Metronomic Rock DSX

The Metronomic Rock series is an homage to a time when hair was big, string skips were bigger, and guitar heroes subdivided the beat with metronomic precision!

This first installment in the Metronomic Rock series explores one of the most popular picking styles of all time: DSX Motion. Used by everyone from picking pioneers to modern virtuosos, the DSX picking style is based on a type of “single escape” motion where downstrokes contain string-switching power, and musical phrases are designed to capitalize on this.

Legendary self-taught players like Paul Gilbert and Vinnie Moore learned to perform these technological feats subconsciously by streamlining their vocabulary to fit their mechanics. In MR|DSX, host Tommaso Tufarelli from the Cracking the Code team pulls back the curtains on this process with an array of powerful techniques and simple instructions for performing them. Along the way, you’ll learn to create stunning lines that maintain optimal efficiency and accuracy at any speed.

Topics in MR|DSX:

  • An overview of DSX mechanics
  • Downstroke- and upstroke-on-downbeat organization
  • High-speed scale playing
  • Optimizing shapes for rapid string switching
  • Position-shifting strategies
  • Two-string and string-skipping arpeggios
  • Creating efficient pentatonic lines
  • Legato and hybrid escape techniques
  • Classic metronomic patterns and why they work
  • Compositional tricks for generating novel phrases

The complete MR|DSX package includes:

  • 39 lessons
  • 157 musical examples with tablature
  • Two complete songs demonstrating all techniques
  • Tracks for each song, including isolated backing and lead parts
  • Detailed tablature with all picking instructions notated
  • Aquanet™, Spandex™, and band flyers/staple gun not included!

Prerequisite:

MR|DSX is a 200-level Cracking the Code seminar, requiring a basic operating proficiency in DSX picking motion. A good benchmark is the ability to perform a tremolo with a DSX escape path. Once you have that, MR|DSX is the lesson that takes that mechanical foundation and makes it musical.

Is MR|DSX right for you? Watch the introductory chapter below and find out!

Introduction

Chapter 1 - Welcome And How To Watch

 

Songs

Spaceship

 

View 4 clips

Spaceship Backing

 

Spaceship Complete

 

Spaceship Lead

 

Spaceship Minus Lead

 

Sunset Stops

 

View 4 clips

Sunset Stops Backing

 

Sunset Stops Complete

 

Sunset Stops Lead

 

Sunset Stops Minus Lead

 

Tracks And Tablature

 

DSX Mechanics Overview

Chapter 1 - DSX Alternate Picking

 

Chapter 2 - Switching Strings With DSX Motion

 

Chapter 3 - Legato Escape Powerup

 

Chapter 4 - Upstroke Sweep Powerup

 

Chapter 5 - Hybrid Picking Powerup

 

Chapter 6 - Swiping Powerup

 

Spaceship Lesson

Chapter 1 - Space Ship Riff

 

View 5 clips

Gallop And Double Stops

 

Gallop And Double Stops Fast

 

Gallop And Double Stops Hybrid

 

Gallop And Two Double Stops

 

Gallop Riffing Etude

 

Chapter 2 - Gilbert Sixes Pattern

 

View 3 clips

Gilbert Sixes Loop

 

Gilbert Sixes Overlapping

 

Scale Lydian Ascending Descending Position Shift

 

Chapter 3 - Yngwie Sixes Variation

 

View 5 clips

Yngwie Pattern

 

Yngwie Pattern Displaced

 

Yngwie Pattern Displaced 16th Notes

 

Yngwie Pattern Displaced G To Am

 

Yngwie Pattern Displaced Loop

 

Chapter 4 - Diagonal Patterns

 

View 4 clips

Diagonal 16ths Ascending

 

Diagonal 16ths Ascending Chunk

 

Diagonal 16ths Descending

 

Diagonal 16ths Descending Chunk

 

Chapter 5 - Diagonal Quintuplets

 

View 8 clips

Diagonal Fives Ascending

 

Diagonal Fives Ascending Accents

 

Diagonal Fives Ascending Chunk

 

Diagonal Fives Ascending Double Pulloff

 

Diagonal Fives Ascending Pickup

 

Diagonal Fives Ascending Pulloff

 

Diagonal Fives Chunk Double Pulloff

 

Diagonal Fives Chunk Pulloff

 

