In an effort to loosen up my picking hand, and to be able to freely switch rhythms and subdivisions, I've got a new exercise I'm working on.

When practicing scales and lines, I'm alternating between different subdivisions.

EX. Playing a scale:

I'll play triplets on beat 1. 16ths. on beat 2. Triplets on beat 3. And 16ths. on beat 4.

The tricky part, is keeping the tempo steady. I can do it. But, it's still easy for me to speed up the triplets and leave a small 16th. note rest, in there. My mind wants to "even out" the beat, to straight 16ths.

Once I can do this in a natural fashion, I will expand the variety and number of subdivisions. I'm hoping I can get just a little piece of that picking hand freedom players like EVH have. I can make myself play mixed rhythms. I just want it to become much more "free", and subconcious.

Okay, I've added a new twist. Now I mix up the subdivisions, AND the beats. I'll play 1/16s, then triplets, triplets again, then 1/16s. Or, trips trips trips 1/16s. Differing combinations. 1/16s 1/16s 1/16s trips. etc.

Anybody else do this type of thing?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Swain,