The Greatest Lead Guitar Playing Myth - Shred Guitar Demystified

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Day 116 - Play Guitar
Photo by DaGoaty

There are numerous theories circulating in the guitar player community regarding techniques to improve guitar playing speed. While these theories may be based on some partial truths, more often than not, they are simply myths that offer no real assistance in improving a guitarist’s playing ability or speed and style. One of the biggest myths, often discussed seriously, revolves around achieving faster playing speed by using thin strings and low action on the guitar. Many proponents of this myth claim that in order to make your fingers glide across the fretboard, you need to have thin strings, as thin as possible, and the string action should be extremely low.

The reason why this is a myth is that, in reality, thinner strings and lower action do not make it easier for you to play faster or better. Thin strings and lower action only reduce the amount of resistance you feel when you play, both from your fingers and the strings. It does not mean you are playing faster. It may make the notes easier to fret, but it does nothing for the quality of tone or your speed and technique. In truth, it simply makes producing sound easier and faster.

Playing with thin strings does not transform an amateur into a guitar master, even if they play faster. What it truly takes to play faster is not lightning-fast fingers, at least not initially. The key to successfully mastering speed and any aspect of guitar playing is precision and quality. Let me emphasize this once again: the key to successfully mastering speed and any aspect of guitar playing is precision and quality.

Many people who start playing the guitar immediately want to dive into learning how to play fast and overlook the importance of precision. It doesn’t matter how fast you play if you consistently hit the wrong notes and play sloppily. The problem is that people tend to place a high value on how quickly you play, rather than on how good you sound while playing. Accuracy is the key to developing fast fingers. Start by learning all your scales and chords, master them and their positions on the fretboard, slowly at first. Then, once you have them memorized, start working on speed. By doing this, you will become a well-rounded player and will be able to play lightning-fast solos with precise accuracy and quality.

Another excellent tip for aspiring guitarists to improve precision and speed is to use guitar backing tracks. Practicing your solos and speed techniques becomes more beneficial when you can play along with an entire band of musicians. Guitar backing tracks provide a full band to support you while you play and help you develop your skills while learning to play with other musicians.

Manuel Marino

Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME