I was tired of this and that exercise to get faster and THIS is what I needed to hear. Single string single note, just do it already. Evolve from there.
i love the approach. i’ve been playing 35 years mostly on acoustic and have always told myself i’m not a fast soloist. but you’re right. i can be. so now i’m going to be.
If you are an aspiring, self-taught guitar player this is probably the most important guitar video on TH-cam. Of the thousands of guitar videos I have watched over the years I have only heard this advice maybe 1 or 2 times.
Does this not depend entirely upon what you want to do with the guitar? If you want to mimic others, play shred guitar or whatever, then yeah, this all makes sense. If you just want to do your own thing? If you're more interested purely in being 'creative'? Eh. I think it's a fairly safe bet that the majority of guitarists who make music that others want to imitate don't spend much or any time 'practicing'. They spend their time making and playing music. You could argue that it's all the same thing, but it's not sitting there running through scales or worrying about how smooth their legato is, is it?
@@_Stroda Sure. The thing is, you can be so much more creative with some solid techniques and a little theory under your belt. I know a lot of guitarists don't work on technique or new things after they get signed or start touring, but if they are any caliber of soloing guitar player they did "woodshed" at some point. I don't think you can write good solos or master some of these techniques and styles by focusing solely on creativity. But like you said if that's not your thing, doesn't mean you can't write some good songs. Nirvana is a perfect example. I don't think Cobain was a musical genius. He just wrote what sounded good to him with a pretty limited musical vocabulary. No I don't think its the same thing, practicing and writing are two very different things.
Totally agree with what Ben says, had the pleasure of joining his free course over Facebook and he was able to pinpoint my issues and over the course of a week I was way better than where I began. More importantly though, it stopped me from avoiding what I needed to work on.
This video and its message is great. For all the guitarist out there reading this who at one point, or still are, athletes...how much effort and practice did you have to put in to get really good at one particular area of your chosen sport(s)? I used to play hockey, basketball, and skateboard. I would put hours and hours, days and days, weeks and weeks (and on and on) into improving various areas of my ability in those respective sports and was ECSTATIC with only the slightest improvements. Why should playing guitar be any different? I'll practice a lick for a few hours and get pissed off and disappointed in myself for not getting it right in that short amount of time. "Well, I'll NEVER be able to play that...I SUCK!) I say to myself. I need to think more like my (former) athletic self...."Hey, I showed some improvement after a few weeks of practice...someday I WILL be able to do this!"
Thanks for being so foward, it was about time. Good old school motivation to actually getting a guitar and start attacking your problems in order to imrpove and increase your guitar skills. Thanks again. I am 47 years old and because of the pandemic I started to play the guitar again after 26 years of not doing it. I was always pretending to deal with my guitar problems just like you describe at the begining of this video. I can not thank you enough for motivating me to actually grab my guitar and fucking face my weaknesses. Cheers from ECUADOR.
Yep...Same age as Mustaine...Can't really describe what it took us to be able to play Megadeth,Satriani,Yngwie etc back then...After 35plus years,second nature now.Been watching you for a few years...You are precise,to the point and acurate.I find it amusing when people think there is a magic pill.The only thing you cannot teach Ben is the work ethic,mindframe and sheer will to stick to the...mundane practice regimen required to actually play guitar...It really comes down to elbow grease,a small bit of talent,and mental drive...I think you are a great teacher,I come back now and then when in need of a refresher...Kudos dude!!
I remember 2 years ago i hurt my back and work put me on light duties at the shop... Long story short for 3 months I basically hid in my pick up truck in the parking lot with my guitar plugged into a blue tooth speaker doing boring ass exercises. Shocking thing eh... I start to become a lead guitarist. 20 years of rhythm guitar and i was on my path. Now its hard when i rotated back to full duties. But if you put 30 minutes towards your goal most days of the week im closer to my goal. Your videos really help man! Thanks for the content!
@@BenHigginsOfficial just joined your complete guitarist membership. I still need so much discipline in doing leads especially improvising and development of my own chops for my songs. Looking forward to how this membership can help!
i'm working on the legato gym for the 6th week now. At first i couldn't play the 16th triplets on 100bpm. Now i'm playing exercises 4 and 5 on 120bpm comfortably. I felt like I needed more time than the duration of the course wich is 5 weeks, but the better I get at it, the more i'm motivated to keep going so I decided to give it a few more weeks to really get it down on even faster tempo's. I even managed to play the intermediate Van Halen solo from your other course and i'm working on the advanced solo in between the legato stuff. all i want to say is, this is the first time since very long i really feel like i'm getting somewhere, and I can't believe how simple it really can be if you do just like you say, practice in the right way, and focus on the problem. Thanks Ben, you are a legend!
Norman invasion of 1066 meant for many centuries the English nobility spoke French. And even then the Normans were Franco-Norwegians who were given land in Normandy in the hope they would stop pillaging people...
