Ive recently started learning the intro solo to fade to black, and realized how bad i am at picking these fast licks. Ive only really played slower songs or fingerstyle really. I got the solo down to 80% speed but faster than that is just impossible, i dont feel fluid at all.

Does anyone have any tips on improving picking speed? Are there nuances to economy picking that i dont know about, more than up down up down up down forever? Good/bad ways to hold the pick? What are some good online resources for this that has helped you?

I am practicing with a metronome/playing along to slowed down version of the solo etc, but at 80% ive just plateued.

Appreciative of any tips/help!

For me it was CAGED. I spent a long time memorizing it as 5 separate shapes. Then it hit me: it’s really one big shape that links up across the whole neck, sitting right on top of the scale. Once I saw that, the fretboard stopped being so confusing.

What was yours?

Hey guys, im kinda on and off with guitar because its fun but at some point i get overwhelmed with options and then just drop it and start from like new a few weeks later on. ive figured that i enjoy fingerpicking osts from horror videogames or stuff like blouse by clairo, but i also enjoy distorted guitar here and there. i love evanescence but a lot of their stuff is too difficult rn… with youtube theres just so much but i feel like i learn some songs but cant connect the stuff i learned and im wondering if theres like a workbook/route to follow so that i can have some order? theres a bunch for more mainstreamy stuff but i dont have fun playing that :(

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share something I’ve been working on for a while. Like a lot of you, I spent years picking up my guitar, playing the same three riffs, "noodling" for 20 minutes, and then putting it back down. I wasn't getting faster, and my technique was plateauing.

I realized that my practice lacked what my gym routine had: Structure and Progressive Overload.

I decided to build The Guitar Gym. I wanted to move away from "random" practice and create a systematic way to master things like economy picking, legato, and sweep picking.

The feature I’m most proud of is the Speed Trainer. Instead of just a static metronome, it uses a "Mountain Climbing" logic: it slowly ramps up the BPM to push your limits, lets you peak there to build stamina, and then brings you back down so you finish with control. It's the only way I finally broke through my 120bpm alternate picking wall.

A few things I made sure to include for us gear-heads:

-No Subscriptions: I hate them. It’s a one-time unlock for everything.

-File Support: You can import your own Guitar Pro (.gp, .gpx) and MusicXML files.

-200+ Exercises: All structured from beginner to advanced.

It’s been a passion project for me, and I’d love to hear what you guys think. If you’re struggling with a plateau, I hope this helps you the way it helped me.

Thanks! 🙏

Download here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.theguitargym.app&hl=en\](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.theguitargym.app&hl=en

Hey peeps 👋! I previously made a post about PraLoop, an all-in-one practice companion application with many useful features that helps make learning more efficient. Wrote an article about it this time, would be super appreciative for some reads! And of course, installs for the app :^)

https://chiyuu.co.jp/blog/2026/10/17/pra-loop-reclaim-your-practice-time/

Comments are also open to anyone who want to share a cool way they solved some pain points while learning how to play the guitar, the weirder, the merrier 😂

I have had a guitar for a year now and I wanted to learn, but it is so hard and I did not bother changing the strings because I was very scared they would just snap and hurt my arms. Should I start again? And if I start again , how should I begin? Because the guitar lessons in my city are very expensive and I can't afford them. I want to play Indian songs as well as some good songs to

I hardly noticed it in C# standard or whatever tuning Sabbath bloody Sabbath is in, but when I drop only the E string it gets a buzz even if I push it down fully, near the fret

Do I need to adjust the truss rod? Coz that's gonna be a pain, on an Ibanez Gio id have to remove the strings

Hey guys! First ever post. I can play guitar well… acoustic and electric, However, This song gets me. I want to play it like in the YouTube video. There’s good rhythm and I can get that part. Sounds a bit like a RuneScape vibe in the guitar to me and I want to replicate that, but the basic chords don’t do it. I’m well versed in bar chords, hammer ons, pull offs, etc. I unfortunately lack an ear. Checked my other sources and found the chord progression and all that. Just can’t quite tune it right idk what I’m missing. Help would be awesome!