Chapter 6 - Two-String Arpeggios

 

View 1 clip

Arpeggio Two-String Seventh Shapes

 

Chapter 7 - Seventh Arpeggio Picking Patterns

 

View 2 clips

Arpeggio Two-String Gary Moore

 

Arpeggio Two-String Picking Patterns

 

Chapter 8 - Seventh Arpeggio Inversions

 

View 3 clips

Arpeggio Two-String Maj7 Etude

 

Arpeggio Two-String Maj7 Inversions

 

Arpeggio Two-String Min7 Inversions

 

Chapter 9 - Extended Arpeggios

 

View 5 clips

Arpeggio Two-String Extended Harmony Shapes

 

Arpeggio Two-String Extended Sequence

 

Arpeggio Two-String Extended Shapes

 

Arpeggio Two-String Min9 Circular Pattern

 

Arpeggio Two-String Min9 Pattern

 

Chapter 10 - String-Skipping Triad Arpeggios

 

View 6 clips

Arpeggio String-Skip 4th Str Triad Shapes

 

Arpeggio String-Skip 5th Str Minor

 

Arpeggio String-Skip 5th Str Minor Repeat

 

Arpeggio String-Skip 5th Str Minor Rest Stroke

 

Arpeggio String-Skip 5th Str Triad Shapes

 

Arpeggio String-Skip Classical Etude

 

Chapter 11 - String-Skipping 9th Arpeggios

 

View 6 clips

Arpeggio String-Skip 6th Str Diminished

 

Arpeggio String-Skip 6th Str Major

 

Arpeggio String-Skip 6th Str Major Add2

 

Arpeggio String-Skip 6th Str Minor

 

Arpeggio String-Skip 6th Str Minor Add2

 

Arpeggio String-Skip 9th Etude

 

Chapter 12 - String-Skipping Arpeggio Patterns

 

View 4 clips

Arpeggio String-Skip 5th Str Minor Improv

 

Arpeggio String-Skip Hybrid Threes

 

Arpeggio String-Skip Hybrid Threes Improv

 

Blues Rock Picking Pattern

 

Chapter 13 - Scaleggios

 

View 4 clips

Scaleggio 5str Lydian

 

Scaleggio 5str Major

 

Scaleggio 5str Minor

 

Scaleggio Legato Improv

 

Chapter 14 - Scaleggio Patterns

 

View 5 clips

Scaleggio Etude

 

Scaleggio Spaceship Pattern

 

Scaleggio Spaceship Pattern Double Hammer

 

Scaleggio Spaceship Solo Excerpt

 

Scaleggio Spaceship Solo Shapes

 

Chapter 15 - Legato Escape Scales

 

View 4 clips

Scale Legato Escape Ascending Chunk

 

Scale Legato Escape Descending Chunk

 

Scale Legato Escape Major

 

Scale Legato Escape Major Slow

 

Chapter 16 - Fully-Picked Scales

 

View 2 clips

Scale Fully-Picked Spaceship

 

Scale Legato Escape Spaceship

 

Chapter 17 - Streamlining Scale Shapes

 

View 7 clips

Scale Fully-Picked Harmonic Minor

 

Scale Fully-Picked Harmonic Minor Improv Ascending

 

Scale Fully-Picked Harmonic Minor Improv Descending

 

Scale Fully-Picked Minor

 

Scale Fully-Picked Minor Ascending

 

Scale Fully-Picked Minor Descending

 

Scale Legato Escape Minor Four Strings

 

Spaceship Lesson Clips

 

Sunset Stops Lesson

Chapter 1 - Double Stops in the '80s

 

View 3 clips

Double Stop Hybrid Picking

 

Double Stop Upstroke

 

Double Stop Upstroke Skip

 

Chapter 2 - Single-Note Riffing

 

View 3 clips

Sunset Riff Fill 16ths

 

Sunset Riff Fill Fives

 

Sunset Riff Ghost Notes

 

Chapter 3 - The Pentatonic Scale

 

View 7 clips

Pentatonic Ascending Downstroke

 

Pentatonic Box Shapes

 

Pentatonic Descending Downstroke

 

Pentatonic DUD Pickup

 

Pentatonic Legato Assist

 

Pentatonic Legato Assist Loop

 

Pentatonic Upstroke Picking

 

Chapter 4 - Pentatonic Sixes

 