Well the great thing is that now you've identified it out loud and you're going to hunt down that s.o.b and dominate it, right? I look forward to hearing about your gains 💪
Ive always loved staccato picking players - just sounds so more tasteful with that delfined picking style and yes agree alot of todays players have not learned how important dynamics are and accenting certain notes to give the illusion its picked faster than it really is
I totally agree bro. Practicing triads slow and hearing the difference between a major 3rd and a minor third. Then palm mute all of the strings and then go over it again and again for the rest of your life. It should sound like Morris Code if done perfectly. Do it super slow so you can see how much the picking hand needs work. This idea is months of practice with a good attitude. They should take the advice of great councilors such as yourself and slow down. As you drive down the road or set and have a conversation with someone your fingertips should be moving like a nervous habit. Building that muscle memory will require you to practice 24 7. Much love bro you are a fantastic teacher
Hard truth but it's the simply truth and for this reason Ben's words are always useful. Very often people just move fingers without focusing, waiting that some new magic trick arrives to fix tech issues.
Wait…wait… Over the years, I’ve bought several different types of guitars endorsed by some very famous people who are really great players, I’ve invested heavily in different picks made with shapes, sizes, and materials that the ads all guarantee will make play faster and cleaner, I’ve watched thousands of hours of TH-cam videos, I have more guitar books than I can count, and now you’re telling me that I actually have to practice?! LOL, dude, great video! You’re saying what needs to be said…(and heard by a lot of us, truth be told). I think many players go through that phase of, “finding the secret” before we finally realize there is no shortcut. All the players that we watch have put in the time and effort over years of work. And because of that work, they make it look easy…and because it looks so effortless, there must be a trick, right? Nope! Just good, old fashioned hard work and dedication. Keep up the good work and thanks for the reality check!
I spent so much time and focus on improving my holy picking speed, I didnt even realize Id been stuck for some time because my fretting hand was waaaaay behind it. Now im doing the damn thing, and doing my legato and stretches and dammit, there you go.
It’s incredible how a person telling you straight up “you’re full of bs” can be so inspirational. Tough love is the best thing to push you into working on something. Another teacher who does this is Pebber Brown, he straight up tells you “You SUCK, because you are not willing to practice this for hours, so don’t complain to me that you suck” he was Buckethead’s first teacher I think I’m gonna watch this video everyday to start the day.
I keep coming back to this video Ben, to me its the most positive inspiration when I get the blues, and I don't feel like playing. I am checking this vid out every other day. Probably the fuking most confidence builder on the whole net. Sometimes tough love is the only thing that will ever work.
30 seconds in and i got my answer. What do i want? To play fast but to play interesting lines, so i should look up to learning those lines that i love and to create my own. Thanks
Fantastic reading. I had already solved certain things written in the book by myself in the past (I'm 48) by paying the price of detaching myself with struggling from conditioning, but reading certain things always makes me happy, and even more. Ben is one of the few treasures you can find on YT, along with Troy Stetina. Few treasures in a sea of shit. Finally someone who tells the truth about some clowns present on YT who think they have the truth in their pocket, a symbol of this fucking society. Vampires is the right adjective (as Ben rightly write it), because if you lose the passion and joy you had when you first picked up the guitar, well, there is someone who sucked your brain to take it for themself.
Thanx Brother Ben...! I just got the "Tao of Badass Guitar" some minutes ago and... First I thought it was only a "free fake joke" but then, wow...! I'll give it a deep all-around view and... If you get to make me enter into real ultra speed guitar tech... I'll be really in debt for a lifetime with you for... As the concept of "Tao" implies... The mastering of this technique, at least in some elemental level to begin, is... Some kind of door opened to express and experience and share Spiritual Freedom in sound waves mixed with the Feeling of Blues lines so... I won't forget this Astral Gift...!!! Thanx a lot from Mexico City and... I'll be following you...
The thing people dont understand is that you have shared I am sure more then several times what the problem is. It {IS} either your picking hand or your fretting hand. No magic wand to move and its done. I have followed Ben for years, and he has never steered anyone wrong. If you pay attention to him and actually apply yourself the penny will drop. Its as simple as that. Thank you for sharing this Ben, hopefully some out there with attention span of cool whip will actually let the reasoning pass thru.
I think I'd also reinforce that Legato isn't just lightning fast Rick Graham runs, I've just realised (doh!) that it's actually the bedrock of all non-chord playing. I think this has been a blocker for me - whilst I admire fast Legato players, I've never really had an interest in achieving those skills - so in avoiding building my Legato skills I've just ended up with piss poor hammer on's and pull off's which has affected all of my soloing. Lesson #1 - Legato is not just for insane scale runs..... probably obvious to everyone else...... am starting Ben's Legato Gym to really shape up my fretting hand!
dude ive had exactly the same revelation with my own playing, and im working on the articulation of each note being strong, not so much fast right now though that practice inevitably leads to speed. but to strengthen the quality of each note both picked and hammered on/pulled off, strong legato is a foundation for so much.
I wish I have know u b4.. It's still not late yet.. And I'm so thankful to you your picking video really works.. I finally found out.. My mistake.. Now I'm practicing not to do the same mistake I have been doing.. For pass years.. 😫
??? I thought buying an Ernie Ball Majesty would have me playing like Petrucci?? Like buying a Steinway & Sons would make me play like Chopin! Preach it Ben!
I suck at playing cleanly, at first I thought it was my emg pickups that were too sensitive, so I changed to passive pickups, and I still can't play cleanly, now I am just working on string muting.
