Series of 5 Free Lessons - Neo Classical Including Tab 

Neo-Classical Lesson Guide and Tab - DownloadTab

Lesson Guide

No other style divides players opinions more than neo-classical rock. Over the years as a teacher I have met lots of students who dismiss the style as 'soulless'. Why is this? Often the reasons for this can be down to speed. Players who don't develop speed miss out on a lot. Blues players or 'feel' players won't ruin there ability to play blues by learning to alternate pick!

Yngwie Malmsteen, Vinnie Moore, and Tony Macalpine are masters of this technique and we can all learn from there expert application of technique.

All of the notes in this study (apart from the last one) are played on the top E string and every one is alternate picked. Downstrokes are always followed by an upstroke regardless of the fact that this may feel uncomfortable. This is a main focus of this lesson series, also check the videos carefully and make sure you get the right fingers for the right notes. Don't default to fingers that you feel are right. Remember we are trying to build a technique here.

Guitar players sometimes complain that the higher up the neck we play the harder the notes are to get. This can be true but don't think that it's impossible to play with the correct fingers past a certain fret hight. Paul Gilbert is the perfect example for this lesson as he has huge hands and yet still uses text-book technique, if he can do it anyone can.

Work through the position shifts and concentrate on accuracy rather than speed. Notes should be clean and clear and focus on correct rhythm.

The final part of this study uses a pivot note idea against the open E string. This still requires alternate picking.

For more on alternate picking check out Guitar Practiced Perfectly software  

Getting The Sound

Players of this style favor many guitar brands, Ibanez, ESP, Fender, Gibson and Jackson. Amps from Marshall, Laney, Mesa-Boogie and Fender will sound great.

Essential Listening

Anything by Racer X, Yngwie Malmsteen, Vinnie Moore, and Tony Macalpine will help you on your way. Guthrie Govan's picking technique is incredible, check out his Erotic Cakes album for inspiration.

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