The difference between Pete and all the other countless gear afficionades/players is, that he owns the three most important skills (in my humble opinion) in guitar playing: Phrase, Feel & Soul......and on top of that he is also fast. And his vids are also a great pleasure and fun to watch. Don't stop to entertain us, Pete.......Rock on
Great lesson, Pete. I saw Paul over the summer and suggested to him that he invite you to be an instructor at his next guitar camp. He said he had once given you a private lesson but he was so impressed with your playing that he didn't know what he could teach you. That's quite a compliment!
Ah, that's really cool! We did a lesson and he had some great suggestions- one of them was to think about the timing of great classic rock drum fills when trying to come up with phrasing for new licks. I really liked that.
Thanks Pete! Love your lessons. It's an amazing thing being able to learn directly from the best in the world. Can't believe I just had a "lesson" on alternate picking by you and Guthrie Govan today :)
Thanks for everything you do Pete! You are really gifted at playing, teaching, demoing gear, writing songs, etc.. You are also very humble and down to earth! Great and rare combo for such a talented dude! Thanks again man for being you!
These kinds of exercises with explanations of the fundamentals are especially huge for those who live in small towns with limited or no access to a good teacher.
Got to these lessons late but are very inspiring. Your skill at picking the notes, the timing, and note selection does it justice.I suppose after watching many of these video's you got something that's, what's that word you like to use, interesting, to keep us from getting bored, or is it just the love of music. We call it having the feel. Thank you for making these video's.
Thank you again for taking time to post another Lesson vid! There is always something interesting in these, no matter what the subject or level of difficulty. Whether it's something like this video, a product/gear demo or something from the myriad of musical projects you are/have been a part of, you're definitely at the top of my list of favorite guitarists to check out and learn from. I leave each video full of inspiration!
Good stuff Pete!!!! I all but forgot about these, I spent a whole year on intense rock & I haven't thought about chromatic exercises since the 90s, bring me back to my roots for advanced techniques, awesome lesson as always.
So inspired and fired up after watching this vid. Grabbed my guitar and found out I still suck. Practice, practice, PRACTICE!!!!! Thank's for uploading this vid Pete!
Excellent warm-ups...even if you aren't a strict alternate picker. I usually use economy picking, though I'm not a strict sweeper either...but the exercises here are fantastic for getting the hand warmed up, especially when you can't hear yourself around the stage or in a noisy environment without an amp or when you want to be kind to your fellow band members and the venue staff:) Thanks Pete!
Pete saw you play w/ Cornell on the Carry On tour several years back and was blown away by how technically bad ass your playing was, but more importantly with how emotive and tastefully you played. There are a million shredders and speed demons out there, but you sir are a cut above most of them cause you are so versatile and play practically every style so effortlessly and well. Honestly, I easily put you up there with the Gilbert, Petrucci, Morse, Guthrie Govan etc etc Thanks for these lessons, they are fantastic !!!
I've been playing over ten years but always been pretty blues influenced which means I've never deeply practiced fast alternate picking and I suck at it. This has made me want to get my head down and practice.
i like these little lessons you post sometimes,,,,even though i am a pretty decent player there is always something in these vids that brings me back to re-thinking some things...whether it be something very literal you play in the vid or just an overall concept. so please keep posting these type of vids sometimes....love your work and i am really looking forward to a new full length record.
I have been practicing ten seconds of your song "Monster Movie" endlessly in Transcribe! (the "Zakk-Wylde"-style lick plus the swept lick) for months now, it belongs to my daily practice routine. I'm almost there... Keep up the amazing work!
10 is fine , those exercises and alternate picking are great . and hearing the time ,to get a feel for them, Question though, are you moving the same pattern around or moving in the same scale? thanks pete you are the man :-)
Other major considerations are pick rigidity, pick shape, string gauge, and where you actually pick on the string. I liken it to a tight rope walker. A taught wire is easier to balance on. A loose wire has more play. There's also how you rest your hand on the guitar and how you angle the pick in the xyy plane, and the micro mechanics invoked in having to deviate to cross strings. I shoulda been a triangle and wood block player. You can master them in a few weeks, tops lol
A nice variation is to play the notes on the strings up when going down the strings and visa versa. So 1st string (hi e) you play: 1, 2, 3, 4 fret, 2nd string (b): 1, 2, 3, 4 fret etc.
who are you, and where did you come from? I first saw you yesterday on youtube, have sine watced 30 or so vids...can't believe I've never heard of you before. you get excellent tones, and your technique and note selection kicks ass. I seldom fanboy on other guitarists, but....respect
LOVE the extended 5 minute videos! This is a great one as all of them are. much appreciaed pete! will get my PT100 SE crankin with these exercises (but on the clean channel : ) )
I had that Gilbert video when I was 16 or so as well. Good times. It's where i learned alternate picking from as well...never could do the sweep picks though, being able to learn that must be the difference between being a pro and playing to the bedroom audience! BTW the Elegant Axe sounds pretty sweet!