I started to feel like it is a billion picking strokes, literally. It is just insane amount of practice at a comfortable tempo which your reflexes eventually perfects over mind numbingly number of iterations. Btw for me it was an upstroke going from higher string to lower (especially with string skipping) so I am just focusing on odd alternate picking patterns for a year now, and I am almost there (a video of yours also helped a lot with fixing my wrist angle, I discovered pick slanting thanks to it)
It is crazy (and fucking scary to be honest) how the Guitar Community is similar to the Entrepreneur-personnal development bullshit that is flourishing online these days. Most popular channels like Bernth encourage you to practice technique with unmusical and overcomplex exercices one hour every day even if it means waking up at 5 AM (Most people don't even have one hour to play...). It's weird because I don't believe other instruments like bass, drums, and also classical instrument have that kind of shitty mindset, but maybe I'm wrong. Anyway, all of this could be solved in one simple formula : -play what you like -practice exercices everyday for a short time -choose basic exercices that have a connection with the music you play, or want to play By the way this is why I like your courses because you give some basic and useful licks, you give them in a very specific order that make progress easy, and also you give us methods to tackle those licks.
I think my problem specifically isn’t isolating the issue it’s working out how to fix it regardless of whether you think thats a cop out personally I find it difficult to develop ideas to train specific weaknesses in my playing.
Excellent, and it's so true. I lost 25lbs since December last year. No matter how much I watched several different fitness TH-camrs, nothing is going to change the fact that you have to work on the shit you want to get better at (in this case, me getting in better shape) if you want to see the results. There's no spooky shit that you need to know in order to get better at guitar (or whatever else it is that you're interested in). Now I'll STFU and pick up my guitar 🤣.
If I can add anything to this it is *practice songs that utilize the techniques you want to improve so practicing is more fun and useful.* Exercises are not practical. Songs are. As an example I am recording a cover of Metallica's "Dyer's Eve." 16th notes at 195 bpm. Why? My right hand alternate picking is weak. Dimebag himself said once he didn't really have a structured practice routine. He just played. By this I assume he meant songs he liked. On the other side of that there is John Petrucci who has a filing system that meticulously organizes everything he wants to practice and breaks it down into small daily routines. He discussed this in his old "Wild Stringdom" column in "Guitar World."
learn to count I have to stay with the passing of time determining where in the sequance I am rather than replaying each part till im satisfied with its articulation.
Hi Ben. Thank you for all the Info you've shared with us over the years. Most of what I know has come from your TH-cam Channel. Your Book you've offered for free in this Video I assume is no longer available ? I've tried twice to sign up to become a Member of your Fan Community , I'm not sure what to call your Group , and I've had no luck. And I guess I can't get the Book now. Is that correct ? Hope you're doing well . 🎸🎸🎸
Hi Rik, you can still get the ebook here. It might take a few mins or longer to turn up in your inbox but check you junk folders as well. It should turn up courses.benhigginsofficial.com/the-tao-of-badass-guitar
@@BenHigginsOfficial Hi Ben. I really appreciate you responding to my request. But I must be doing something wrong because every time I click on the Link to open your Bóok I get taken back to the blank box requesting my Email Address which I've already provided several times. And when I do it again I get "Account In Use ". Thanks for trying Ben but I guess I'll just stick to learning directly from your Homepage/Videos on TH-cam. And thanks again for trying. And by the way , you're far beyond Amazing with playing Guitar. 🎸🎸🎸
My problem is definitely my left hand. My hammer on pull offs suck, I don’t have any finger strength. I do exactly what you say not to. I sit on the couch cycling thru the same shit I’ve played since I was 15, I’m 36 now. Just recently started the spider exercise that is helping but I’m still lacking A LOT! Kind of a bitter pill to swallow playing for so long and realizing I suck😢
I wouldn't waste your time on the spider exercise. If you grab my free courses, do the drills in The Warm Up, they'll sort your hands out quicker! courses.benhigginsofficial.com/freecourses
What helped me with this issue was that I came to terms that I'm going to sound like shit until I can get it right, and that I don't want to sound like shit lol. Working out is the same way except steroids don't exist for this kind of stuff
You tell the truth.. There is no code to be cracked. Everyone who follows gurus who say they have the secret seem to have one thing in common: they haven’t got technique
I agree with you , only way you get better is hard work , i'm playing for 50 years ; for me to see improvement( for speed ) i use a metronome ,i will practice a phrase /part, every day for about a 1/2 hour , AND STAY FOCUSED on that ; after a week i will usually see alot of improvement ; If you're the lazy type ,improving is gonna take much longer
@@BenHigginsOfficial I guess it is my picking hand. I have gone through a few different plectrums to improve this. Swapped to a jazz III 1.38mm plectrum but found it better for picking but not so good for strumming. So now I am on a Dunlop flow 1mm which I am finding better. I think the biggest problem is smooth string transitions. I watch lots of videos and practice my 2 notes per string and 3 notes per string scales, but it isn't just the speed. They don't sound smooth, if you know what I mean. I probably have other problems too heh heh.
