Essential Troy Stetina Books 
For the Rock Guitarist

Tab

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Q: Who is this book for?
A: A beginner electric player who wants to learn all the essential power chords and rhythms used in all metal styles.  

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Metal players using "The Principles" to get the most out of "Speed Mechanics" by Troy Stetina, (a comprehensive technical workout for electric guitar.)

General Guidelines:

• Use a metronome to structure your practice, and get results! Read "Why Must I Use A Metronome To Be A Better Guitarist"

• As you work with this book, write in your current top speed next to each exercise (in pencil, so you can write in your new top speed in a week or so, after enough correct practice). Read Measuring Your Progress for details.

• Try to memorize each exercise, or one measure of it at a time, so you can watch your fingers (The Principles, p.22 "Why You Must Watch Your Fingers")

• During a practice session, if you are working with an exercise that is a real left hand workout, such as exercise #6, you will find your hand getting quite fatigued. When that happens, switch to an exercise that is mostly a right hand workout, such as #25, and let the left hand rest. Then, switch back.

• Always pay attention to the fingers you are NOT using during an exercise. Do not allow them to curl up with tension in reaction to the fingers being used. (The Principles, p.33 "Sympathetic Tension & Total Hand Awareness".

• Record yourself frequently, and listen back. Read "Feedback and Knowledge of Results"

• Pick out a few exercises each week to focus on. Do a consistent routine on them each day.

Exercises 1-17: These exercises focus on left hand development more than right hand. Hammers and Pulls are the techniques encountered here. Use the Basic Practice Approach to work these up. Make sure the rhythm is good every step of the way. Don't rush on the pull offs (very common).

Exercise 6: Notice the use of the 3rd finger reaching out to the 8th fret. This is fine for this lick based off the Pentatonic Scale.

Exercise 7: Make sure you don't tense the INACTIVE fingers (when using 4,1,2,1, don't tense 3).

Exercise 9: This shows the need for the 4th finger on electric. WATCH 4 as 3 hammers. Don't let it "flinch". See "Play-2-3-Touch" from The Principles. Also, for this group of exercises, position the pick immediately for its next note after it plays the first note (The Complete Stroke).

Exercise 25: This is an important one. Make sure you work it up. First to 60, then 80, 100, 120, and up to 160 bpm. Further, or course, if you'd like. Note here the difference the change in string tension makes in relation to the feeling in the pick hand, when you release the fretted note and have to play the open string (which happens on the second note of each group.)

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