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Chunking |
Take one long phrase or idea, and break it up into chunks, with clearly identified "target notes" at the start of each chunk. When practicing and playing, aim for these target notes. |
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Rhythmic Variations |
Play a section with varying rhythms. For straight 8ths or 16ths, play with dotted rhythms (slow-fast and fast-slow), and vice-versa. |
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Simplify |
Don't try to do too much at once -- break it down to small components and master those first. |
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Tempo Variations |
If aiming for a goal tempo, try going much faster and much slower, to learn how you need to do it. |
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Hammer Groups |
Work on fretting hand issues by reducing consecutive notes to a single chord (effectively playing those chunks at infinite speed), and then play them as a lightning-fast arpeggio by offsetting each note extremely slightly. |
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Chaining |
Play the two notes at either end of a passage at speed. Then add notes before it (back chaining) of after it (forward chaining), until you've chained them all together to make the full passage. |
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Speed Bursts |
Play parts of a passage at half speed, and parts at full speed. |
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Dropping Notes |
For polyphonic music or fingerstyle/Travis picking, play one voice steadily, and build the line in the other voice incrementally. |
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Dynamics |
Vary the volume of your playing using only your hands and fingers. |
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Ghosting |
For polyphonic music or fingerstyle, play the melody with proper fingering and full expression, and only pretend to play any other voices. |
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Hands Separate |
Work on fretting and picking separately, up to and past target tempo, and then join them. |
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Mental Practice |
Practice and play away from the instrument. |
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Slow Practice |
Practice at a slow tempo -- but not in slow motion -- to complement your fast practice. |