@@TheTimeProphet Sounds like you don't have a consistent, drilled in approach that stays the same whenever you pick up the guitar. That's why it's so important to get consistent fingers which can be cured with good legato, and consistent pick strokes, which is why you want an automatic, alternate picked response that stays the same no matter what string cross you're playing. Step one is sorting out your legato, have you checked out Legato Gym yet? courses.benhigginsofficial.com/legato-gym
@@BenHigginsOfficial I have try but my my connection is not good cant reach you.. ! It's there anyway other way I can get.? Btw I live far far away.. And I really want the book so bad...? I'm from North East India Nagaland. Can the book reach here.. ? I really want a electric guitar if u have any old guitar which u don't want. 😂😂😂 your guitars are reall amazing..
@@ajadimebag1084 Do you mean the email sign up doesn't work? If you put your email address in this link the ebook should get emailed to you. It sometimes takes a while.. up to 10 mins so you might have to be patient courses.benhigginsofficial.com/the-tao-of-badass-guitar
There is no "fast" there is only fluency, and yes there is no "trick" or hack, but there is crossing strings fluently, and for that you need to learn the proper specific way (movement) to get the pick out from in between the strings.
Hey Ben, I bought 4 of your courses. Alternate Picking, Legato Gym, Hand Sync, Inside Picking. My problem is I cannot play fast. I have good bending and a good ear. I cannot play fast or fast runs. What course do I start with? Thank you. 🤘
@@CS_Murphy_R9I do believe him and have talked to other guitarists who have said the same. When i played classical guitar i made the best improvement when i played actual pieces. Ordinary exercises bored the hell out of me. I just told my teacher that i would prefer to play an actual piece and thats how i saw improvement
I think Ben would tell you: it's not necessarily about the quantity of practice. It's the quality. One of the best things I have learned from Ben is to break a problem down into such a small size you absolutely cannot fail. Focus and work on that small problem and you will succeed. Move on to the next thing. The challenge with that is that it's very easy to just cycle riffs or licks that are in your comfort zone. I do it all the time. It feels good because it sounds good. But it's not really helping me get better. Recognizing that I'm wasting time on something I already know how to do is half the battle.
Two things to take away Dan is 1. Make sure you're working on stuff that is helping you play what you actually want to play, not just stuff you think you "should" do. 2. Work on the right stuff. If you're going to increase practice time, spend it on ironing out the problem areas, not just more time served. 👍
Go and grab your free copy of The Tao of Badass Guitar here: courses.benhigginsofficial.com/the-tao-of-badass-guitar
I was tired of this and that exercise to get faster and THIS is what I needed to hear. Single string single note, just do it already. Evolve from there.
i love the approach. i’ve been playing 35 years mostly on acoustic and have always told myself i’m not a fast soloist. but you’re right. i can be. so now i’m going to be.
in other news you have a new subscriber and i’m likely going to buy your bundle 😂
Yep, it all starts with giving oneself the permission to do it 🔥
If you are an aspiring, self-taught guitar player this is probably the most important guitar video on TH-cam. Of the thousands of guitar videos I have watched over the years I have only heard this advice maybe 1 or 2 times.
Does this not depend entirely upon what you want to do with the guitar? If you want to mimic others, play shred guitar or whatever, then yeah, this all makes sense. If you just want to do your own thing? If you're more interested purely in being 'creative'? Eh.
I think it's a fairly safe bet that the majority of guitarists who make music that others want to imitate don't spend much or any time 'practicing'. They spend their time making and playing music. You could argue that it's all the same thing, but it's not sitting there running through scales or worrying about how smooth their legato is, is it?
@@_Stroda Sure. The thing is, you can be so much more creative with some solid techniques and a little theory under your belt.
I know a lot of guitarists don't work on technique or new things after they get signed or start touring, but if they are any caliber of soloing guitar player they did "woodshed" at some point. I don't think you can write good solos or master some of these techniques and styles by focusing solely on creativity.
But like you said if that's not your thing, doesn't mean you can't write some good songs. Nirvana is a perfect example. I don't think Cobain was a musical genius. He just wrote what sounded good to him with a pretty limited musical vocabulary.
No I don't think its the same thing, practicing and writing are two very different things.
Totally agree with what Ben says, had the pleasure of joining his free course over Facebook and he was able to pinpoint my issues and over the course of a week I was way better than where I began. More importantly though, it stopped me from avoiding what I needed to work on.
This video and its message is great. For all the guitarist out there reading this who at one point, or still are, athletes...how much effort and practice did you have to put in to get really good at one particular area of your chosen sport(s)? I used to play hockey, basketball, and skateboard. I would put hours and hours, days and days, weeks and weeks (and on and on) into improving various areas of my ability in those respective sports and was ECSTATIC with only the slightest improvements. Why should playing guitar be any different?
I'll practice a lick for a few hours and get pissed off and disappointed in myself for not getting it right in that short amount of time. "Well, I'll NEVER be able to play that...I SUCK!) I say to myself.
I need to think more like my (former) athletic self...."Hey, I showed some improvement after a few weeks of practice...someday I WILL be able to do this!"
Thanks for being so foward, it was about time. Good old school motivation to actually getting a guitar and start attacking your problems in order to imrpove and increase your guitar skills. Thanks again. I am 47 years old and because of the pandemic I started to play the guitar again after 26 years of not doing it. I was always pretending to deal with my guitar problems just like you describe at the begining of this video. I can not thank you enough for motivating me to actually grab my guitar and fucking face my weaknesses. Cheers from ECUADOR.
