[Aberak]

was it a book, video, instructor, or some thing else?

[Xaios]

I'm self taught. I was a typical pentatonic blues/jazz monkey with a strat-type-guitar for the LONGEST time, although I always loved the sound of shred, but I didn't know where to begin, even though I knew the typical scales. Over time, I noticed just how fast I could play pentatonic scales, so I decided to try and apply those skills to modal scales. It was a surprisingly easy transition. That kind of bolstered me to develop my legato (which was already by far my main strength, still is), speed picking, tapping, and sweep picking.

So what helped me to build chops? The love of the sound, and the desire to attain it was definitely the biggest, if not the only thing.

[canuck brian]

i think for about 12 years of my 17 years playing, I actually had no fucking idea what I was doing. I was just a tab monkey and I barely practiced. I took about 6 years off in the middle there from playing (another hobby ate my time) but when i started playing again, I picked up Rock Discipline from Petrucci. I also grabbed the Guitar Grimoire - scales and modes, which has been pretty invaluable. I also bought a metronome - i never used one before.

Other than that, practice practice practice.

In hindsight - I was pretty stupid to not do what I am doing now for a practice regime. I still can't play legato worth a shit though.

[jaxadam]

What helped me the most were a lot very simple exercises practiced very slowly and very accurately for a very long time.

[Splinterhead]

the metronome

[dream-thief]

Scales and modes from various sources and John Petrucci's Wild Stringdom book were what helped me the most. Aside from obviously putting in a good few hours a day.

[Aberak]

What helped me the most was just hanging around some older dudes that didn't mind helping me out when i had a question. My god mother was a professional singer for the longest time, and even though she mainly did country she always had these shredders play guitar for her.

[Shawn]

I just taught myself too. I was influenced by Satch but I listened to alot of death metal players as well.

[oompa]

practicing sleepy slow with 100% focus on perfecting my smallest moves in absurdum. that combined with various exercises that fit my need for the moment throughout the years, mainly very small loops of maybe 5-10 notes.

[eleven59]

Session work, in a way.

Started when I was playing at a youth group at a church (didn't care for the beliefs, but enjoyed playing with people, and was friends with a bunch of people there, and the original youth pastor was really cool and made it lots of fun without getting too preachy), as I'd basically learn the songs an hour before playing them, which made it fun to try and add my own things mid-song, the 3rd time ever playing them

Similar experiences in college, playing in the studio for fellow students, and playing in a friend's band live.