I'm sure i could find the answer just by googling but you guys are awesome guitar players so i was wondering if there is anything in particular you reccomend for increasing speed and technique? Any particular exercises.

For increasing speed I would suggest that you look at three note per string scale patterns. Practice alternate picking through them then practice playing them using hammer ons and pull offs ( this will develop your hand strength which is crucial) then you can look at developing fast runs and licks which are a combination of picking and legato. It's important that you are completely accurate whilst playing scales and that you know them off by heart before trying to play them fast. If you go straight in and try the warp speed suff it'll sound very messy. Build up speed over time. Try playing through your amp without using any distortion as well from time to time as the distortion can cover up discrepancies in your playing especially at very high gain levels.

The important thing is to start slowly, with a metronome, and slowly work your way up, making sure you play everything cleanly and accurately, as IbanezDaemon said.

What you play isnt really important...it could be a scale, an arpeggio, a lick...just play what you eventually want to play fast, but start out slowly and work your way up.

As long as your basic technique is OK, then if you do the above consistently, the speed will come. But if you have some basic technique problems (too much tension, hand position, etc...) that might hold you back, and you'll need to take care of that first.

That's where having a teacher can help, since a lot of the times we don't notice these things because it feels "normal". I'm still discovering tension problems when I play...for example I recently discovered I always tense up my shoulder when I tap. Still working on that...

I have a Vinnie Moore instructional vid from like 1989 or so , and he shows all of these " patterns " played to a metronome. I play bass , but I took what he was doing and applied it to what I needed. It made me aware of weak points in both hands and execution problems that involved both hands on certain note patterns ( right hand fingers , no pick here ). Hand strength is half the battle , at least on bass.

yeah just what they all said man, Practice, practice, practice. oh yeah and practice...

there's no "secret button" that makes you amazing... also natural musical skill can come into play here. some people are super good at art, or math, or chemistry... and music. for example, Jason Becker would be like einstein on guitar..

now I'm not saying you have to be a musical genius to be a great neoclassical artist, but it could help.

also, you should read Tom Hess's articles on neoclassical techniques, VERY helpful. in the meantime though, metronome+practice = speed

get the book Speed mechanics for lead guitar, by troy stetina. Rock discipline by petrucci, and creative guitar 1 and 2 by guthrie govan, a METRONOME, and patience, practice slowly first and the increase speed, after weeks, months and years, results are GREAT! i think there is no other way .
also work on alternate picking first, and later on sweep picking and legato.

Offcourse...Troy Stetina got nice books for guitar.Speed mechanix is best guitar book for shure,it gots everything.It was my second book from him.first i done Heavy metal lead guitar,than speed mechanix.It helped my alot.

B) that book is the bible of shred especially the alterntae picking technique i still practice all the exercises after a couple of years i have, i urge recommend creative guitar 1 and 2, both are my bible of guitar, i love guthrie teaching, a lot of information

Yus. Govan's lessons are not only amazing, creative, effective, [insert more praising words here], some of them are also hilarious.

ALSO, all of the Paul Gilbert lesson DVD's.... great string skipping and alternate picking exercises. plus, paul is awesome and funny.

:D i love when guthrie govan, says at least your name is ... (paul gilbert, allan holdsworth, van halen) is very funny, i learn a lot form ther lessons and books, to me is the most versatile guitar right now, and a great guitar teacher, he almost know anything on guitar, is amazing

totally agre with you sebastian,speed is best for alternate exercises.
Look in Speed mechanix lick 50 and 134(monster sweep)
:)