Matt Moliti, shredder and fellow Chatham SOR teacher pointed me toward this gold mine. John Petrucci is the founder of prog. metal band Dream Theatre.
Petrucci has a series of instructional videos called Rock Discipline for working out and cleaning up your chops. They're great and I'd encourage you purchase them for personal use.
Portions of his video are posted online...here's the first of the series that corresponds with the TAB and INFO below:
Technique Breakdown
John breaks down his collection of technique exercises into 4 categories:
1. Scalar or Linear examples
2. Arpeggiated examples
3. Left Hand / Legato playing
4. Sweep Picking
He selects one item from each category, and allots 30 mins. to each subject/regiment.
Stretches
Stretch on the way to your gig, rehearsal, etc.
Big to small:
Back, Neck, Shoulders, Wrists, Thumbs.
Limber up first to get the most out of your muscles and development for practice and performance.
Left Hand WARM UPS
Exercise 1
John says these can be arpeggiated or strummed as chords. Just make each note ring out clearly...and don't hurt yourself. Some of these chords may sound discordant, but the point is to evenly strengthen and limber your finger independence.
Same idea, Raise PINKY to fret 14, lower INDEX finger to fret 9 and repeat entire sequence. There should be a whole step between Fingers 1 & 2 as well as 3 & 4.
John suggests to run this whole section starting INDEX on fret 10...and complete the warmup in one shot without stopping. Once completed, drop the entire process a half step and do it again.
Repeat that process until you can go no lower on the fretboard completely stretching your fingers.
Right Hand WARM UPS
Move on to Right Hand exercises to give your Left Hand a rest.
First a look at the A Major Chord (E-Shaped barre on 5th fret) with an added 3rd as the last note.
Skipping a string, play each note with the tip of your LH fingers.
Alternate Picking (D=down, U=up)
Ascending Descending
A / / / A / / /
e|---------------------5--|9-----------------------|
B|---------------5--------|------5-----------------|
G|---------6--------6-----|---6--------6-----------|
D|---7--------7-----------|---------7--------7-----|
A|------7-----------------|---------------7--------|
E|5-----------------------|---------------------5--|
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U
Be able to repeat this until RH flows evenly like a clock.
Once this feels comfortable...apply the pattern to the following
E-Shaped barre chords:
| A / / / | A / / / | C / / / | C / / / |
| E / / / | E / / / | C# / / / | C# / / / |
| G / / / | G / / / | B / / / | B / / / |
| F# / / / | F# / / / |
Reverse Picking
Work the same idea, but reverse the RH picking to an U D U D pattern and run through the progression.
This will help ensure your ability to handle anything coming your way.
Multiples
Same idea, but employing doubles, triples, quads, octets... to each note.
Doubles (starting with Down strums)
A / / / A / / /
e|----------------------------5-5-|9-9-----------------------------|
B|--------------------5-5---------|--------5-5---------------------|
G|------------6-6---------6-6-----|----6-6---------6-6-------------|
D|----7-7---------7-7-------------|------------7-7---------7-7-----|
A|--------7-7---------------------|--------------------7-7---------|
E|5-5-----------------------------|----------------------------5-5-|
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U
(and practice...)
U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D
Triples (starting with Down strums...stay consistent in your D U pattern!)
A
e|------------------------------------------5-5-5-| etc.
B|------------------------------5-5-5-------------|
G|------------------6-6-6-------------6-6-6-------|
D|------7-7-7-------------7-7-7-------------------|
A|------------7-7-7-------------------------------|
E|5-5-5-------------------------------------------|
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U
(and practice...)
U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D
Quads (starting with Down strums)
A
e|--------------------------------------------------------5-5-5-5-| etc.
B|----------------------------------------5-5-5-5-----------------|
G|------------------------6-6-6-6-----------------6-6-6-6---------|
D|--------7-7-7-7-----------------7-7-7-7-------------------------|
A|----------------7-7-7-7-----------------------------------------|
E|5-5-5-5---------------------------------------------------------|
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U
(and practice...)
