After mastering the foundational skills of guitar, such as open chords, basic scales, and rhythm strumming, many players face a plateau. The feeling of playing comfortably but without noticeable growth can be frustrating. That’s when it's time to venture into advanced techniques. These methods not only increase speed and dexterity but also bring more expression and creativity to your playing. Whether you’re aiming to shred, improve your solos, or add texture to your acoustic performances, these advanced techniques will elevate your guitar skills to the next level.
1. Mastering Legato Playing
Legato, an Italian term meaning “tied together,” refers to a smooth, flowing style of playing where notes are connected with minimal picking. This technique allows you to play fast, fluid lines that sound seamless and effortless.
- Hammer-ons
- This technique involves picking a note and then "hammering" another finger onto the fretboard without picking again. This allows for rapid, smooth transitions between notes, especially useful for scales and solos.
- Pull-offs
- Pull-offs are the opposite of hammer-ons. You play a note and then "pull" your fretting finger off to produce a second note without re-picking. Pull-offs often provide a unique sound, adding more fluidity and expression.
- Slides
- Sliding between notes adds a smooth, gliding effect. You pick one note and slide your finger to a higher or lower note without re-picking, making the transition between the two notes seamless. Slides are especially useful for legato phrases and can create emotional tension or release in your solos.
Tips:
2. Alternate & Economy Picking
Alternate picking and economy picking are two essential techniques for improving speed, precision, and efficiency in your playing.
- Alternate Picking
- Alternate picking refers to the technique of alternating between downstrokes and upstrokes in a continuous motion (down-up-down-up). This is the most common picking style and is key to achieving speed in scales, arpeggios, and solos.
- Economy Picking
- Economy picking is a more efficient technique, combining alternate picking with sweeping motion. Instead of using the traditional alternate picking motion, you’ll use a more economical approach that minimizes hand movement. For example, when moving from one string to another, you’ll use a sweeping motion that combines a downstroke and a string change in a single fluid motion, saving time and energy.
Tips:
- Start with simple scales and practice with alternate picking first, then add economy picking when you start playing faster passages.
- Use a metronome to gradually increase speed without losing precision.
- Download Our Curated Pack of 100 Royalty-Free Tracks to test these techniques with some backing tracks.
3. Sweep Picking & Arpeggios
Sweep picking is a technique designed for fast, smooth arpeggios, often seen in neoclassical, progressive rock, and metal guitar playing.
Sweep picking involves “sweeping” the pick across multiple strings in one fluid motion, while the fretting hand changes the notes in an arpeggio. This allows for ultra-fast, flowing arpeggios that are difficult to achieve with alternate picking alone.
- Basic Arpeggios
- Start with simple 3-string arpeggios, playing major or minor triads. The key to sweep picking is fluidity—don’t stop or hesitate between notes. The pick should sweep in one continuous motion, and your fretting hand should be quick and precise.
- Timing & Muting
- To avoid unwanted noise and note overlap, focus on muting strings that you’re not playing, both with your picking hand and fretting hand. Practicing slow and precise is key.
Tip:
- Start with smaller, three-string arpeggios and gradually work up to larger arpeggios. Use downstrokes for the ascending notes and upstrokes for the descending notes.
4. Fingerstyle & Hybrid Picking
For guitarists looking to expand their tonal range, fingerstyle and hybrid picking are great techniques to explore, especially for acoustic or electric guitar.
- Fingerstyle
- Fingerstyle playing involves using your thumb and fingers (rather than a pick) to pluck the strings. It’s a versatile technique for acoustic guitarists, allowing you to play melodies, bass lines, and harmonies simultaneously. It’s essential for playing complex, melodic acoustic music, like that of Tommy Emmanuel or Andy McKee.
- Hybrid Picking
- Hybrid picking combines using a pick and fingers together. Typically, you’ll hold a pick in your hand and use your middle or ring finger to pluck strings that your pick cannot reach. This is a great technique for electric guitarists who want to incorporate fingerstyle elements into their solos or rhythm playing.
Tips:
- Start by learning basic fingerpicking patterns and scales.
- When practicing hybrid picking, focus on fluidity between the pick and your fingers.
5. Bending, Vibrato, and Dynamics
One of the defining characteristics of an expressive guitarist is their ability to control bends, vibrato, and dynamics. These subtle nuances are what give a performance its soul and emotion.
- Bending
- Bending involves pushing or pulling a string to raise its pitch. It's essential for adding emotional tension to your solos. The key is to reach the correct pitch and control the bend.
- Vibrato
- Vibrato involves oscillating the pitch of a note slightly to add expression. It's an essential skill for making notes "sing" or adding emotional depth to long-held notes. It’s important to focus on consistent, controlled vibrato—too fast or slow can sound unnatural.
- Dynamics
- The dynamics of your playing are how you vary your picking strength and attack. Playing with dynamics allows you to create contrast, making sections of your performance more dramatic or subtle. Light picking adds airiness, while heavy picking creates intensity.
Tip:
- For vibrato, practice starting with slower, controlled oscillations and gradually speeding them up.
- For bends, make sure you’re bending to the correct note pitch by ear or using a tuner.
6. Tapping & Extended Techniques
Tapping, popularized by guitar legends like Eddie Van Halen, is a technique where both hands are used to tap notes on the fretboard, often allowing you to play fast, intricate melodies or harmonic textures.
- Tapping
- Tapping typically involves using your picking hand (or sometimes your fretting hand) to tap notes on the fretboard. Tapping is often used for fast, explosive solos or intricate runs.
- Extended Techniques
- These include things like harmonics (natural and artificial), string skipping, and sliding. Harmonics are great for creating atmospheric textures, while string skipping adds complexity to your solos.
Tip:
- Practice tapping slowly and cleanly before increasing speed.
- Experiment with delay or reverb pedals for added atmosphere.
7. Modal Improvisation
Exploring modal improvisation takes you beyond the typical pentatonic scales and opens up new melodic possibilities. Modes are variations of scales, each with a unique flavor and emotional character.
- The Major Modes
- Learn modes like Dorian, Mixolydian, and Phrygian to add distinct colors to your solos. Each mode has its own set of rules and notes that give it a unique sound, offering different moods for improvisation.
Tips:
Bonus: Structured Learning for Progress
To keep progressing as an intermediate player, structured practice and feedback are essential.
- Keep a practice journal to track your progress and identify areas for improvement.
- Record yourself regularly to spot weak spots and refine your technique.
- Consider enrolling in structured programs or online challenges that focus on technique, theory, or style.
- Enroll in Our Free 7-Day Piano Challenge – Start Learning Today! (Also great for guitarists looking to dive deeper into music theory across instruments.)
Final Thoughts
Leveling up from intermediate to advanced guitar playing is not just about speed—it’s about precision, control, creativity, and soul. Incorporate these techniques into your playing, and you’ll find that your guitar will
become an extension of your voice, allowing you to express your musical ideas in new, exciting ways.
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