How to Move Your Hands Faster on the Guitar

Speeding up your hands on the guitar can transform your playing from ordinary to extraordinary. Whether you’re shredding through a metal solo or laying down a tight rhythm, faster hands mean cleaner, more precise playing. This guide will walk you through practical tips and exercises to boost your speed without sacrificing accuracy.

Stretching and Warm-Ups: The Unsung Heroes

Before you even think about picking up your guitar, consider this: your fingers are like athletes. Just as runners stretch before a race, your fingers need to be limber to perform at their best. Simple stretches can work wonders in preventing injury and improving flexibility.

• Finger Stretches: Hold your hand out with fingers spread, then gently pull each finger back with your other hand. Hold for a few seconds and repeat.
• Wrist Rotations: Rotate your wrists in a circular motion to get the blood flowing and reduce stiffness.
• Spider Exercise: Place your fingers on the table and lift one at a time while keeping the others down. It’s a bit tricky but will help with finger independence.

Once you’re stretched out, warm up with some chromatic exercises. Start slow and gradually increase the speed. Not only does this prepare your hands, but it also engages your mind with the task at hand. Remember, these exercises are just as important as the complex solos you dream of playing.

Metronome: Your Best Friend and Relentless Taskmaster

If you’ve ever tried moving your fingers faster without a metronome, you know it’s like trying to run a marathon in flip-flops—awkward and frustrating. A metronome helps you build speed gradually, ensuring you stay in time.

• Start Slow: Set your metronome to a comfortable speed and play through scales or exercises. Focus on accuracy before speed.
• Incremental Increases: Once you can play cleanly at a given speed, increase the tempo by 5-10 BPM. Rinse and repeat.
• Challenge Yourself: Occasionally set the metronome a little faster than you’re comfortable with. You might surprise yourself with what you can do!

Check out Riffhard, where we have a custom metronome designed specifically for guitar practice. It’s a game-changer for anyone serious about improving their speed.

Picking Techniques: More Than Just Up and Down

Whether you’re alternate picking or downpicking, your picking technique is crucial in achieving speed. Let’s break down some of the popular techniques:

Alternate Picking

Alternate picking is all about efficiency. It involves picking down, then up, seamlessly. This technique is a staple for any metal guitarist aiming to play fast and clean.

• Practice Patterns: Start with simple exercises like picking each note in a scale using alternate picking.
• Economy of Motion: Keep your pick strokes short and close to the strings. This minimizes movement and maximizes speed.

Downpicking

Downpicking gives a certain aggression and tightness to your sound, essential for genres like thrash metal.

• Consistency: Focus on making each downpick sound powerful and even.
• Endurance: Practice riffs that require sustained downpicking to build stamina.

Our instructors at Riffhard include some of the top metal guitarists who teach these techniques with precision and clarity.

Freight Train Fingers: Building Finger Independence

Your fingers need to operate independently to achieve speed. Practicing finger independence exercises can significantly improve your playing.

• Trills: Practice trilling between each pair of fingers. This helps build strength and dexterity.
• Finger Twisters: Play simple patterns that force your fingers to move independently, such as 1-3-2-4 on the fretboard.

These exercises might feel awkward at first, but with persistence, they’ll become second nature. Interestingly enough, they also improve your ability to articulate complex solos and riffs.

String Skipping: Because Life Isn’t Always Linear

String skipping might seem daunting, but it’s a fantastic way to improve hand coordination and speed. It involves skipping one or more strings while playing a sequence of notes.

• Start Simple: Begin with simple patterns, like playing the first note on the low E string, then the next on the D string.
• Focus on Cleanliness: Make sure each note rings out clearly. Mute unwanted strings with your left hand or palm.

As you get more comfortable, you can incorporate string skipping into your solos or riffs, adding a unique texture to your playing.

Economy of Motion: Less is More

Speed isn’t just about moving fast; it’s about moving efficiently. Economy of motion means using the least amount of movement to achieve the desired result.

• Minimize Finger Movements: Keep your fretting hand fingers close to the strings.
• Pick Angle: Experiment with different pick angles to find what feels most comfortable and efficient.

Remember, it’s not about showing off how fast you can move; it’s about playing efficiently and cleanly. If you’re curious about how professionals do it, Riffhard offers lessons from guitarists who are experts in this art.

Mind Over Metal: Mental Practice and Visualization

Believe it or not, your brain plays a vital role in how fast your hands can move. Mental practice involves visualizing the movements without actually playing the guitar.

• Visualize Success: Picture yourself playing a difficult passage successfully. This can help build confidence and improve actual performance.
• Silent Practice: Go through the motions of playing a riff without making a sound. Focus on the movements and muscle memory.

This might sound a bit unconventional, but professional musicians use these techniques to enhance their performance.

Consistency is Key: The Power of Regular Practice

You’ve probably heard it a million times, but it’s true—consistency is crucial. Regular practice builds muscle memory and improves speed over time.

• Schedule Practice Sessions: Set aside a specific time each day for practice.
• Stay Focused: Make the most of your practice time by staying focused and avoiding distractions.

The more consistent you are with your practice, the faster you’ll see results. Our bi-weekly lesson plan, The Shredule, at Riffhard, is designed to keep you on track and progressing steadily.

Final Thoughts

Boosting your hand speed on the guitar is all about combining the right techniques with consistent practice. Remember, it’s not just about speed but also precision and clarity. At Riffhard, we offer lessons and resources from top metal guitarists to help you achieve your goals faster and more effectively. Keep practicing, and soon, your hands will be flying across the fretboard with ease!