U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D
Other Exercises
Keep your pick close to the strings for efficiency of motion.
Exercise 1
ASCENDING
Always Alternate Picking:
1st round D U D U
2nd round U D U D
e|---------4--1--------------------5--2-----------|
B|------------------------------------------------|
G|------3--------2--------------4--------3--------|
D|---2--------------3--------3--------------4-----|
A|------------------------------------------------|
E|1--------------------4--2--------------------5--|
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
e|---------6--3--------------------7--4-----------| etc.
B|------------------------------------------------|
G|------5--------4--------------6--------5--------|
D|---4--------------5--------5--------------6-----|
A|------------------------------------------------|
E|3--------------------6--4--------------------7--|
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
Continue this pattern up to the 12th fret.
DESCENDING
Then Begin this slightly altered pattern descending:
e|15-------------------12-14-------------------11-|
B|------------------------------------------------|
G|---14-------------13-------13-------------12----|
D|------13-------14-------------12-------13-------|
A|------------------------------------------------|
E|---------12-15-------------------11-14----------|
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
e|13-------------------10-12-------------------9--| etc.
B|------------------------------------------------|
G|---12-------------11-------11-------------10----|
D|------11-------12-------------10-------11-------|
A|------------------------------------------------|
E|---------10-13-------------------9--12----------|
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
Exercise 2
Same Idea... displacing the 2nd note to the last note (of 4 note pattern)
ASCENDING
Always Alternate Picking:
1st round D U D U
2nd round U D U D
e|------4-----1-----------------5-----2-----------|
B|------------------------------------------------|
G|---3-----------------2-----4-----------------3--|
D|---------2-----3-----------------3-----4--------|
A|------------------------------------------------|
E|1-----------------4-----2-----------------5-----|
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
e|------6-----3-----------------7-----4-----------| etc.
B|------------------------------------------------|
G|---5-----------------4-----6-----------------5--|
D|---------4-----5-----------------5-----6--------|
A|------------------------------------------------|
E|3-----------------6-----4-----------------7-----|
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
Continue this pattern up to the 12th fret.
DESCENDING
Then Begin this slightly altered pattern descending:
e|15----------------12----14----------------11----|
B|------------------------------------------------|
G|---------14----13----------------13----12-------|
D|---13----------------14----12----------------13-|
A|------------------------------------------------|
E|------12----15----------------11----14----------|
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
e|13-------------------10-12-------------------9--| etc.
B|------------------------------------------------|
G|---12-------------11-------11-------------10----|
D|------11-------12-------------10-------11-------|
A|------------------------------------------------|
E|---------10-13-------------------9--12----------|
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
Scale Technique
For developing Speed and Accuracy
METRONOME PRACTICE: insures accuracy at any speed as well as beat sub-division
LEGATO - smooth without breaks between the notes
Alternate Picking (D U D U ... then U D U D)
Ascending
A B C# D E F# G# A
e|------------------------|------------------------|
B|------------------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------4~~~~~6~~~~~7~~~~~|
A|------------4~~~~~5~~~~~|7~~~~~------------------|
E|5~~~~~7~~~~~------------|------------------------|
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D U D U D U D U
Descending
A G# F# E D C# B A
e|------------------------|------------------------|
B|------------------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|-----------------------*|
D|7~~~~~6~~~~~5~~~~~------|------------------------|
A|------------------7~~~~~|5~~~~~4~~~~~-----------*|
E|------------------------|------------7~~~~~5~~~~~|
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D U D U D U D U
Eighth Notes - 2 Octaves
2 notes per click
Ascending
A B C D E F# G# A B C# D E F# G# A
e|------------------------|---------------4~~5~~~~~|
B|------------------------|---------5~~7~~---------|
G|------------------------|4~~6~~7~~---------------|
D|---------------4~~6~~7~~|------------------------|
A|------4~~5~~7~~---------|------------------------|
E|5~~7~~------------------|------------------------|
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D
Descending
A G# F# E D C# B A G# F# E D C# B A
e|5~~4~~------------------|------------------------|
B|------7~~5~~------------|------------------------|
