This 4-note Paul Gilbert lick is no joke...

This video shows how to practice the famous "Paul Gilbert guitar picking lick" to build your guitar technique and speed.

[larryschmollinger]

Thank you sir! Very useful. I intend to be working on this tonight

[gyanankurpatgiri]

Please make some more lick/exercises based on paul gilbert like this one, in future. Thank u so much for this.

[goodbetrue]

Thanks for the tips, "Directional picking" works! I can now play this fast without mistake. very good advice not to use the arm but wrist only and the pick should brush "away" down.

[stevie..d..pontiactransamm]

Great video my man. I'm a huge Paul Gilbert/Vinnie Moore fan. I've been practicing alot of Paul Gilbert's Shredding Technique's. Keep up all the great work.

[SILVERCHARGEDS]

I seen another video that briefly mentioned the Paul Gilbert lick. I've been playing something very similar to this since the mid 80's. The only difference is I start on the 4th note and do the run that way. It was something I stumbled across, and used as a warm up exercise for years. It's one of the licks that got me playing very fast. So I started incorporating it in my solos with various scales.

[satchrules]

You shouldn’t discourage people from learning alternate picking .. just because you don’t do it .

[ScottyBrockway]

I like your new video style! Thanks for the informative lesson.

[jamestabor]

Bro good video. Disagree with having to always do directional picking or alternative is a must. Paul is on point. I use them all for flavor. Keep rocking

[timothystorm]

I think something important to note about this that he is actually playing although he believes he is doing an up and down flexion and extension motion he is actually doing a rotational movement. This is known as supination and pronation. This is a really important thing to note because it is a much more efficient movement for fast picking and will have less tension and strain. A lot of people end up doing this movement naturally without realizing it like he has here.

[sookbd]

I'm waiting each & every moment your new video Philip thanks for new video

[TheTeeKayProject]

1:35 the biggest key to play this lick fast and easy is disappearing for a single frame? damn.

[dominicbarravecchio]

Mike, I love your videos, and I love your advise. What I think the missing link is not so much these short licks, but more about long sequences across the strings. I have recently discovered that I’m finding descending scales and scale sequences a lot easier than ascending. I think it’s an issue with my pick depth which I’m doing my best to relax but getting fast with no anchor point (which you disagree with) is the issue. I’m also thinking that when I move my arm position for string 4 and 3, I’m getting out of sync. I’m not sure why it’s happening but I’m definitely improving. Keep the lessons coming!

[iganpparamarta]

Excellent. You play it cleaner than Paul. He actually hits the other string but cleverly mutes it with the tip of his index finger. I didn't realise this when I was learning the famous Intense Rock I lick back in mid 2000s and almost frustrated because of that almost inaudible 'chirps' sound when crossing the string. But then youtube came and some youtuber did a breakdown of PG 4 notes picking lick and all was clear from then.

[fabriziosantin]

I dont know why but I find It MUCH easier the "wrong" way (aka outside picking). Also, string skipping is way easier. Should I reprogram mg muscle memory?

[ArthurSchoppenweghauer]

Gilbert himself said "the key to life is to start on an upstroke", yet you're playing a downstoke. This makes it MUCH harder to play the double pick variation of the lick as well.

[Jarrodpimental]

It’s so interesting that you are inside picking this lick, I’m pretty sure Paul specifically uses that as an outside picking exercise. I’m also naturally an inside picker and it’s not helpful for most songs because most people are outside pickers generally

[tarkanyilmaz]

You start with an up stroke but the notation indicate a down stroke. Very confusing

[timducote]

I've seen used car salesmen who talk less.

[mattmengel]

Yeah this isn’t Paul’s technique. His is outside picking.

[mattmengel]

You can’t outside pick? That’s too bad. Try it you will be surprised how much better you will get. Not that you’re not good…..just to help you get better.