i used a metronome to get my picking up until i could pick at about 150bpm and then i just put the difficulty all the way up on a song and work on it over a few days
i have a Ibanez Rg421 a strat and a Epiphone Thunderhorse explorer i like the explorer but i want to change the pickups because the sound im getting from the Burst buckers are horrible http://philgc.com/guitar_pics/guitar_pics_7.jpg
Tunning to like Eb is better for like metal it sounds slightlier heavier but i don't know why people tune higher then E Standard like with Creeping Death its higher then E standard so i just whammy up untill it thinks it the same lol.