Speed Elements Pertaining to Playing the Guitar

• Finger independence
• Synchronization of the right and left hands
• Speed is habits:
  1. Micro-speed: small elements or isolations in a particular piece
  2. Macro-speed: the overall or continuity of the piece

Micro-Speed Ex. 1

Example Explained

The original scale is achieved in tempo through gradual and sectional increments in speed

Each number (Nos. 1-7) should be habituated before moving to the next number.

Nos. 2 & 3 and Nos. 5 & 6 create a bridge between sections through the displacement of the long notes and speed bursts.

The exercise will be completed through a series of tempos until the desired tempo is achieved.

Micro-Speed Ex. 2

Example Explained

The method above targets specific notes in a particular section.
Habits must be formed at each individual step before moving on.

Again, exercise will be completed through a series of tempos until the desired tempo is achieved.

Note: though these examples are scalar, each of these techniques can be applied to multi-note sections as well.

Macro-Speed

Macro-speed is achieved through the habituation of speed through continuity of performance.
A base tempo must be established whereby a player can play the entire piece with correct rhythms continuously from beginning to end.

After the base is established, the metronome can be moved up one click at a time. However, the current tempo must be habituated before the next click of the metronome. This means, depending on technical ability or the piece, it might take days or weeks between increases in speed.