Guided Practice Routine - Shred Picking
Course Content Overview
Sam Bell—a highly respected session guitarist, Licklibrary tutor, and modern metal virtuoso—will guide you through these essential picking frameworks with clarity, efficiency, and real-world application. You will learn the secrets behind building a consistent daily practice routine, developing clean alternate picking, and executing fluid string crossing. Each lesson is a step-by-step journey into fretboard mastery, focusing on the core techniques that drive confident improvisation and lightning-fast lead lines.
Course contents:
- Single String Patterns with Speed Bursts — Master the most essential foundation of fast picking. You will work through single-string alternate picking drills, developing a complete understanding of how to synchronise both hands to break free from tension. Speed bursts are introduced to push your limits, helping you build endurance, coordination, and tempo control.
- Double String Exercises — Explore the crucial mechanics of string crossing. This section gives you a balanced view of navigating between two strings with clarity and control, enhancing your string-tracking ability and laying the groundwork for faster licks and fluid motion across the neck.
- Six String Picking Exercises — Focus on comprehensive, full-range picking patterns designed to improve precision and stamina. These exercises encourage accuracy in both fretting and picking while reinforcing right-hand synchronisation for clean execution of complex sequences across the entire fretboard.
- Alternate Picking Arpeggio Sequences — Build on the alternate picking concept with a more musical approach. These shapes are perfect for developing expressive lead playing, strengthening your ability to slice through arpeggios cleanly and musically, without relying on sweep picking, while maintaining impeccable timing and note articulation.
- Performance and Play-Along — Bring all the concepts together with full performance examples and play-along backing tracks. This section allows you to apply the exercises in a musical context, boosting your confidence and integrating everything into your real-world playing at multiple tempos.
Technical skills you will develop:
- Mastery of single, double, and six-string alternate picking exercises
- Proficiency in speed bursts for fast, articulate, and explosive scale runs
- Execution of fluid string crossing and enhanced string-tracking ability
- Enhanced fretboard awareness and the ability to pick arpeggios cleanly
- Improved rhythmic precision, timing, and overall right-hand synchronisation
- A deep understanding of how to apply palm muting and alternate picking musically
- Development of a consistent, effective daily guitar practice routine for shredding
This Course is Ideal for Players Who...
Our Guided Practice Routine – Shred Picking guitar course is essential for any guitarist who wants to deepen their understanding of picking mechanics and master the art of high-speed improvisation. Whether you are an intermediate player looking to sharpen your lead technique, or a dedicated student who wants to build a rock-solid daily practice routine, this course is built for you.
This course is perfect for guitarists who are looking to improve their fretboard fluency and break out of sloppy picking habits; who want to master essential techniques like alternate picking and string crossing; who are looking to develop a powerful, tight sound with consistent timing at high tempos; who admire the technical excellence and musical sensitivity of Sam Bell; and who believe that a structured, daily practice routine is the key to unlocking true creative freedom and blazing speed on the guitar.
What will I achieve from completing this course?
This course goes beyond simply memorising picking drills—it is an education in the mechanics of confident, high-speed guitar playing. It is about understanding how a structured daily routine can transform your technique and open up the entire fretboard. You will gain unparalleled insight into the teaching methods of Sam Bell and learn how his efficient, practical approach to the guitar creates a foundation for limitless shredding. By focusing on accuracy, timing, and the specific techniques that define modern lead playing—from speed bursts to alternate picking arpeggios—this course ensures that you do not just learn the exercises, but truly integrate them into your musical vocabulary. For those ready to take their playing to the next level, your daily shred workout starts here.
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1-ON-1 COACHING
Access to thousands of lessons is great, but without a plan you can feel like you’re practicing in circles. Book your FREE 1-on-1 video call with a Licklibrary pro to fix your technique, build a practice plan, get motivated, or overcome any challenge. It's all included in your membership!
Guided Practice Routine - Shred Picking by Sam Bell
Take your picking chops to a new level with "Guided Practice Routine – Shred Picking" by Sam Bell, an intensive and structured guitar workout designed to turbocharge your picking technique. This course is a must-have for any guitarist looking to increase their speed, accuracy, and control. Sam Bell walks you through an expertly crafted routine that targets key technical areas of shred guitar, breaking each section down into digestible, focused practice modules.
Whether you're struggling to maintain control at higher tempos or just want to refine your shred vocabulary, this lesson will push your picking game into high gear. With real-time guidance, engaging play-alongs, and challenging sequences, this practice routine is your roadmap to fretboard fluency and blazing speed.
Single String Patterns with Speed Bursts
The course kicks off with a deep dive into single string exercises that are designed to develop your ability to pick fast and evenly across isolated string runs. These drills help build essential muscle memory and coordination in the picking hand, while forcing the fretting hand to stay tight and articulate.
Speed bursts – rapid flurries of notes – are used to help you develop explosive speed in short, controlled bursts. This method of training is especially effective for gaining speed without sacrificing clarity. By alternating between controlled note groupings and sudden bursts of speed, you're conditioning your hands to remain relaxed and precise under pressure.
Double String Exercises
Sam then moves on to double string picking drills, which incorporate string crossing into your speed-building practice. These exercises enhance string-tracking ability, ensuring your picking hand moves fluidly between adjacent strings without stumbling or hesitating.
Working on two strings at a time allows for a focused approach to alternate picking and helps you master one of the trickiest aspects of shred guitar – transitioning cleanly between strings at high speed. This section builds a rock-solid foundation for future sweep, economy, and hybrid picking techniques.
Six String Picking Exercises
Next up are comprehensive six string exercises, where everything comes together. These patterns are built across all six strings, testing your stamina, accuracy, and right-hand synchronisation.
This section simulates the demands of real-world soloing and riffs, where multiple strings are involved in complex picking sequences. By tackling full-range picking lines, you’ll build not just speed, but consistency and control over extended phrases, preparing you for advanced lead work and live performance.
Alternate Picking Arpeggio Sequences
In one of the most musical parts of the routine, Sam guides you through alternate picking arpeggio sequences. These are designed to blend speed with musicality, challenging you to maintain control and tone while navigating rapid-fire arpeggios across multiple strings and positions.
Unlike sweep picking, alternate picking arpeggios focus on evenness and note articulation, forcing you to pick every note while preserving the shape and feel of traditional arpeggios. It's a challenging but rewarding workout that massively improves your precision and fretboard knowledge.
Performance & Play-Along
The final section of the course allows you to bring all your hard work together with full performance examples and play-along backing tracks. These allow you to apply the exercises in a musical context, boosting your confidence and integrating everything into your real-world playing.
Sam plays through each section at multiple tempos, offering commentary and tips for staying relaxed, consistent, and in control. The play-alongs are designed to push you, giving you a taste of what it's like to perform high-level shred material in real time.
Why These Techniques Matter
Mastering the exercises in this guided practice routine will give you a stronger command of your picking mechanics, unlock faster playing, and help you develop a cleaner, more articulate sound. Whether you’re aiming to tackle advanced solos, improve your rhythm playing, or just increase your technical vocabulary, these techniques will elevate your entire approach to guitar playing.
Techniques Featured in This Lesson
If you're ready to supercharge your picking skills, tighten up your technique, and sound more confident as a lead guitarist, “Guided Practice Routine – Shred Picking” by Sam Bell is your perfect practice partner. Dive in and start shredding!
About The Tutor
Tutor Profile
Sam Bell
Sam Bell has been playing guitar from the age of 4, since then he has played many styles from Funky Blues to screaming Metal/Fusion on 8 string guitar. A member of UK tech metal band ‘Mask of Judas’, he is also currently writing his own solo instrumental album. He also...