I don't really do much sweep picking, actually PG doesn't either... or Steve Morse, Al Di Meola etc. You can just alternate pick your whole life and that's ok :)
Very true! And all great players, yourself included ..however you imply that you can pull off the technique even if it isn't a go to one for you whereas in my case when I try to pull it off it sounds like I dropped the guitar and drug a shoe across the strings. hence the difference between pro...and not pro. :) \m/
Pete Thorn- all of your videos are engaging and informative, don't get me wrong. I guess I just get burned out on the endless gear demo videos. Thanks for making quality videos!
I usually only play 3 notes per string. This video made me go and practice 4 note per string chromatics all afternoon :D Its good practice...its easy to get sloppy when playing faster. 3 notes per string is much easier.
Great exercises and great picking! Kind of strange how everyone always talks about “ THE Paul Gilbert lick” . It is “The Al di Meola signature lick” in my opinion. He already played that one a lot in the 70’s.
You’re right. Paul learned about the lick in his early GIT from fellow student and practised it a lot it became his ‘trademark’. When Intense Rock emerged it was probably at the right time so everyone associated the lick as PG’s.
Great video's Pete as usual. Do you have any video's about breaking into recording for a living? Or how to get started, etc,? Just wondering. You'd be good at such a video I think. You have obviously worked hard to get where you are, and I admire that big time. Thanks again for great video's and info sir. Regards from Indiana. USA.
thanks for the lesson. A suggestion: maybe it'd be cool if you also do some advanced lessons on harmony e.g. which is a part of your playing that impresses me a lot or other types. This kind of stuff can be found in tons of books and youtube vids... just an idea....thanks again :: )
Hey Pete, What about that double note picking two note per string thing you used to do with Arsenal ? I remember you showing me that a LONG time ago.....
Hi Pete. I love everything that you do online. Thanks. Would you be able to comment on how you hold your pick for best alternate picking? There seem to be a lot of opinions online and I am interested in yours if you have time.
OperationEndGame I agree; the string change with 3 note-per-string stuff is the hardest thing. Troy Grady's videos are the best thing I've seen for addressing this issue in detail.
Pete, love your vids, lessons, & demos. I always come away with something. But - what's your take on pick thickness? ie- go as thick as you can develop & manage it or...??? I've been going towards heavier/stiffer ever since watching Les Paul and heard he made his own due to arthritis.
I like Dunlop Ultex .73, not really that thick! I used to use stubbys from Dunlop or Jazziii's when I was really into fast stuff. Now I just use the Ultex in a standard shape
Man, I wish i had started practicing alternate picking earlier, I've always been more into hammerons which I do well, but as a result I haven't gotten into alternate picking despite playing for almost 10 years, and trying to learn it now like a beginner is tedious as all hell...
Great insights! How long do you spend on the exercises though at a certain tempo before you bump up the metronome? I have been at a plateau of about 16th's @ 105bpm for years...any tips to break through?
I know you want Pete to answer this.. But I've been there myself, struggling around 105-115. Have you tried going past it? Like straight to 120-ish? A lot of guitarists I know feel that 105-115 is a pain in the ass. But I went past it, and later got back to it and it felt much better. Good luck!
This is already a reasonable old upload so I hope you run into these few questions I have. First, what about the right hand.. I think that I restrict my speed because the movement with my pick comes more from the thumb and finger than from the wrist. What should I pay attention to when training the right hand? I am past 40 years,,,can I still get that speed you show with the Paul Gilbert excersises? Thx a lot.
Minimal movement. The quicker you go, the lighter you should play, and you want to just use the very tip of the pick and controlled, minimal motion. Use a metronome to practice. Those are my suggestions! :)
The difference between Pete and all the other countless gear afficionades/players is, that he owns the three most important skills (in my humble opinion) in guitar playing: Phrase, Feel & Soul......and on top of that he is also fast.
And his vids are also a great pleasure and fun to watch.
Don't stop to entertain us, Pete.......Rock on
Thanks man!
Great lesson, Pete. I saw Paul over the summer and suggested to him that he invite you to be an instructor at his next guitar camp. He said he had once given you a private lesson but he was so impressed with your playing that he didn't know what he could teach you. That's quite a compliment!
