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Start Slow, Be Patient With Yourself, and Trust The Process
Before you even pick up the guitar, work on getting the passage into your head. Sing, or whistle through the passage, until you can do it without the recording, or the music. In this way, you get the big picture before you tackle the details.
Next, play the passage along with a low speed setting on the metronome. If it is not possible to play the section with the slowest metronome speed, you’ll need to break it down into smaller bite sized chunks. At the start of each practice session, hunt for the highest metronome setting at which you can play the passage comfortably, maintaining good tone, and without mistakes - several times in a row. Once you’ve found that setting, increase it a notch or two, until you have a setting which is just on the edge of your ability.
Play the passage over and over again at this "edge of your ability" speed – for 5 to 15 minutes (this drives my family crazy, unless I’m using headphones). If it becomes physically painful in any way, STOP immediately and pick it up again in a few hours, or the next day. As your "edge speed" becomes comfortable, notch up the metronome a little further.
You’ll probably notice the very first time you try to play a passage with the metronome that you may have to play it very slowly, don’t be discouraged, after the passage gets "into your hands" you’ll be able to make jumps in speed. This phenomenon is sometimes called ‘muscle memory’, and occurs as you practice. Nerve pathways are actually being reprogrammed by your repetitive activity to take over some of the control from your conscious mental process. This is a good thing. One of the main reasons for practicing is the reprogramming these neural pathways. You’ll probably experience this phenomenon the day after your first session with a new riff. You’ll set the metronome at a comfortable setting, and it may end up being significantly higher than the initial setting. You will be surprised at how much more comfortable with the passage you are.
Increasing your physical dexterity simply requires patience and repetition. You can’t force your pathways to learn any faster than they are able. Some people may learn some passages faster than others do - don’t worry about it. As long as you put in the time you’ll master the content. Don’t try to play a passage much faster than your abilities dictate in an attempt to break over a hurdle – it won’t help, and you’ll be wasting your time and increasing your frustration. You may even be building bad habits into the passage, and into your playing.
Take breaks – 15 minutes is a really long time to work on a single passage and should be the absolute upper limit. Several short sessions per day are much better than trying to force yourself to do one long one. Don't forget to stretch.
Keep A Practice Log
Make note of the metronome settings and the date next to each passage you’re working on. Just write on the music (lightly, in pencil, of course), this helps to track your progress.
Vary Your Practice Sessions
Don’t just practice one riff, you’ll bore yourself. In fact, don’t practice just riffs. Depending on the time you have available, try to increase your musical abilities in many areas. Set aside some time each day or week to write or create something. Learn new tunes. Study music theory and ear training books. Check out the Theory section on this website. Learn new riffs from records; Create new riffs based on ones you know. Everything you do to increase your physical and mental skills adds value and fun to your playing.
Don’t Be Afraid Of Backtracking
One day you may notice that, although you’ve gradually goosed up the metronome to a pretty nice clip, what you’re playing is sounding ‘sloppy’ or not really up to par. That is when you bring the metronome back down and start working out the kinks by practicing the passage with new higher standards. It’s a good thing to polish your playing. Don’t try to rush your development. There are no real deadlines on this process (at least in most cases). It’s all about personal development. Don't always be pushing the speed. In fact, it's a good idea to settle in at a tempo just under your peak speed and play the passage over and over, concentrating on reaching a state of focused relaxation while the tone gets cleaner and cleaner. Do it for five minutes and let the tension seep out of your muscles
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