That's great to hear, go and get those guitar gains! 💪
Yep...Same age as Mustaine...Can't really describe what it took us to be able to play Megadeth,Satriani,Yngwie etc back then...After 35plus years,second nature now.Been watching you for a few years...You are precise,to the point and acurate.I find it amusing when people think there is a magic pill.The only thing you cannot teach Ben is the work ethic,mindframe and sheer will to stick to the...mundane practice regimen required to actually play guitar...It really comes down to elbow grease,a small bit of talent,and mental drive...I think you are a great teacher,I come back now and then when in need of a refresher...Kudos dude!!
I remember 2 years ago i hurt my back and work put me on light duties at the shop...
Long story short for 3 months I basically hid in my pick up truck in the parking lot with my guitar plugged into a blue tooth speaker doing boring ass exercises.
Shocking thing eh... I start to become a lead guitarist. 20 years of rhythm guitar and i was on my path.
Now its hard when i rotated back to full duties. But if you put 30 minutes towards your goal most days of the week im closer to my goal.
Your videos really help man! Thanks for the content!
Well done for putting in the work 👍👍
@@BenHigginsOfficial just joined your complete guitarist membership. I still need so much discipline in doing leads especially improvising and development of my own chops for my songs. Looking forward to how this membership can help!
@@HOLOCULT That's great, you'll make gains if you put in the time 👍👍
i'm working on the legato gym for the 6th week now. At first i couldn't play the 16th triplets on 100bpm. Now i'm playing exercises 4 and 5 on 120bpm comfortably. I felt like I needed more time than the duration of the course wich is 5 weeks, but the better I get at it, the more i'm motivated to keep going so I decided to give it a few more weeks to really get it down on even faster tempo's.
I even managed to play the intermediate Van Halen solo from your other course and i'm working on the advanced solo in between the legato stuff. all i want to say is, this is the first time since very long i really feel like i'm getting somewhere, and I can't believe how simple it really can be if you do just like you say, practice in the right way, and focus on the problem.
Thanks Ben, you are a legend!
Well done for doing the work, Ian! 💪
Good insights. Never knew an English guy could use so much “French” though.
We English invented English swear words mate
Norman invasion of 1066 meant for many centuries the English nobility spoke French.
And even then the Normans were Franco-Norwegians who were given land in Normandy in the hope they would stop pillaging people...
I need to stop neglecting my pinky and practice more. Ive tried to avoid using the pinky but its my weakness and Ive known for a while.
Well the great thing is that now you've identified it out loud and you're going to hunt down that s.o.b and dominate it, right? I look forward to hearing about your gains 💪
@@BenHigginsOfficial Im practicing Crazy Train as its always given me trouble with the main riff. Quite the pinky workout for me.
Ive always loved staccato picking players - just sounds so more tasteful with that delfined picking style and yes agree alot of todays players have not learned how important dynamics are and accenting certain notes to give the illusion its picked faster than it really is
Love this guy, he tells me exactly what I need to hear.
A year in learning and I think I needed to hear this 😂 Spending hours on finding a tone instead of practicing is my problem
We all need it sometimes! Keep going with your guitar playing 👍👍
Excellent. This also works for life in general.
I totally agree bro. Practicing triads slow and hearing the difference between a major 3rd and a minor third. Then palm mute all of the strings and then go over it again and again for the rest of your life. It should sound like Morris Code if done perfectly. Do it super slow so you can see how much the picking hand needs work. This idea is months of practice with a good attitude. They should take the advice of great councilors such as yourself and slow down. As you drive down the road or set and have a conversation with someone your fingertips should be moving like a nervous habit. Building that muscle memory will require you to practice 24 7. Much love bro you are a fantastic teacher
Amen, thanks for this Ben, very well said and so very true
Hard truth but it's the simply truth and for this reason Ben's words are always useful.
Very often people just move fingers without focusing, waiting that some new magic trick arrives to fix tech issues.
Tough love, but so true. I often remind my students that “guitar is a physical skill.”
Wait…wait…
Over the years, I’ve bought several different types of guitars endorsed by some very famous people who are really great players, I’ve invested heavily in different picks made with shapes, sizes, and materials that the ads all guarantee will make play faster and cleaner, I’ve watched thousands of hours of TH-cam videos, I have more guitar books than I can count, and now you’re telling me that I actually have to practice?!
LOL, dude, great video! You’re saying what needs to be said…(and heard by a lot of us, truth be told). I think many players go through that phase of, “finding the secret” before we finally realize there is no shortcut. All the players that we watch have put in the time and effort over years of work. And because of that work, they make it look easy…and because it looks so effortless, there must be a trick, right? Nope! Just good, old fashioned hard work and dedication.
Keep up the good work and thanks for the reality check!
I spent so much time and focus on improving my holy picking speed, I didnt even realize Id been stuck for some time because my fretting hand was waaaaay behind it. Now im doing the damn thing, and doing my legato and stretches and dammit, there you go.
I been practicing 4-7 hrs every day. From Hammers n pulls. Vibrato, timing with metronome, chords. Scales , legatos. Tuning by ear.
Best advice ever. Thank you.