G|------------7~~6~~4~~---|-----------------------*|
D|---------------------7~~|6~~4~~------------------|
A|------------------------|------7~~5~~4~~--------*|
E|------------------------|---------------7~~5~~~~~|
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D
Eighth Note Triplets - Octave and a 6th
3 notes per click
(F#)
e|------------------------|-------------------------|
B|----------------------5~|7~5~---------------------|
G|----------------4~6~7~--|----7~6~4~--------------*|
D|----------4~6~7~--------|----------7~6~4~---------|
A|----4~5~7~--------------|----------------7~5~4~--*|
E|5~7~--------------------|----------------------7~~|
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D
16th Notes - 2 Octaves and a note
4 notes per click
A B C# etc. A B A B A G#
e|--------------------------4~5~7~|5~4~-----------------------------|
B|----------------------5~7~------|----7~5~-------------------------|
G|----------------4~6~7~----------|--------7~6~4~------------------*|
D|----------4~6~7~----------------|--------------7~6~4~-------------|
A|----4~5~7~----------------------|--------------------7~5~4~------*|
E|5~7~----------------------------|--------------------------7~5~4~~|
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U
16th Note Triplets - 2 Octaves and a note
6 notes per click
A B C# etc. A B A F#
e|--------------------------4~5~7~5~4~|--------------------------------|
B|----------------------5~7~----------|7~5~----------------------------|
G|----------------4~6~7~--------------|----7~6~4~---------------------*|
D|----------4~6~7~--------------------|----------7~6~4~----------------|
A|----4~5~7~--------------------------|----------------7~5~4~---------*|
E|5~7~--------------------------------|----------------------7~5~~~~~~~|
1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3 +
D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U
32nd Notes - 1 Octaves and a note
8 notes per click
e|------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|----------------4~------------------------------4~---------------*|
D|----------4~6~7~--7~6~4~------------------4~6~7~--7~6~4~----------|
A|----4~5~7~--------------7~5~4~------4~5~7~--------------7~5~4~---*|
E|5~7~--------------------------7~5~7~--------------------------7~--|
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 + 4 +
D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U
32nd Notes - CHROMATIC EXERCISE
8 notes per click
e|--------------------------------------------------------7~8~9~10--|
B|------------------------------------------------7~8~9~10----------|
G|------------------------5~6~7~8~9~8~7~6~7~8~9~10------------------|
D|----------------5~6~7~8~------------------------------------------|
A|--------5~6~7~8~--------------------------------------------------|
E|5~6~7~8~----------------------------------------------------------|
1 e + a 2 + 3 + 4 +
D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U
e|11-10-9-8-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------11-10-9-8-------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------11-10-9-8--------------------------------------------*|
D|------------------------------11-10-9-8-7~8~9~10~9~8~7~6~-----------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------9~8~7~6~--------*|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------9~8~7~6~-|
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U
16th Note Triplets - Building Speed & Accuracy
6 notes per click
an E Minor Progression
e|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------14-16-17-|
D|---------------------------------------------14-16-17-14-16-17----------|
A|---------12-14-15----------14-15-17-14-15-17----------------------------|
E|12-14-15----------14-15-17----------------------------------------------|
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U
e|---------------------------------------------17-19-20----------19-20-22-|
B|---------------------------17-19-20-17-19-20----------19-20-22----------|
G|---------16-17-19-16-17-19----------------------------------------------|
D|16-17-19----------------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U
e|---------15----------------15-17-19-------------------------------------|
B|15-17-19----19-17-15-17-19-------------------15-------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------16-17-19-|
D|------------------------------------16-17-19----19-17-16-17-19----------|
A|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U
e|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------14----------------14-16-17----------14-------------------------|
D|14-16-17----17-16-14-16-17-------------------------------------14-16-17-|
A|------------------------------------14-15-17----17-15-14-15-17----------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U
e|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------12-------------------------|
A|---------14----------------14-15-17----------------------------12-14-15-|
E|14-15-17----17-15-14-15-17----------12-14-15----15-14-12-14-15----------|12~
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D