I began creating it as a practice tool for myself but it got so good and the scope and functionality kept expanding so I've decided to release it to the world. I truly believe everyone who tries it will find it incredibly valuable.

chordloop.org

Select or create a chord progression and it shows you on the fretboard (or keyboard) which notes fit the chord that is playing right now.

Root in orange, the chord tones in blue, the note that gives the scale its character in purple (such as #4 for lydian), the rest of the scale in green.

- 72 selectable progressions + custom progressions + randomise progression with constraints settings to tame the insanity or embrace it.

- 68 scales thus far (including 4 modal families), 35 tunings, bass and ukulele as well as guitar (7 and 8 string included)

- Fretboard display automatically adjusts to whatever tuning you are in

- Scales are assignable to each chord in a progression and suggested in order, from all notes within the key to gradually introducing notes outside the key

- Fretboard display can be filtered into box positions, 3 note per string, guide tones, etc

- Arpeggios work the same way.

- Chords and voicings also suggested, assignable per chord and displayed seperate from the scale display

- Metronome, drums, swing, polyrhythms, advanced time signatures with selectable subdivision emphasis.

- Look ahead feature that displays the upcoming chord/scale to help you land the transition.

- VSTs can be integrated for the chord sounds when using PC

- Progressions can be saved and shared as a URL for other users to load in their app.

It works offline once it has loaded, so it is fine on a phone with no signal. No account creation required.

The only features I've placed behind payment are minor qualify of life such as automatic tempo increase in the dedicated run drill section and exporting MIDI progressions for import into DAW. I wanted it to be complete as a comprehensive tool for everyone, with the purchase tier being for non-essential bonuses.

I'll be here to respond to any questions or help you might require. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated and used to further improve both functionality and user experience.

Thank you!

Something that confused me for a long time: blues is played over dominant 7 chords, which are major chords. If the blues scale has a minor third, why doesn't it sound wrong?
Take a blues in A. The A7 chord has C♯, while the A blues scale has C, one fret lower. Played together, they rub. In other genres that would be a mistake, but in blues it's exactly the sound. So, guitarists bend the C slightly up: it lands somewhere between C and C♯, giving it that bluessy sound.

And it changes over each chord:
Over A7, C clashes with the chord's C♯
Over D7, the same C is the chord's 7th, a perfect fit
Over E7, the blue note E♭ sits one fret below the root, and G becomes the sharp nine ,which is known as the "Hendrix chord" note.

In a nutshell , they are the same six notes, but with three completely different jobs depending on the chord underneath.
I made a page that shows this for every key, with the positions and the 12-bar forms: https://zarlino.co/scales/a/blues. Happy to answer questions!

I wanna be able to use more mature guitar chords and knowing when a song calls for fingerpicking or a capo?

I have learnt a major scale and am playing it and practicing it. What is the next thing i should learn and practice?

I’m relatively new and I would like a daily practice routine I could do to help me improve, I’d like to really focus everything as I do have a bunch of free time to practice, can anyone help?

I literally watched every tutorial and its just them expecting you to already know how to do all these things and its annoying because i dont and i need help

When doing the spider exercise, on the fretting hand, do you avoid contacting the string below? For example, when I play the low E string, should I avoid my fingers contacting the A string?

I find it really hard (feels nearly impossible) for some fingers, like the pinky on the low E, it always touches the A string. I'd imagine this is bad because in some songs you'd want the A string still making sound as you play the low E, but not sure if this is something I should work towards because it just feels so hard

I wanted to learn eSCAPE from Final Fantasy and found tabs for the song but the problem is there are chords for example that are all X’s there is part where the strings you only play are E,A,D but this 3 string chord (if it’s called that) wants me to do X’s on those strings. What does is mean? How can I play that? Any tips help!!!

https://youtube.com/shorts/XLqwjmQZ9PA?is=mqq9VL5nrPunRhoz

I've been playing for 5 years but REALLY ON AND OFF, so mostly i'd say one proper year, One of my biggest struggles right now is getting my picking and fretting hands to stay synchronized, especially when playing faster riffs.

