If you want to play scales really fast, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First and foremost is the fact that you should not try to just play “as fast as you can”, without regard for rhythm. In fact, practicing at a normal tempo with a metronome and trying different rhythms is a much better way to master the scales (and the guitar itself) than trying to simply gain speed. There are however some things you can do to significantly increase the speed at which you play scales. Here is a proven method that I use personally:
Step 1, you want to memorize the scale. Some scales are easier to memorize than others, but they are all fairly simple. Write them down if you have to and practice a few times, slowly, to get both the positions and the sounds in your head. If you have an mp3 player of some sort you might want to record you playing the scale for reference. Now that you have it memorized, go to step 2, which is…
Turn off the lights, completely. Make sure your room is completely dark so you can’t see the guitar. Be careful not to break anything though! Sit down and give your fingers a little time to feel the fret board and get a sense of distance. Most of the time people play guitar looking at the fret board, but you are not playing with your eyes and looking at it will just slow you down. Try playing the chromatic scale, that is, all the notes one after the other. Once you are used to playing in the dark, it’s time for step 3…
If you recorded the scale on an mp3 player, now would be a good time to listen to it once or twice. If you didn’t, that is fine, move forward anyway. It’s time to actually play the scale… slowly! Pay very careful attention to where your fingers are going and the sound you are making. Are you placing your fingers too far from the fret? Is the string buzzing? Adjust! You have to get this perfect before you try to gain speed. After a few minutes, turn on the lights and play the scale normally, paying attention to how it sounds, to make sure you are not playing it wrong. And then…
Step 4, turn the lights back off and keep pushing for speed. Practice, practice, practice. Try hammer-ons and pull-offs to gain even more speed. The ideal practice session is around 30 minutes, at least 20. Set up an alarm clock to let you know when to stop, and go grab something to eat or have a walk, or watch TV. Do anything that takes your mind off playing guitar, so it can rest. Then 20 to 30 minutes later, you can practice again. Rest is absolutely essential for learning!
You really should not neglect practicing proper rhythm. If you neglected to use a metronome, all is not lost. You can start correcting your rhythm anytime you want, and now is better than never. Don’t forget to make sure your guitar is properly tuned too! While you play your ear is getting used to the sound of the scale, so it should be the correct, in-tune scale.
Follow this method and before you know it you’ll be playing scales like a pro. If you need more help, there are some excellent teachers at http://www.ijamplay.com with both live and recorded Q & As and recorded lessons to help you out.
