How to Play Fast Part 2 - A Lesson From John Petrucci

By Reynato Basister

Last time we talked about John Petrucci's lesson on how to play fast. And playing fast is not about cheating but it involves technique. And if you have enough technique you can play fast at your desired speed and talking that technique into the next level.

In this second part of lesson, we are going to do a series of licks going up the neck not necessarily in the key but using symmetrical. There are three different shapes that we are going to do. The first shape is it involves the fingers 1, 3 and 4 on the 2nd, 4th and 5th fret. The second is fingers 1, 2 and 4 on the 4th, 5th and 7th fret. And the third is fingers 1, 2 and 4 on the 5th, 7th, and 9th fret with the stretch. To show you the illustration for this, look at the figures below and it was written in tablature form.

e---------------------------------------------------------

B---------------------------------------------------------

G--------------2-----4-----5----------------------------

D-------5------------------------------------------------

A---------------------------------------------------------

E---------------------------------------------------------
Figure 1

Figure 1 is the first shape. Play it twice then move on the next shape in figure 2.

e---------------------------------------------------------

B---------------------------------------------------------

G--------------4-----5-----7----------------------------

D-------7------------------------------------------------

A---------------------------------------------------------

E---------------------------------------------------------
Figure 2

Figure 2 is the second shape. Play it twice then move on the next shape in figure 3.

e---------------------------------------------------------

B---------------------------------------------------------

G-------------5-----7------9---------------------------

D-------9------------------------------------------------

A--------------------------------------------------------

E--------------------------------------------------------
Figure 3

Figure 3 is the third shape. Again play it twice then go back to the first shape but this time moving up one whole step in 7th, 9th and 10th frets. Then moving up one whole step again, following the second shape on the 9th, 10th and 12th fret and then the third shape. Continue until you run out of fret.

When you become comfortable with this shape, try to play it backward. And then play it up and down the neck. Start slowly then gradually build up your speed. Again try to work on your weak points. To make these licks more interesting, you can try it in B and high E string. You can also try it in low E and A string. Good luck and have fun! Start practicing.

You can watch the whole video of this lesson by visiting my site.

Learn more about improving your guitar playing Visit My Site. Reynato Basister has been playing guitar for more than 15 years and willing to help you to develop your own guitar playing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Reynato_Basister
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Play-Fast-Part-2---A-Lesson-From-John-Petrucci&id=3417461