For example, when I'm playing the main riff from War by Burzum, I've noticed that my picking hand sometimes gets ahead of my fretting hand. I'll have already picked a note before my fretting finger has even reached the fret, which obv results in it sounding sloppy as hell

I know the obvious advice is to slow down and gradually increase the tempo with a metronome, and I've been trying to do that. However, I'm wondering if there are any specific exercises or techniques that can help improve synchronization beyond just repeatedly playing riffs at slower tempos.

Any advice would be appreciated!

I’m planning to share some of my improvisation videos here. I know I’m still not very good, but I’m putting in 6–8 hours of guitar practice every day, and sometimes even more when I don’t have classes.

I’m working hard to improve, and I think uploading videos is a great way to visually track my progress over time. I’d really appreciate any feedback or advice!

I mean forearm is supported by guitar body, and I was holding pick with my index finger and thumb... And all other fingers are used as support so that my hand doesn't move to other string and hand stays in one position because I'm pressing my all other finger in fixed position in the guitar body,,, is that right way? Or keep my wrist and other finger without touching anything?

Ya me se las notas de los la cuerda 6 y 5 y después lo de dos trastes y dos cuerdas para abajo y sacar la nota.

y ahora que en que me ayuda eso? eso es para improvisar?

Hey, I've been practising guitar on and off for a few months now, and are having some trouble with barre chords:

I can manage a barre chord with my index finger on the 3rd fret, as I'm able to use the bony edge of my finger to press down the strings, but as soon as I get the higher frets e.g. 7th I'm forced to use the soft front of my finger and find it a lot harder to press down the strings. Any techniques to combat this?

Also, I currently find it veryy hard to apply enough pressure on the first fret with my index finger. Is this just something that comes with a lot of practice?

For a simple G–C–D progression, what's the better approach when a chord change is late: keep the strumming hand moving and catch up, or stop and get the chord clean before continuing? I can see a reason for practising both ways. How would you separate the timing practice from the finger-placement practice?

m a college student and a self-taught guitar enthusiast from China.

June, I saved up money and bought an acoustic guitar. For the first two months, I basically played randomly every day for about four hours without a clear practice plan. I simply loved touching the instrument and jamming around, even though I had no idea what I was actually practicing.

Later, I was deeply attracted by the charm of the electric guitar, so I saved up again and got my first electric guitar. At that point, I realized blind practice would not take me further, so I decided to find a professional teacher.

Most local music stores in my hometown only teach kids basic singing and superficial guitar skills, which felt very superficial and unsuitable for my goals. Fortunately, I found an experienced local guitarist who plays regular bar gigs. I spent $500 (most of my monthly living budget) to take lessons from him.

That’s where I was first introduced to guitar improvisation.

I used to think improvisation was only for advanced professional players and music masters. I always believed beginners should only stick to standard tabs and fixed songs. I completely misunderstood it at first.

After two months of learning, I realized how wrong I was.

Improvisation brought me the real joy of making music.

Instead of only copying and repeating music written by others, I get to create my own melodies, rhythms, and musical ideas in real time. It feels like truly communicating with music myself, and this sense of creation is irreplaceable.

Unfortunately, the teacher asked for $4500 for continued advanced courses. As a student with only around $400 monthly living expenses, that amount is completely unaffordable for me.

After that, I purchased an online guitar course for $400, which focuses entirely on fundamental training, especially rhythm practice. I know solid rhythm and basic skills are the most important foundation, and I still practice them seriously every day.

However, repetitive basic drills feel mechanical compared with improvisation. The joy I get from practicing fundamentals cannot compare with the satisfaction of creating my own music through improvising.

Right now, I have a solid daily practice routine: long hours of rhythm training, fretboard knowledge, arpeggio practice, and a small amount of free improvisation every day.

My question is:

Based on my current foundation and learning mindset, what is the most reasonable, systematic way for a self-taught student to learn guitar improvisation step by step? I want to learn correctly, build real musicality, and keep improving my ability to create music freely.

Little background, I have played 4 years piano before guitar, so I can read sheet music pretty fluidly. When I try to lesrn from sheets it's a bit slower than tabs