Speed And Technique

Skill Building Guitar Course from Allen Van Wert

Allen "Robot" Van Wert teaches his approach to developing technique necessary for fast playing.

19 Lessons

Complete course with step-by-step lessons and practice examples.

Multi-Camera

Course filmed with 6 cameras for the perfect angles.

94% Appoval

216 of 223 of our members have given this their approval.

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Included

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Full Course Breakdown

Learn fundamental and advanced exercises from technical wizard Allen Van Wert like, picking, tapping, endurance, and many more.

1

Series Introduction And Picking Primer

Allen kicks off his technique series with a primer lesson on right hand picking.

30:52 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

2

Rudimentary Drills

Allen shows you the 24 rudiments crucial to developing finger dexterity.

7:22 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

View this Lesson
3

Left Hand Endurance Building

Allen shows an amazing muscle building exercise that really works out the left hand!

9:32 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

4

Fundamental Picking Exercise

This lesson covers an exercise that works on all the major picking techniques.

11:15 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

5

Synchronize And Stretch

Allen shows you a great exercise set that helps with synchronizing your hands as well as stretching your left hand.

8:18 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

6

The System

Allen Van Wert explains his system of programming, reinforcing, and forgetting primary functions of guitar playing. This system is a long term practice routine that will take some time to fully implement but the benefits are great.

50:53 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

7

Interval Exercises

This is the next step after you have learned Allen's "system". If you follow Allen's teachings you are sure to have a deep understanding of intervals and scales.

21:29 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

8

Triad Arpeggio Exercises

First, Allen gives a pop quiz for you to check your own ability to visualize the fretboard. Then he gives exercises for programming your triad arpeggios.

21:30 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

9

Seventh Arpeggio Exercises

Allen Van Wert shows you how to apply his systematic practice approach to 7th arpeggios. If you are just discovering this series make sure to start at the beginning or some things may not make sense.

8:36 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

10

Fretboard Advancement

Allen briefly explains how he refers to modes in the context of this lesson and then shows you how to grow your knowledge of the fretboard.

15:35 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

11

Rut Busting Exercises

Get out of that rut with these exercises from Allen Van Wert!

10:44 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

12

Basic Tapping

Allen returns to his speed and technique lesson series with a look at the basics of tapping. This lesson will act as a primer for more advanced tapping concepts and eventual speed increases as well!

30:42 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

13

Using Tapping to Extend Your Range

Allen is back with the next installment in his look at tapping. In this lesson Allen discusses and demonstrates how you can use tapping to easily extend your range while playing.

11:05 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

14

Single String Tapping

Allen is back with more tapping goodness! This time around, he discusses single string tapping.

10:27 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

15

Multi-String Tapping

By this time you should have a pretty strong grasp of tapping basics and be proficient at tapping on one string. In lesson 15 of his Speed and Technique series, Allen starts working you up to tapping on multiple strings!

14:46 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

16

Tapped Octave Minor Pentatonic

In this lesson Allen demonstrates an octave displaced, tapped, minor pentatonic scale. This can be useful for solo work and getting around chord changes!

10:28 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

17

Emulating Keyboards

Allen is back with a comprehensive look what what many people call "Touch Tapping." Allen likes to describe this as emulating a keyboard on the guitar.

32:41 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

18

Combining Tapping Techniques

Now that you should have most of the tapping techniques under your fingers, it's time to put them all together. In this lesson Allen provides you with a piece of music that encompasses all of the techniques he's taught.

11:16 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

19

String Skipping Exercises

To wrap up his current film session and look at the speed and technique series, Allen provides a lesson based around exercises to build your string skipping technique.

29:31 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

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  • Scranton, Pennsylvania
  • Playing since 1980
  • 94 lessons at JamPlay
Allen Van Wert got the nickname "ROBOT" from his unusual guitar tapping techniques that often sound like a video game more than a guitar. He has studied and played a wide variety of genres. His experimental and eclectic amalgamation of music combining shred guitar, crazy tapping techniques, and electronically infused composition contrasted by a highly emotional soft melodic side, make his debut album a really fun and interesting listen for just about anyone.

Allen has recorded guitar for the famed video game soundtrack composer Jesper Kyd (Composer of Hitman, Splinter Cell and many other big title games) as well as composing and recording for movie trailers and TV commercials. He has also been producing, recording and co-writing for local artists in his small home/project studio.

His three books on guitar technique, ear training and songwriting have helped many students over the past couple of years. Allen has also played in various cover bands in many genres since the age of 16 and has played to over 5000 on a few occasions. He was a featured guest musician on the album "West Coast Shred Fest".

In his spare time, Allen programs video games for fun. Wooo!
Reviews & Feedback 94/100 with 223 ratings
alswanson035

A good blend of exercises, theory, and practical explanations

ToddW

all of the above!

donnydarko

Allen has an excellent lesson plan along with a people friendly delivery method.

LouiseB

Awesome just what I've been looking for. Thank you so much

Maximus3000

awesome explanation of efficiency of picking

ptreu

wow, its a killer. thanks. You make it look so easy;-)

ppirozzi

awesome teacher !!! love his instruction !!

Cenred

Brilliant teacher

Phriktos

By far the most practical, useful training I've encountered on the site already just up to lesson 7 in the series. Allen is a really cool dude, great approach and attitude.

dalvinr

Quad Combinations

WyckedLee

However, unless I missed it. There was no explanation as to where the right hand is. He doesn't really say what fret is going to work with the tapping.

NiceMess

I like Allen's approach and exercises.

vikram.sb93

It really help increase he endurance of the left hand ..something everybody should do....Although I already knew this hing intutively when i saw kirk hammet playing on a show but the way Allen puts it is really methodical

micgeo

liked the teacher and material

Sandro5a

Really helped in my evolution, altough was way too much of the same stuff...

Tesla77

Thank you

batscat1

These exercises are great for warm up exercises. Very intense! No matter the skill level, Allen takes everyone to another level of intensity.

klaussi

This guy is likeable as heck because he seems to be okay with the world