Lesson: Evil stretches (beginner/intermediate) - Do you like

[kingpheeel]

Ever had problems stretching that damned chord? Do you want to make your fingers more flexible?

Do you LIKE pain??

Ok, every guitarist at some point will need to improve the strength and dexterity of their fingers and this is something I have been working on for some time now. I'm always trying to teach my hands to do things new and challenging. In this thread I'm going to donate a few of my ideas and exercises for any who want them in the vain hope that I can help in some small way.

Now to the first lesson;
This is an exercise I've been working on to allow me to use all of my fingers equally whilst covering as many frets as possible. It is painful at first so take it slow and remember to warm up first.
*
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------6-8-9-11-9-8|
|----------------------------------5-7-8-10-8-7-5---------------|
|-----------------6-8-9-11-9-8-6--------------------------------|
|5-7-8-10-8-7-5-------------------------------------------------|
*a b c *d * c *b a

The fingering is described as a (index) b (middle) c (ring) d (pinky) adfollows the same pattern throughout. Continue the pattern onto te B and E strings and always alternate pick and play this in as many places along the neck as possible.

Thats it for this lesson, I'll be back with another soon

Phill

(edited ascii probs for smaller screens)

(Edited by kingpheeel at 12:06 pm on Jan. 3, 2002)

[kingpheeel]

Ok, now to apply those strecthes to a scale...
I've picked the Dorian shape in this instance as it puts the previous stretches to very good use.
Again using the same basics as before ie, one finger per fret and alternate picking at all times.

*
|--------------------------------7-8-10---------------------------------|
|-------------------------7-8-10--------10-8-7--------------------------|
|-------------------5-7-9----------------------9-7-5--------------------|
|-------------5-7-9----------------------------------9-7-5--------------|
|-------5-7-9----------------------------------------------9-7-5--------|
|-5-7-8----------------------------------------------------------8-7-5--|

Fret 5 use index finger
Fret 7 use middle finger
Fret 8 use ring finger
Fret 9 use pinky finger
Fret 10 use pinky finger

Your hand should remain in the same place all the time with your middle, ring and pinky fingers covering the E and B strings.

More to come

Phill

[kingpheeel]

Here's another exercise I hae designed to build up finger strength. It will also help with string skipping and general co-ordination and dexterity. I recommend using only two adjacent fingers at a time focusing mainly on the ring and pinky combination. Start slow, make sure each note is played cleanly every time, and then build up speed.

|-5-4-----------------------------------------------------5-4----
|---------5-4-------------------------------------5-4------------
|-----5-4---------5-4---------------------5-4---------5-4------
|-------------5-4---------5-4-----5-4---------5-4--------------
|---------------------5-4-------------5-4------------------------
|-----------------------------5-4---------------------------------

Again, you can move this exercise up and down the fret board, and if you are really brave try doing trills!