
You want to use the first weeks to get used to the routine and memorize everything. Practice the exercises EVERY day and increase the speed by one BPM on the metronome EVERY day. Use ONE speed for the entire practice session.
Begin the program at a metronome speed that is easy to you. The practice routine will work well for anyone though, it is well rounded and likely useful to many guitarists with different skill levels. Note that it is targeted at my deficiencies – namely picking turnarounds on different strings, sweep picking, and straight alternate picking (I economy pick too much in the wrong places). I tabbed out the exact exercises I will be using and will provide links to download it.
Over the next couple of months I will be testing out this program. The B program will go from 90-120 and then I will return to the current program at 100 BPM. Right now I have gone from 80-105 BPM and will likely continue to 120.
Because of this I will be working on a ‘B’ program to use once I plateau. While I can get them after some practice building up to the day’s speed, I will soon be unable to play them (especially 5th Caprice, oh my god that is difficult). The scales in 3rds and the four note pentatonic runs, as well as the 5th Caprice have all begun to test the limits of my playing. I have noticed though, that I am reaching a plateau in some of the exercises. Though the exercises are the same, each session can be treated like a new challenge. Like in Stronglifts, progressive loading (increasing the speed by 1 BPM each session) is a huge motivator. I also knew this before hand but the program really reinforced it. As a result my picking has gotten a lot cleaner. Similarly, beginning the program at a slow speed gives you a number of sessions to focus on pure technique. I think for a future update of the program there will be a specific warm up section where you play at 75% of the day’s scheduled practicing speed. I’ve learned subtle things about my playing and have adapted to them – for instance, I changed my picking attack slightly because of the way my pick would scrape the strings when I played standing up. Going slower than you would normally go allows you to focus much more precisely on individual movements.
Going slow is good: I knew this before starting but it never hit home until I actually practiced it. Three and a half weeks in (25 hours and 25 BPM faster) and I’ve noticed a few things.