Ah, that's really cool! We did a lesson and he had some great suggestions- one of them was to think about the timing of great classic rock drum fills when trying to come up with phrasing for new licks. I really liked that.
Pete, your explanations and display are outstanding! Simple and straight forward.
You're a incredible guitarist.
Thanks Pete! Love your lessons. It's an amazing thing being able to learn directly from the best in the world. Can't believe I just had a "lesson" on alternate picking by you and Guthrie Govan today :)
Thanks for everything you do Pete! You are really gifted at playing, teaching, demoing gear, writing songs, etc.. You are also very humble and down to earth! Great and rare combo for such a talented dude! Thanks again man for being you!
Thanks so much!
Thank you, Pete!!
Love your Lesson Videos!!
Thanks Mark!
These kinds of exercises with explanations of the fundamentals are especially huge for those who live in small towns with limited or no access to a good teacher.
Got to these lessons late but are very inspiring. Your skill at picking the notes, the timing, and note selection does it justice.I suppose after watching many of these video's you got something that's, what's that word you like to use, interesting, to keep us from getting bored, or is it just the love of music. We call it having the feel. Thank you for making these video's.
Clear concise, encouraging and really helpful! Thanks for your time and consideration Pete!
Thanks!
More!!! Yay!!!!!! Love your lessons! Thank you!!!
One of my inspiring guitar player. Keep it up Pete!
Fantastic! Great lesson, Pete!
Thank you again for taking time to post another Lesson vid! There is always something interesting in these, no matter what the subject or level of difficulty. Whether it's something like this video, a product/gear demo or something from the myriad of musical projects you are/have been a part of, you're definitely at the top of my list of favorite guitarists to check out and learn from. I leave each video full of inspiration!
Thanks Adam!
Gratitude & Appreciation 🎸
Very cool! Thanks for sharing your personal experience and insights on this subject.
Was very nice to see and hear you at the Guitar Summit in Germany. I did say so already, did I? Whatever, I'd say it over and over. ^^
You are awesome man! I love all your videos and gear review ! God bless you for your talent !!!
Good stuff Pete!!!! I all but forgot about these, I spent a whole year on intense rock & I haven't thought about chromatic exercises since the 90s, bring me back to my roots for advanced techniques, awesome lesson as always.
So inspired and fired up after watching this vid. Grabbed my guitar and found out I still suck. Practice, practice, PRACTICE!!!!!
Thank's for uploading this vid Pete!
:) Keep at it!
Excellent, to-the-point, no BS lesson!! Thank you!
Thanks!
Pete, you are a master my friend...always love your vids...
thanks! :)
Thanks Pete loving the 5 min lessons
Why didn't I find your channel ten years ago? You are the man dude, great lessons.
thanks for your videos Pete, I always get inspired to play when I watch them... keep rocking!.. greetings from Argentina
Josias Mazepa thanks man!
Great lesson, Pete! Quality content as always
Hope to see more soon! :3
thanks!
Thank you so much pete!!!!! i really going to use this staff, specially the last one
Great lesson Pete!!
You are the best, pete!
👍👍 , yes I remember that first Paul Gilbert exercise used to be In a little ad in Guitar player mag for MI…I worked on that one too. Great one
Excellent warm-ups...even if you aren't a strict alternate picker. I usually use economy picking, though I'm not a strict sweeper either...but the exercises here are fantastic for getting the hand warmed up, especially when you can't hear yourself around the stage or in a noisy environment without an amp or when you want to be kind to your fellow band members and the venue staff:) Thanks Pete!
Pete saw you play w/ Cornell on the Carry On tour several years back and was blown away by how technically bad ass your playing was, but more importantly with how emotive and tastefully you played. There are a million shredders and speed demons out there, but you sir are a cut above most of them cause you are so versatile and play practically every style so effortlessly and well. Honestly, I easily put you up there with the Gilbert, Petrucci, Morse, Guthrie Govan etc etc Thanks for these lessons, they are fantastic !!!
Thanks Geoff!
Thanks Pete...great lesson!!
Another great 5 minute lesson
Great lesson! Also out of all the solo albums I have purchased in the past 5 years,Pete's guitar nerd and Nili Brosh's work are two of my favs. :))
Thanks Allen! Glad you dig "Guitar Nerd"
I've been playing over ten years but always been pretty blues influenced which means I've never deeply practiced fast alternate picking and I suck at it.
This has made me want to get my head down and practice.
i like these little lessons you post sometimes,,,,even though i am a pretty decent player
there is always something in these vids that brings me back to re-thinking some things...whether it be something very literal you play in the vid or just an overall concept. so please keep posting these type of vids sometimes....love your work and i am really looking forward to a new full length record.
Thank you Pete!