Its the work you put in. Nothing else.
Great video and straight to the point. No more excuses or bs. Just do it. Thanks!
It’s incredible how a person telling you straight up “you’re full of bs” can be so inspirational. Tough love is the best thing to push you into working on something. Another teacher who does this is Pebber Brown, he straight up tells you “You SUCK, because you are not willing to practice this for hours, so don’t complain to me that you suck” he was Buckethead’s first teacher
I think I’m gonna watch this video everyday to start the day.
I keep coming back to this video Ben, to me its the most positive inspiration when I get the blues, and I don't feel like playing. I am checking this vid out every other day. Probably the fuking most confidence builder on the whole net. Sometimes tough love is the only thing that will ever work.
Great to hear it! We all get the ups and downs but what separates doers from talkers is those that keep going despite it! Well done
I stopped the video at 02:26 to go and practice.
That's a reality check a lot of people need but only a few want.
I shared this to my Facebook bro. This could probably be the best motivational guitar video ever produced quite honestly. Great job
30 seconds in and i got my answer. What do i want? To play fast but to play interesting lines, so i should look up to learning those lines that i love and to create my own. Thanks
Wow actually the first person on youtube who wannts us to get faster ! Gonna go grab my guitar
@@danijelleovic Get those guitar gains! 💪🎸
Fantastic reading. I had already solved certain things written in the book by myself in the past (I'm 48) by paying the price of detaching myself with struggling from conditioning, but reading certain things always makes me happy, and even more. Ben is one of the few treasures you can find on YT, along with Troy Stetina. Few treasures in a sea of shit. Finally someone who tells the truth about some clowns present on YT who think they have the truth in their pocket, a symbol of this fucking society. Vampires is the right adjective (as Ben rightly write it), because if you lose the passion and joy you had when you first picked up the guitar, well, there is someone who sucked your brain to take it for themself.
Thanx Brother Ben...! I just got the "Tao of Badass Guitar" some minutes ago and... First I thought it was only a "free fake joke" but then, wow...! I'll give it a deep all-around view and... If you get to make me enter into real ultra speed guitar tech... I'll be really in debt for a lifetime with you for... As the concept of "Tao" implies... The mastering of this technique, at least in some elemental level to begin, is... Some kind of door opened to express and experience and share Spiritual Freedom in sound waves mixed with the Feeling of Blues lines so... I won't forget this Astral Gift...!!!
Thanx a lot from Mexico City and... I'll be following you...
The thing people dont understand is that you have shared I am sure more then several times what the problem is. It {IS} either your picking hand or your fretting hand. No magic wand to move and its done. I have followed Ben for years, and he has never steered anyone wrong. If you pay attention to him and actually apply yourself the penny will drop. Its as simple as that. Thank you for sharing this Ben, hopefully some out there with attention span of cool whip will actually let the reasoning pass thru.
Thank you and yes, you're exactly right!
I think I'd also reinforce that Legato isn't just lightning fast Rick Graham runs, I've just realised (doh!) that it's actually the bedrock of all non-chord playing. I think this has been a blocker for me - whilst I admire fast Legato players, I've never really had an interest in achieving those skills - so in avoiding building my Legato skills I've just ended up with piss poor hammer on's and pull off's which has affected all of my soloing. Lesson #1 - Legato is not just for insane scale runs..... probably obvious to everyone else...... am starting Ben's Legato Gym to really shape up my fretting hand!
Exactly - you got it!
dude ive had exactly the same revelation with my own playing, and im working on the articulation of each note being strong, not so much fast right now though that practice inevitably leads to speed. but to strengthen the quality of each note both picked and hammered on/pulled off, strong legato is a foundation for so much.
Basics. It all comes down to the basics. ❤
God Jul, мой друг!
Reality! Thanks for the kick in the ass!
I think Ben is getting frustrated. LOL
He's right though.
Thnx for great motivation, Hppy christmas bro
good stuff brother! to the point, no bullshit
The only way 👍
I wish I have know u b4.. It's still not late yet.. And I'm so thankful to you your picking video really works.. I finally found out.. My mistake.. Now I'm practicing not to do the same mistake I have been doing.. For pass years.. 😫
Instant Sub! The unapologetic truth with testicular fortitude!
Epic! 👊
Hey Ben, Bought 4 of your courses. Can you make a video on how to use the metronome for best results? Thank you!! 👍🤘😎
Just love the frankness of your attitude!! Keep playing DooM!!!
Rip and Tear!
This is what we all need to hear. God bless ya bro you rock
My wife disagrees. She says my knob IS the problem! 🤣🤣🤣
I love this dude! He’s right! He is straight to the fucking point with the truth.
Hey Ben, You opened by eyes!! Thank you!! 😎👍🙏
Straight and to the point.
??? I thought buying an Ernie Ball Majesty would have me playing like Petrucci??
Like buying a Steinway & Sons would make me play like Chopin!
Preach it Ben!
Great stuff, there are no shortcuts..
I suck at playing cleanly, at first I thought it was my emg pickups that were too sensitive, so I changed to passive pickups, and I still can't play cleanly, now I am just working on string muting.
Great info !
gave a like after the first minute of speech. Thats a speech! ty
👍👍👍🍩🍩
You are my sage !
