This last one is the first video I uploaded to the site and it's probably... 3 months old I think. The first part is that standard run across the strings at as fast as I could do at the time (not that it's gotten all that faster since) but the 2nd part is how I "used" to do that run, and based on what was said in the thread I first posted it in, the motions and escapes are all over the place. This is basically how I got through everything I ever played before I retired. My picking hand was always fast enough to find it's own way around and even "correct" itself if it slipped.

Uploaded: Sep 19, 2023 4:13 AM

This is pretty much as fast as I can do USX and it doesn't feel as comfortable as even the super fast DSX stuff, but it doesn't exactly feel bad. I does seem like when I incorporate sweeps, it feels better because the sweeps are almost like a "reset" motion that helps me. I think the main thing that keeps me from using this motion is that my muting is crap. I have pretty good muting but I can't use it with this motion as of yet.

Uploaded: Sep 19, 2023 4:07 AM

This one is just a "speed test" of sorts. I'm not at all trying to have this speed using USX, but (the next vid will show my issue) there is a significant drop in bpm when I use it. It should be noted that I thought I skipped 230 and went from 220 to 240, but that would put the last bit at 280, and I don't remember doing that, but it's certainly possible. And anything passed 250, unless it's in 25bpm chunks, is there really a difference at that point, haha. One thing that I wonder about is what I consider to be comfortable in this motion is what I am aiming for in comfort level using USX. I'm completely relaxed and calm in these clips. I could keep going and going. No stress, no Cooley-Elbow, no nothin'!! To be honest, I have no intention of playing anything at this speed anymore. I got that out of my system decades ago. But I'd still like to have USX in my bag at a high tempo, if I can get there.

Uploaded: Sep 19, 2023 3:37 AM

This goes along with the video I posted a few minutes ago.

Uploaded: Sep 15, 2023 9:35 AM

I started playing in the late 80s and was a Satch/Vai/Petrucci disciple. I had to retire in 2006 due to hand issues and recently started playing again. I used to be able to beat a metronome and though I have no desire to do that again (or do I....) I do want to tackle the one player I never could quite get the hang of: Eric Johnson. It took a reddit post and a then CtC site visit to figure out what I'd been missing and I actually feel like I stand a chance this time! My picking hand is slowly getting back to where it was, but my fretting hand probably never will. I think focusing on the EJ style of playing is the safest thing for my hands. I used to squeeze like SRV, even when I played Satch and Vai tunes, and if I tried that now, I'd never be able to play again. Most of my practicing, if you could call it that, is focused on a lighter touch, and EJ runs are good for that, it seems. I posted a few times on the forum and it was suggested that I do what I did in this clip to figure out how to improve my picking when it comes to USX and the like. The licks in this cover what was said I should over, so hopefully it's a good starting point. My biggest issue is 2nps, specifically ascending. Descending is decent and I can tell that I can improve on that, but ascending I can't seem to get any faster than I do in this clip. I'll be posting another short clip right after this one that is a tremolo at 200bpm where I DSX and adjust my hand in the middle of it for USX. That's the fastest I can USX but I don't like the motion I'm using. The one that's the most comfortable is the one in this clip, but I top out at about 180 (8th triplets) when I'm well warmed up. At my fastest, I'm almost doing a MAB position but I can't travel the strings at all with it. Anyways, so glad I found this place. Had this knowledge been around when I was coming up... Let's not get in to that... lol

Uploaded: Sep 15, 2023 9:32 AM