Thanks for this lesson Pete ;) I must learn the last lick, it's so cool !
Thanks, ya it's a good one to move around from position to position!
I have been practicing ten seconds of your song "Monster Movie" endlessly in Transcribe! (the "Zakk-Wylde"-style lick plus the swept lick) for months now, it belongs to my daily practice routine. I'm almost there...
Keep up the amazing work!
Ha, awesome! I have to practice that solo regularly in order to be able todo it myself...
Very informative. Thank you!
Great lesson Pete
Thanks for your Great Videos.
Helped A lot.
Thanks Pete😃
Thanks!
lol - luv the vids. Make look so easy and effortless.
Ya it ended up at 10 minutes, ha! Oh well...
Depends on the length of the minutes.
5 mins at half time feel
10 is fine , those exercises and alternate picking are great . and hearing the time ,to get a feel for them, Question though, are you moving the same pattern around or moving in the same scale? thanks pete you are the man :-)
Sounds like a bargain to me. Great lesson, as always.
Other major considerations are pick rigidity, pick shape, string gauge, and where you actually pick on the string. I liken it to a tight rope walker. A taught wire is easier to balance on. A loose wire has more play.
There's also how you rest your hand on the guitar and how you angle the pick in the xyy plane, and the micro mechanics invoked in having to deviate to cross strings.
I shoulda been a triangle and wood block player. You can master them in a few weeks, tops lol
Thanks Pete!!
A nice variation is to play the notes on the strings up when going down the strings and visa versa. So 1st string (hi e) you play: 1, 2, 3, 4 fret, 2nd string (b): 1, 2, 3, 4 fret etc.
Awesome vid - thanks!!!
Working through everything you teach us Pete. My poor wrist!!!!
who are you, and where did you come from? I first saw you yesterday on youtube, have sine watced 30 or so vids...can't believe I've never heard of you before. you get excellent tones, and your technique and note selection kicks ass. I seldom fanboy on other guitarists, but....respect
Thanks Pete cool instructional,
You are an inspiration to becoming a better guitarist! Great video!
Thanks man!
LOVE the extended 5 minute videos! This is a great one as all of them are. much appreciaed pete! will get my PT100 SE crankin with these exercises (but on the clean channel : ) )
Great Lesson!
Zebulon Luce thank you Zebulon!
Great Vid. Thanks
---Nice Pete !!!
Great!
Thanks for lesson!
There tabs from the last exercise?
Thanks Pete you is Guy!
great to find your site. Subscribed and excited. Your new friend.Thanks for the hard worik
Douglas Irwin thanks Douglas!
I love alternate picking, these are great exercises! Thanks Pete! Are there any chances of you performing in KC sometime soon?
I had that Gilbert video when I was 16 or so as well. Good times. It's where i learned alternate picking from as well...never could do the sweep picks though, being able to learn that must be the difference between being a pro and playing to the bedroom audience!
BTW the Elegant Axe sounds pretty sweet!
I don't really do much sweep picking, actually PG doesn't either... or Steve Morse, Al Di Meola etc. You can just alternate pick your whole life and that's ok :)
Very true! And all great players, yourself included ..however you imply that you can pull off the technique even if it isn't a go to one for you whereas in my case when I try to pull it off it sounds like I dropped the guitar and drug a shoe across the strings. hence the difference between pro...and not pro. :) \m/
i like your make understanding mind of this leason alternate picking ....nice mr. pete..(Y)
Man this really helped me improve my speed..thanks so much
That's great! Glad to help.
Thank you.
Thank You!
Jeeez that's clean.
Thank you for making more lesson videos.
There are more than enough gear videos out there.
Ya I intend to do more lessons, gotta mix it up! Don't want my channel to just be gear demos :) Although I try and make them fun to watch too.
Pete Thorn No such thing as too many gear videos when your the one demoing them.
Pete Thorn- all of your videos are engaging and informative, don't get me wrong.
I guess I just get burned out on the endless gear demo videos.
Thanks for making quality videos!
Great lesson I dig all your videos. The last lick has me whooped tho
awsome. ... thanks
Great lesson :)
Mary K Thanks!!
Hey saw you at yeovil uk 2020 with classic rock show very good great replacement for Howie g
Supercool Pete. I see a HBE on your back? What is on your back is my dream: PT100, HBE, ¿SL68? Bfffff
Congrats Pete. Waiting for GuitarNaaard II.
I usually only play 3 notes per string. This video made me go and practice 4 note per string chromatics all afternoon :D Its good practice...its easy to get sloppy when playing faster. 3 notes per string is much easier.
