For all the guitarists.

[necro]

So, I'm curious. I'm getting into a whole new stink of technique for metal guitar. I'm basically trying to learn sweeping, sweep tapping, sweep skipping, and legato sweeps. This is, in my opinion, the hardest thing to do, fast and accurate.

What do you think is the hardest technique on a guitar; any style. Barre Chord slides? 4 finger taps? Dare I say alternate picking sweeps(Shadows Fall - The Light That Blinds intro)? Lets hear opinions, and why it was so hard for you.

[Skelter]

Finger tapping without using my pick as a crutch took me a year or so.

I still can't sweep pick to save my life, then again I've sloped off playing in the last year or so.

I might not even be able to finger tap properly now.

[BrackishWater]

Ah yes, the Tantric Techniques of electric guitar.
I call them that because as a musician, absolutely nothing will get you laid faster than pulling that shit out onstage. :D

I personally detest that sort of playing, since it seems like style over substance. Think Jimi. He never used sweep picking or anything like that, but his songs practically oozed sex. True, he had his gimmicks, but they included humping his axe as it wailed feedback at maximum loud. Its about how you play, not how fast, dig?

If you really wanna improve your alternate picking speed, masturbate a lot. No, really. Its the most fun and rewarding way to bolster your wrist speed, bar none. Plus, its a great way to condition your member for the multitude of hot dickings you'll be dishing out once you learn to sweep.

In my opinion, the hardest aspect of playing guitar isn't nailing down all the most difficult techniques, but rather nailing down your own unique personal style. Making up a riff that isn't blatantly derivative is the crux of good guitar playing, and its honestly a whole helluva lot harder than sweeping or tapping or whatever. Learning these techniques is inarguably beneficial to your overall skill at the instrument, but in no way are they crucial. They will get you laid, and most likely hired for a local Metallica cover band, but not much else.

Then again, I'm a bass player, so what the fuck do I know?
Good luck, anyway. :D

[Pariah]

I'm working on six string sweeps. The intro solo to The Psalm of Lydia by Nevermore is what I've been playing lately. Jeff Loomis writes the craziest shit.

[dull_bullet]

8 finger tap n' slap! Sounds like a sex move but it's not.

That shit is fun to watch

[That1Guy]

When I had first started I would have said barre chord slides, but those come fairly simple for me now.
I would have to say tapping in general I need to work on and definitely sweep picking.

[Jordz]

I suggest you check out the basic arpeggios in Bat Country by Avenged Sevenfold. The band and song is shit, but the actual sweeping pattern is a great way to start learning.

Once you get the hang of 4 string sweeping, try to use your technique to play bar chords as an arpeggio.

Good luck man, it took me a while to get the hang of it, but now, it is a breeze and I get quite bored of it now.

[ready_aim_rock]

Some real folky, jam-sounding chords, skipping a string or two, on a really stubborn acoustic.

Other end of the spectrum =D

[Jordz]

Some real folky, jam-sounding chords, skipping a string or two, on a really stubborn acoustic.

Other end of the spectrum =D

Yeah. Because playing metal on accoustic is definitely the way to go.

[/sarcasm]

[Ball Masher]

I can sort of do an arpeggio sweep either up or down, but I'm strugling with doing one up and down in one smooth motion. I've never tried sweep tapping.

[ready_aim_rock]

Yeah. Because playing metal on accoustic is definitely the way to go.

[/sarcasm]

What do you think is the hardest technique on a guitar; any style.

If you'd like to go ahead and just light your argument on fire, I'll supply the kerosene.

And lern to spel. Or read, for that matter.

[assassinhold]

go masturbate. also, lift weights to bolster up your endurance. also, make sure you don't lose your unique style if you have one, if you don't, then you should be worrying about building one rather than speed. don't follow the crowd, the jist of metal is to go against the crowd.

[Jordz]

I can sort of do an arpeggio sweep either up or down, but I'm strugling with doing one up and down in one smooth motion. I've never tried sweep tapping.

Check out some videos of Michael Romeo from Symphony X on YouTube, he uses sweep tapping a fair bit and has some basic exercises you could follow. It helps to work on technique before you build up speed. I know how eager you get to play fast, but you will never get there unless you start slow.

If you'd like to go ahead and just light your argument on fire, I'll supply the kerosene.

And lern to spel. Or read, for that matter.

Sorry, all I heard you say was "Blah blah blah, I'm a dirty tramp with a battery in my asshole."

I read, I just chose to ignore.