This is the question just about every beginner seems to ask the moment they have learned to play Jingle Bells, or some other simple tune. It’s not a question you should be asking however, because the answer is simple beyond belief: get accurate!
I found very early on the key to rapid chord changes and neat flicks between notes was not speed, but accuracy. If you set a metronome (groans all round!) to 50bpm or less and force yourself to follow that beat you will be able to concentrate on hitting the right note or chord in the right tempo. That’s all you need to do. As your accuracy improves so too will your speed, and what’s more you won’t even notice it happening.
The great guitarists all have one thing in common and by now you know what I’m going to say; accuracy. Slow a Clapton track down and the one thing that strikes you is that every chord and every note rings out true and clear at any speed. That’s what you need to strive for. And the fact is that it’s much easier to do than trying to play fast. Just keep practicing and your brain will gradually get the accuracy message all by itself. After that you can really let loose. Just get things in the right order, first accuracy and then speed.
photo credit: markhillary