Sweet!😎
Pretty cool 👍 thanks I m happy you should how to b practice since I was wondering how can I get faster, and how to do picking best 🎸👍🤗
Great exercises and great picking!
Kind of strange how everyone always talks about “ THE Paul Gilbert lick” . It is “The Al di Meola signature lick” in my opinion. He already played that one a lot in the 70’s.
You’re right. Paul learned about the lick in his early GIT from fellow student and practised it a lot it became his ‘trademark’. When Intense Rock emerged it was probably at the right time so everyone associated the lick as PG’s.
Great video's Pete as usual. Do you have any video's about breaking into recording for a living? Or how to get started, etc,? Just wondering. You'd be good at such a video I think. You have obviously worked hard to get where you are, and I admire that big time. Thanks again for great video's and info sir. Regards from Indiana. USA.
⭐️Gold⭐️
"inside picking" is what I will probably always struggle with. Old school playing is usually all I want to do anyway.
thanks for the lesson. A suggestion: maybe it'd be cool if you also do some advanced lessons on harmony e.g. which is a part of your playing that impresses me a lot or other types. This kind of stuff can be found in tons of books and youtube vids... just an idea....thanks again :: )
Hey Pete, What about that double note picking two note per string thing you used to do with Arsenal ? I remember you showing me that a LONG time ago.....
Cool!
Hi Pete. I love everything that you do online. Thanks. Would you be able to comment on how you hold your pick for best alternate picking? There seem to be a lot of opinions online and I am interested in yours if you have time.
Hi Howard- between thumb and 1st finger, pretty close to the tip of the pick, and I don't hold it too tight....
very cool! thanks for posting this. what kind of pick do you play in this video? is it a jazzIII?
It's the three-note-per-string and the upstroke on the next string is what guitar players struggle the most (including myself)
OperationEndGame I agree; the string change with 3 note-per-string stuff is the hardest thing. Troy Grady's videos are the best thing I've seen for addressing this issue in detail.
Great lesson! When you move the list lick around the neck do you play all 6 notes of the lick before each move up the neck?
Yes, correct!
Muy bueno!!!
i like your guitar ... idol
ROCK ON
Pete, love your vids, lessons, & demos. I always come away with something. But - what's your take on pick thickness? ie- go as thick as you can develop & manage it or...??? I've been going towards heavier/stiffer ever since watching Les Paul and heard he made his own due to arthritis.
I like Dunlop Ultex .73, not really that thick! I used to use stubbys from Dunlop or Jazziii's when I was really into fast stuff. Now I just use the Ultex in a standard shape
6:37 "when you play it fast, it sounds like this"
me: "But I thought he was already playing it fast...?"
6:38
me: oooOOOoooooh. Yeah, OK. *Fast*.
Great
"When I"m playing slower..." Faster than I can alt pick accurately.
A 5 minute lesson in 10 minutes. Have you thought of taking up the drums ? Only joking - you rock !
Man, I wish i had started practicing alternate picking earlier, I've always been more into hammerons which I do well, but as a result I haven't gotten into alternate picking despite playing for almost 10 years, and trying to learn it now like a beginner is tedious as all hell...
Throw in the open strings on that first exercise,
and you could be practicing/learning the chromatic scale simultaneously.
Great insights! How long do you spend on the exercises though at a certain tempo before you bump up the metronome? I have been at a plateau of about 16th's @ 105bpm for years...any tips to break through?
I know you want Pete to answer this.. But I've been there myself, struggling around 105-115. Have you tried going past it? Like straight to 120-ish? A lot of guitarists I know feel that 105-115 is a pain in the ass. But I went past it, and later got back to it and it felt much better. Good luck!
Is this last lick all the same pattern or do you change it as you move around???
Hi Pete, I love that Black Suhr. What are the specs ? PUPs ? thx
It's mahogany body and neck and a rosewood board, and Thornbucker pickups
Thanks Pete, I am going to replace my DSH bridge with a Thornbucker Plus in my Suhr Pro. Hopefully it provide me with a more open tone.
Are your pickup for sale outside of the Suhr gtr? Thx for you chn you are a great player & teacher not found often & you know what yer talking about.
Thanks...very useful.. (Y)
This is already a reasonable old upload so I hope you run into these few questions I have. First, what about the right hand.. I think that I restrict my speed because the movement with my pick comes more from the thumb and finger than from the wrist. What should I pay attention to when training the right hand? I am past 40 years,,,can I still get that speed you show with the Paul Gilbert excersises? Thx a lot.
Minimal movement. The quicker you go, the lighter you should play, and you want to just use the very tip of the pick and controlled, minimal motion. Use a metronome to practice. Those are my suggestions! :)