Improving Technique and Tapping

[rockstar268]

Ok so I was wondering if anyone has any good lessons for cleaning up my technique. I'm a little on the sloppy slide and want to make my playing a little cleaner.

Also I want to get into fingertapping. Anyone have any good practices for this?

[undercat]

I'd recommend John Petrucci's "Rock Discipline" to anyone looking to clean up their technique. Half of the effect is from doing the exercises he presents, and the other half is from listening to how clean and fast he can do them, and aspiring to that.

I can't say I really went all in with it, but in the past I was sloppy to the point where it was the defining element of my playing, and now it just makes it a little more "lively"! :D

For tapping, there are literally thousands of usable exercises and guides on the internet. Searching google for "guitar tapping", or something along those lines will doubtless bring you plenty of results. From what I've witnessed in my own abilities, the key is control: do it slow and under low gain (or even acoustic) a LOT and really dig into it. If you rush it to speed, you'll end up with very sloppy sounding results. Use that metronome!