The weekly challenges are officially back, this one is one of the first licks/lessons I posted on my YouTube channel almost 10 years ago. I'm NOT giving you guys a tab, you should be able to figure it out through the slow video, that's part of your challenge. No competition here as always, just working on something you wouldn't have done otherwise. Have fun!

Just some fun silly stuff, do your worst😅

Guitar Gains is a series of short, high-impact lessons designed to help you make real progress on guitar — one focused exercise at a time. Each post gives you something you can practice immediately to build speed, control, and overall precision. This exercise not only sounds cool, it’s one of the most effective ways to build real control in your alternate picking. As shown in the video, play the pattern in four ways: 1. All downstrokes 2. All upstrokes 3. Alternate starting with a downstroke 4. Alternate starting with an upstroke Working through all four angles forces total control of your motion. The goal is to make every version sound equally clean and powerful. Most players are comfortable with all-downstrokes from Metallica-style riffing, but the all-upstroke version is where hidden weaknesses show up. That one alone can solve many picking issues — even when you only play one direction, you still need the opposite motion to reset. You can apply this four-way method to any scale, lick, or sequence.Keep accuracy your top priority — clean execution beats speed every time. If you want to download the Guitar Pro, MIDI, or PDF tabs, they’re available in the Premium tier in the Guitar Gains course. And if you want to go even deeper into mastering alternate picking, check out the Alternate Picking Deep Dive in the Classroom.

This is the one you voted for — the epic interlude right before the solo in Yngwie Malmsteen’s “Magic Mirror.” (we'll do the bendy one next week) But here’s the deal:I’m not giving you tabs. Why? Because most of you will get the fingerings wrong, struggle more than necessary, and build bad habits in the process. Instead, watch the video lesson. I break down everything — exact fingerings, phrasing nuances, and key practice advice that’ll save you hours of frustration (and help you in other areas too). 💡 You can change the fingerings I suggest — but they’re not random. I chose them for a reason. So learn the logic before you improvise. 🎯 The goal? Eventually playing it at the performance tempo of around 150 bpm. But right now? Just aim to play it clean, at your current max tempo. If that’s 60 bpm — that’s still a win. This isn’t about beating anyone else — it’s about getting better than you were yesterday. The whole point of these challenges is to tackle something you wouldn’t have picked on your own… and come out better for it. ⚠️ And hey — do yourself a favor and don’t skip the lesson and then ask why it’s not working. That’s like assembling IKEA furniture without looking at the instructions and then blaming the shelf. 😅 Watch the video. Play smarter. Let’s go.

We’re kicking off a 30-day challenge inside the Practice Room. From Sept 26 to Oct 26, your mission is simple: ✅ Do the 30-minute Alternate Picking Deep Dive routine every day ✅ Post your check-in and questions in this thread The goal is daily consistency and measurable improvement in your alternate picking. So do make sure you post every day when you've done the routine, we're building accountability and forward momentum this way. You can find the Alternate Picking Deep Dive in the classroom. I’ll be here in the thread to answer questions, give tips, and keep everyone on track. 👉 Comment “I’m in” below if you’re joining, and let’s see how much progress we can make in 30 days.