You think you can play the guitar?

[emus]

... speed comes with practice.

Perhaps, speed comes with talent, is more true.

 

[DaveP]

I agree with Bassnut that developing speed is a necessity for developing control. The faster you can pick, the more accurately you can place grace notes in a well developed solo. "Watch this" guitar playing is interesting to watch, but only for other guitar players. A Steve Vai concert is about 80% people who play or want to play like him. The standard audience is out watching people who mix vocals, great song writing, and tunes that touch you rather than impress you. At least that's my take.

You'll not likely get your girlfriend or wife to go with you a 2nd time to see a speed picker concert.

 

[BWG707]

That's just dandy as long as you are your main audience.
As a medium of communication to others what are you trying to say?
Music as the language of emotion allows for damn near everything because it's supposed to go beyond the reach of words.
"Wow! That dude can play fast!" misses the point to a great extent, although not entirely.



ETA
"Wow! That nerd can play fast.

As I stated playing fast is another aspect of being an accomplished musician. There are several (or many) different things that combine to make an expert musician, and yes I throughly believe that being able to play fast is one, being able to play slow is another. Don't take my words the wrong way I did not say that playing fast shows that you are a great musician. Playing fast is just one skill set needed in the progression of becoming an expert musician. it takes many skills and talent to be considered exceptional or better than average.

 

[thomas_mikel]

I used to have a Roy Smeck signature ukelele.
I learned to play a few tunes on it. Unfortunately it got crushed in an accident.
I should have saved the pieces.



Can I interest anyone in a ham sandwich?

And here I thought EVH invented finger tapping..........

 

[emus]

And here I thought EVH invented finger tapping..........

Good point but I didn't see Roy tapping w/ both hands like EVH.

 

[DaveP]

Tapping is definitely an art, and one that requires callouses on the right hand to be effective. To create a tapped note, you almost have to have the kind of callouses that finger pickers develop. A soft fingertip just doesn't impart energy to the string and I think that's why some give up too quickly.

 

[ironslave]

messin with a guitar sound cover - Ronald Jenkees - YouTube
this is what I think when I see people talk about tapping.

 

[bruiser]

For tapping, check out Stanley Jordan.