Fantastic video Ben, thank you so much! Merry Christmas and all the best in 2022!
If l want something to sound fast l shred.🌷
I started to feel like it is a billion picking strokes, literally. It is just insane amount of practice at a comfortable tempo which your reflexes eventually perfects over mind numbingly number of iterations. Btw for me it was an upstroke going from higher string to lower (especially with string skipping) so I am just focusing on odd alternate picking patterns for a year now, and I am almost there (a video of yours also helped a lot with fixing my wrist angle, I discovered pick slanting thanks to it)
It is crazy (and fucking scary to be honest) how the Guitar Community is similar to the Entrepreneur-personnal development bullshit that is flourishing online these days.
Most popular channels like Bernth encourage you to practice technique with unmusical and overcomplex exercices one hour every day even if it means waking up at 5 AM (Most people don't even have one hour to play...). It's weird because I don't believe other instruments like bass, drums, and also classical instrument have that kind of shitty mindset, but maybe I'm wrong.
Anyway, all of this could be solved in one simple formula :
-play what you like
-practice exercices everyday for a short time
-choose basic exercices that have a connection with the music you play, or want to play
By the way this is why I like your courses because you give some basic and useful licks, you give them in a very specific order that make progress easy, and also you give us methods to tackle those licks.
You said it, my friend.. you have to have a connection between what you enjoy playing.. and the practicing that you're doing!
this mans speaking the harsh truth, although I practice with intent, its good to get a mental buttkick here and there. Keep it coming!
I think my problem specifically isn’t isolating the issue it’s working out how to fix it regardless of whether you think thats a cop out personally I find it difficult to develop ideas to train specific weaknesses in my playing.
Excellent, and it's so true. I lost 25lbs since December last year. No matter how much I watched several different fitness TH-camrs, nothing is going to change the fact that you have to work on the shit you want to get better at (in this case, me getting in better shape) if you want to see the results. There's no spooky shit that you need to know in order to get better at guitar (or whatever else it is that you're interested in). Now I'll STFU and pick up my guitar 🤣.
Totally!
You nailed me my problem is working with the metronome
Such a good video ! I feel like most exercises are to big to be effective.
Love your candor and passion.
Wicked video! A good kick up the backside. Guys, buy this man's Complete Guitarist course! You are doing yourself a disservice if you haven't.
Thanks my friend! 🤜🤛
I agree thanks'
If I can add anything to this it is *practice songs that utilize the techniques you want to improve so practicing is more fun and useful.*
Exercises are not practical. Songs are.
As an example I am recording a cover of Metallica's "Dyer's Eve." 16th notes at 195 bpm. Why? My right hand alternate picking is weak.
Dimebag himself said once he didn't really have a structured practice routine. He just played. By this I assume he meant songs he liked.
On the other side of that there is John Petrucci who has a filing system that meticulously organizes everything he wants to practice and breaks it down into small daily routines. He discussed this in his old "Wild Stringdom" column in "Guitar World."
I miss these videos
learn to count I have to stay with the passing of time determining where in the sequance I am rather than replaying each part till im satisfied with its articulation.
Hi Ben. Thank you for all the Info you've shared with us over the years. Most of what I know has come from your TH-cam Channel.
Your Book you've offered for free in this Video I assume is no longer available ? I've tried twice to sign up to become a Member of your Fan Community , I'm not sure what to call your Group , and I've had no luck. And I guess I can't get the Book now. Is that correct ? Hope you're doing well . 🎸🎸🎸
Hi Rik, you can still get the ebook here. It might take a few mins or longer to turn up in your inbox but check you junk folders as well. It should turn up courses.benhigginsofficial.com/the-tao-of-badass-guitar
@@BenHigginsOfficial Hi Ben. I really appreciate you responding to my request. But I must be doing something wrong because every time I click on the Link to open your Bóok I get taken back to the blank box requesting my Email Address which I've already provided several times. And when I do it again I get "Account In Use ". Thanks for trying Ben but I guess I'll just stick to learning directly from your Homepage/Videos on TH-cam. And thanks again for trying. And by the way , you're far beyond Amazing with playing Guitar. 🎸🎸🎸
@@RikJSmith Hi Rik. Please email us at: info@benhigginsofficial.com and we'll get this sorted for you. It will be a simple fix
My problem is definitely my left hand. My hammer on pull offs suck, I don’t have any finger strength. I do exactly what you say not to. I sit on the couch cycling thru the same shit I’ve played since I was 15, I’m 36 now. Just recently started the spider exercise that is helping but I’m still lacking A LOT! Kind of a bitter pill to swallow playing for so long and realizing I suck😢
I wouldn't waste your time on the spider exercise. If you grab my free courses, do the drills in The Warm Up, they'll sort your hands out quicker! courses.benhigginsofficial.com/freecourses
Love The Approach, Thanks For The Size Eleven Up The Keister ~
The Jordan Peterson of guitar teachers. We need more like you. Great stuff
great vid
I agree
But, I like practicing. It calms me down.
I just don’t know if I’m practicing what I need to practice to be able to put together good solos.
This is such a great video! Nothing but pure unadulterated truth in all of it!