View 2 clips

Pentatonic Sixes DUD Pickup

 

Pentatonic Sixes Legato Assist

 

Chapter 5 - Pentatonic Trills

 

View 8 clips

Pentatonic Trill Ascending

 

Pentatonic Trill Ascending Boxes

 

Pentatonic Trill Ascending Descending

 

Pentatonic Trill Bass Strings

 

Pentatonic Trill Chunk

 

Pentatonic Trill Chunk Descending

 

Pentatonic Trill Descending

 

Pentatonic Trill Single String

 

Chapter 6 - Reverse Pentatonic Fours

 

View 9 clips

Pentatonic Fours Chunk Ascending

 

Pentatonic Fours Chunk Descending

 

Pentatonic Fours Chunk Descending Downstroke

 

Pentatonic Reverse Fours Bass

 

Pentatonic Reverse Fours Descending

 

Pentatonic Reverse Fours Double Skip

 

Pentatonic Reverse Fours Registers

 

Pentatonic Reverse Fours String Skip

 

Pentatonic Reverse Fours Treble

 

Chapter 7 - Pentatonic Sweeping

 

View 4 clips

Pentatonic Sweep Chunk

 

Pentatonic Sweep Trill Blues

 

Pentatonic Sweep Trill Blues Speeds

 

Pentatonic Sweep Trills Descending

 

Chapter 8 - Pentatonic Hybrid Picking

 

View 2 clips

Pentatonic Hybrid Trill Blues

 

Pentatonic Hybrid Trills Descending

 

Chapter 9 - Pentatonic Triplets

 

View 4 clips

Pentatonic Triplets Hybrid Ascending

 

Pentatonic Triplets Hybrid Descending

 

Pentatonic Twisty-Turny Hybrid

 

Pentatonic Twisty-Turny Sweeping

 

Chapter 10 - Reduced Scales

 

View 9 clips

Reduced Scale I-VII Riff

 

Reduced Scale Lydian Reduction

 

Reduced Scale Lydian Source

 

Reduced Scale Melody Excerpt

 

Reduced Scale Min9 Arpeggio

 

Reduced Scale Min9 Reduction

 

Reduced Scale Min9 Reduction Treble

 

Reduced Scale Min9 Source

 

Reduced Scale Min9 Source Treble

 

Chapter 11 - Scale Reduction Tutorial

 

View 5 clips

Reduced Scale Lydian Improv

 

Reduced Scale Lydian Sixes

 

Reduced Scale Lydian Trills

 

Reduced Scale Lydian Unison Reduction

 

Reduced Scale Lydian Unison Source

 

Chapter 12 - Enhanced Pentatonics

 

View 5 clips

Enhanced Pentatonic Box

 

Enhanced Pentatonic Boxes

 

Enhanced Pentatonic Displaced Yngwie Blues

 

Enhanced Pentatonic Gilbert Sixes

 

Enhanced Pentatonic Yngwie Pattern

 

Chapter 13 - Enhanced Pentatonic Monster Lick

 

View 2 clips

Enhanced Pentatonic Monster Lick

 

Enhanced Pentatonic Monster Lick Accents

 

Chapter 14 - Circular Sixteenths

 

View 9 clips

Circular Sixteenths Ascending

 

Circular Sixteenths Chunk One Pulloff

 

Circular Sixteenths Chunk Rest Upstroke

 

Circular Sixteenths Chunk Two Pulloffs

 

Circular Sixteenths Descending

 

Circular Sixteenths Descending Chunk

 

Circular Sixteenths Lydian Ascending Descending

 

Circular Sixteenths Solo Opening

 

Circular Sixteenths Two Chunks

 

Chapter 15 - Circular Quintuplets

 

View 7 clips

Circular Fives As Sixteenths

 

Circular Quintuplets Ascending

 

Circular Quintuplets Chunk

 

Circular Quintuplets Chunk Double Pulloff

 

Circular Quintuplets Chunk String Skip

 

Circular Quintuplets Gilbert String Skips

 

Circular Quintuplets Solo Opening

 

Chapter 16 - Creativity Through Mechanics

 

View 3 clips

Melody Via Mechanics Solo Excerpt

 

Melody Via Mechanics Verse Excerpt

 

Scale Lydian Ascending Descending

 

Sunset Stops Lesson Clips