* Begin at about 80 beats per minute (BPM)
* Move the metronome up two units at a time until you 
reach a comfortable speed.
* Push yourself two units faster, then slow back down 
one, over and over
* When you reach top speed, slow down 20 BPM or 
so, and repeat step 3.

(If you find that you have trouble playing in time with 
the metronome, yet can play much faster without it you 
have developed speed but lack rhythmic control. In 
this case the best thing for you to do is practice with 
the metronome constantly, until you can play at top 
speed in time with the beat.)

When playing moderately fast (sixteenth notes at 80 to 
120 BPM or so), you can get away with extra 
movement of the pick. When you reach about 144
BPM or higher, however, there is no time for wasted 
movement.

Because of this, when you are playing slowly, 
concentrate on making the picking motions as small as 
possible, eliminating any extra movement of the
pick. Your pick should move up and down only without 
any motion away from the strings. If you have made a 
habit of too much movement in the picking, you might 
try skipping right up to somewhere around 144 BPM.
This can force your pick to get in the habit of making 
smaller movements. Then work back down, 
concentrating on maintaining the smaller picking
movement.

-Troy Stetina