Reached a plateau and don't know how to get past it...

[Ironbird]

I've been playing for about 11 years now, and still go through these issues. I guess guitarists of all skill and experience levels go through this. phrygian12 explained in detail exactly how I get through lead parts, so I don't have to repeat that.

Take it easy, start slow, but above all, PLAY CLEANLY.

Slop isn't style, it's slop.

Achieve clean playing first then aim for higher speeds.

Good luck!

 

[McCap]

Many great advices given already!

Here's an odd one, which may be just a personal thing, but maybe it helps you as well:
Play some Funk music.
Make it groove!

And derived from the funk thing:
Take some groovy rythm patterns and apply them to a single string (so you are back to your alt. picking). Practice those at good tempos but always focus on the groove.

I know it sounds odd, but it helped me
I think the funk stuff helped my loosen up and approach picking stuff much more loose.

 

[McCap]

Ah, I forgot one of my fnew favourites:
Reverse the picking pattern. Start everything you normally start with a downstroke with an upstroke. This can be a total mindfuck but got me out of some bad habits.
Cheers

 

[Konfyouzd]

Ah, I forgot one of my fnew favourites:
Reverse the picking pattern. Start everything you normally start with a downstroke with an upstroke. This can be a total mindfuck but got me out of some bad habits.
Cheers

This is a cool little trick and it actually makes some passages easier to play but it's hard to do at first.

 

[Solodini]

It's good to get you in practise for when you face odd numbers in passages, as well. That way your up pick can still be strong and consistent enough to support a downbeat.

 

[Konfyouzd]

I had to learn to do it for sequencing ascending diminished sweeps. Also, some of the 5 string arpeggios are a little easier if you play them starting with an upstroke on the 5th string.

It's at a point now where I don't even always think about whether I'm using and up or down stroke and I love it bc the less you have to think about your technique the more time you have to think about other things like phrasing and what not.

 

[Solodini]

And phrasing makes things awesome.