Lick Library Ultimate Guitar Technique 12 Week Training Course by Andy James

The Ultimate Guitar Technique - 12 Week Training Course by renowned guitarist Andy James is an all-encompassing journey through essential guitar techniques that will elevate your playing to a new level. Whether you're an intermediate guitarist looking to push your skills forward or an advanced player aiming to refine your techniques, this course offers detailed, step-by-step guidance to mastering the most important elements of modern rock and metal guitar playing.

In this intensive 12-week program, Andy James covers a wide range of advanced techniques that are key to developing speed, precision, and expression in your playing. Each week is designed to focus on a specific set of techniques, allowing you to gradually build on what you’ve learned, ensuring you master each skill before moving to the next.

Focused Techniques in the Course

Alternate Picking
One of the fundamental techniques emphasised in this course is alternate picking. This technique involves alternating up and down strokes when playing individual notes, which is essential for achieving speed and accuracy. Learning alternate picking will help you execute fast runs, shred licks, and intricate solos with precision. It also builds your ability to maintain control at higher tempos, which is critical in metal and shred guitar styles.

Legato
Another key focus is legato playing, where notes are played smoothly without picking each note individually. This technique relies on hammer-ons and pull-offs, and Andy James breaks down how to use legato to create fluid, fast runs while reducing the strain on your picking hand. Mastering legato will give your playing a smooth, effortless sound and increase your finger dexterity.

Vibrato
Vibrato is another essential technique covered, adding emotion and depth to your playing. Andy explains how to achieve a controlled, expressive vibrato that enhances the musicality of your solos. Vibrato allows you to bring a personal touch to every note, and it’s a crucial element in making your playing sound professional and polished.

Sweep Picking
For players looking to tackle fast, intricate arpeggios, sweep picking is a must. This technique involves "sweeping" the pick across multiple strings in a single motion while coordinating the fretting hand to create fluid arpeggios. Andy demonstrates how to build speed and accuracy with this technique, helping you navigate complex patterns and achieve the clean, articulate sound that sweep picking is known for.

Pinched Harmonics
To give your playing that extra bite and attitude, Andy also teaches the art of pinched harmonics. This technique involves using your thumb and pick to produce high-pitched, squealing overtones that can add a dramatic effect to your riffs and solos. Pinched harmonics are commonly used in heavy metal to create a powerful, aggressive sound, and mastering them will give you an edge in your lead playing.

Tapping and Two-Handed Tapping
In addition to standard techniques, Andy James explores more advanced approaches such as two-handed tapping. This technique uses both hands on the fretboard to produce lightning-fast note sequences that are difficult to achieve through traditional picking methods. By mastering tapping, you’ll expand your creative options for soloing and create highly dynamic, expressive lines.

Double Stop Bends and Unison Bends
Double-stop bends and unison bends are integral parts of rock and blues guitar playing, and they add a unique layer of texture and harmony to your leads. Andy provides in-depth instruction on how to execute these bends with precision, allowing you to bend multiple strings at once for that classic rock sound.

Palm Muting and Galloping Rhythms
For rhythm guitarists, palm muting and galloping rhythms are critical techniques for creating tight, percussive sounds. Palm muting helps to control the resonance of your notes, adding a punchy, chugging quality to your riffs, while galloping rhythms allow you to build driving, rapid-fire riffs often heard in metal.

Artist Focus: Andy James
Andy James is a modern guitar virtuoso renowned for his exceptional technique, speed, and precision. His influence spans across various styles, but he is particularly revered in the world of metal and shred guitar. Andy's playing style draws inspiration from legendary guitarists such as Zakk Wylde, John Petrucci, and Dimebag Darrell. Like these icons, Andy incorporates fluid legato runs, fast alternate picking, and expressive vibrato in his solos. His mastery of sweep picking and tapping has set a new standard for modern guitarists, making him one of the most respected players in the genre.

Andy James' instructional approach is grounded in years of experience, both as a performer and an educator. In this 12-week course, Andy shares the techniques that have shaped his playing, giving you an inside look at how to develop the same level of control and expression in your own guitar work.