Originally Posted by: guitarmitchHere are a few things that helped me increase my speed to EJ or Yngwie levels are

- Pick Mapping (figuring how I was going to pick, not alternating everything)
- Switching to light picks
- Curling my fingers in (stop anchoring)
- Picking more with index/thumb movement than wrist
- Relaxing the muscles in my forearms and shoulders and just glide

Pick Mapping, for example, can save 33% - 50% of the effort it takes to pick every note. If you are doing a run, try paying close attention to how you are picking... As you switch from string to string, minimize the distance your pic has to travel by "falling" or "pulling" to the next string (depending if you are ascending or descending a riff).

So for example on the low E string, Down-Up-Down (and instead of going Up-Down-Up on the next string, try:) Down-Up-Down. So the two "Downs" together actually require only "One" pick swipe by you but it produces two notes and a much cleaner and smoother transition to the next string.

Anyway, hope this helps someone.

Late
Mitch

Interesting concepts Mitch.. I never thought of it in those terms...Thanks.