talent is something that’s labored over countless hours.

[@FreckleFoxShow]

Playing on a high action really improved my playing. I'd do most my practice on it, and then playing my nice guitar was so much cleaner.

[@chadmurphyplays]

Super inspiring! I'm going to add this to my guitar warm up! Thank you for sharing!

[@cozyspictures9596]

Wow! Incredible video. So very helpful. Thank you!!

[@ShatteredWindowpane]

It's also good to play the same pattern when going up and down the strings. I.e, playing 1234 when going up AND when going down. This is especially helpful when playing in reverse, 4321, as it will train your pinky to stay close to the strings whether you're playing up or down.

[@yoshiobermeyer2867]

Absolutely fantastic. Thank you for showing your progress. And I admire your discipline. A true samurai, I guess! My topic at the moment is sweeping. Never done that, although I play the electric guitar for 30 years now. You gave me a lot of motivation. Thanks again and good luck!

[@randalllavergne1258]

“Just the tip” -Pete Thorn, 2021

[@mattfichter3044]

This was such an inspiration for me! I studied classical saxophone at uni, and I never put the right amount of time into technique. This video makes me want to practice technique, and to take it seriously. Thanks Sammy G 💕

[@lanierwexford2582]

RAD video!! Good to hear from you.

[@timsellsted521]

Thanks for sharing @samuraiguitarist. Deep practice builds Myelin. Hard to find time. Older me wishes I'd done this as younger me. :)

[@SurfingSerpent]

Another element to be aware of is what direction you are pick slanting. You did the chromatic exercise with 4 notes per string starting on a down stroke, so slanting your pick down is fine for that (the pick can cross strings because the last up stroke on each string will travel up and away from that string, making the first down stroke of the next string happen smoothly without hitting the string you just played). With an even number of notes per string, you generally can keep the same pick slant direction, but with an odd number of notes you have to change your pick slant direction with each string. If you do three-notes-per-string ascending, and you start on a down stroke, then you would want to slant your pick upward (like strumming up on a chord), because the last down stroke will travel diagonally upward so you can go OVER the next string and play an up stroke. With three-notes-per-string, you want to change your pick slant direction with EVERY string transition, because then the last pick stroke will be able to travel vertically upward enough that it can always clear strings without hitting them before your next pick stroke. Starting on the low E string, this is how it would look: E String: [pick slant up] down-up-down A String: [pick slant down] up-down-up D String: [pick slant up] down-up-down G String: [pick slant down] up-down-up B String: [pick slant up] down-up-down e String: [pick slant down] up-down-up If you start this whole thing on an UP stroke, then all the slanting is reversed so the pick can effectively clear each string when transitioning from string-to-string: E String: [pick slant down] up-down-up A String: [pick slant up] down-up-down D String: [pick slant down] up-down-up G String: [pick slant up] down-up-down B String: [pick slant down] up-down-up e String: [pick slant up] down-up-down With one-note-per-string, you are changing the pick slant direction with EVERY note, like when you want to alternate pick an arpeggio. It feels like a constant rotation back and forth with your arm to change the pick slant direction: E String: [pick slant up] down A String: [pick slant down] up D String: [pick slant up] down G String: [pick slant down] up B String: [pick slant up] down e String: [pick slant down] up

[@yekimonairos1394]

This is really inspiring. The guitar solo at the end is awesome! 🔥