What helped me with this issue was that I came to terms that I'm going to sound like shit until I can get it right, and that I don't want to sound like shit lol. Working out is the same way except steroids don't exist for this kind of stuff
Ben...you got a coupon code for the mega bad ass bundle?
Sure thing.. use the code: MEGA10
You tell the truth.. There is no code to be cracked. Everyone who follows gurus who say they have the secret seem to have one thing in common: they haven’t got technique
❤❤❤❤❤❤
Damn. I've been labouring under the delusion that I need to increase the size of my knob to improve
👏👏👏👏👏🧠💪🎸
Haha. I love this!!! Tell it how it is..... F bombs appreciated.
Bombs away! 💣💥💥
Do you have a coupon code for the wylde lessons?
Contact me through here and we'll sort something out www.benhigginsofficial.com/contact.php
This. Seriously, this.
I agree with you , only way you get better is hard work , i'm playing for 50 years ; for me to see improvement( for speed ) i use a metronome ,i will practice a phrase /part, every day for about a 1/2 hour , AND STAY FOCUSED on that ; after a week i will usually see alot of improvement ; If you're the lazy type ,improving is gonna take much longer
“Spend hours on forums talking about fucking angles and stupid shit”
I FEEL SEEN.
Ok. Very good then. I like this video. Good angry tough love.
Go and get those gains, my friend! 🤜🤛
I got so many things, and I am getting lost with all the things LOL.
You gotta start somewhere so what's the biggest problem holding you back right now?
@@BenHigginsOfficial I guess it is my picking hand. I have gone through a few different plectrums to improve this. Swapped to a jazz III 1.38mm plectrum but found it better for picking but not so good for strumming. So now I am on a Dunlop flow 1mm which I am finding better. I think the biggest problem is smooth string transitions. I watch lots of videos and practice my 2 notes per string and 3 notes per string scales, but it isn't just the speed. They don't sound smooth, if you know what I mean. I probably have other problems too heh heh.
@@TheTimeProphet Sounds like you don't have a consistent, drilled in approach that stays the same whenever you pick up the guitar. That's why it's so important to get consistent fingers which can be cured with good legato, and consistent pick strokes, which is why you want an automatic, alternate picked response that stays the same no matter what string cross you're playing. Step one is sorting out your legato, have you checked out Legato Gym yet? courses.benhigginsofficial.com/legato-gym
Marry Me Higgins 🤣
It's still free? if it's not can I buy on Amazon. ?
Yes, it is.. the link is in the description 👍
@@BenHigginsOfficial I have try but my my connection is not good cant reach you.. ! It's there anyway other way I can get.? Btw I live far far away.. And I really want the book so bad...? I'm from North East India Nagaland. Can the book reach here.. ? I really want a electric guitar if u have any old guitar which u don't want. 😂😂😂 your guitars are reall amazing..
@@ajadimebag1084 Do you mean the email sign up doesn't work? If you put your email address in this link the ebook should get emailed to you. It sometimes takes a while.. up to 10 mins so you might have to be patient courses.benhigginsofficial.com/the-tao-of-badass-guitar
The only way out is through
Life sever men. Thanks
You're welcome dude! 👍
There is no "fast" there is only fluency, and yes there is no "trick" or hack, but there is crossing strings fluently, and for that you need to learn the proper specific way (movement) to get the pick out from in between the strings.
Hey Ben, I bought 4 of your courses. Alternate Picking, Legato Gym, Hand Sync, Inside Picking. My problem is I cannot play fast. I have good bending and a good ear. I cannot play fast or fast runs. What course do I start with? Thank you. 🤘
Definitely start with Legato Gym - it all comes from a capable fretting hand! 👍
Definitely start with Legato Gym - it all comes from a capable fretting hand! 👍
@@BenHigginsOfficial Thank you Ben!! 🤘
@@BenHigginsOfficial Hey Ben, I forgot to ask you how important is using a metronome? Thanks! 👍
Yngwie never practiced. He played songs he wanted to learn or to songs and he tried to impress himself. everyone needs their own way to become good
@@CS_Murphy_R9I do believe him and have talked to other guitarists who have said the same. When i played classical guitar i made the best improvement when i played actual pieces. Ordinary exercises bored the hell out of me. I just told my teacher that i would prefer to play an actual piece and thats how i saw improvement
I was wondering if anybody else like has to play a lick 1000 times before they can get it fast and smooth
My thought is I have to practice a whole lot more than I do. Even when I was practicing a lot I just didn't seem to make the gains I should
I think Ben would tell you: it's not necessarily about the quantity of practice. It's the quality. One of the best things I have learned from Ben is to break a problem down into such a small size you absolutely cannot fail. Focus and work on that small problem and you will succeed. Move on to the next thing. The challenge with that is that it's very easy to just cycle riffs or licks that are in your comfort zone. I do it all the time. It feels good because it sounds good. But it's not really helping me get better. Recognizing that I'm wasting time on something I already know how to do is half the battle.
Two things to take away Dan is 1. Make sure you're working on stuff that is helping you play what you actually want to play, not just stuff you think you "should" do. 2. Work on the right stuff. If you're going to increase practice time, spend it on ironing out the problem areas, not just more time served. 👍
@Rivethead 318 Yes, excellent! Glad to see it being deployed 👍