Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Beginner Guitar Lessons

Welcome again to beginner guitar lessons... OK, it's been a while but i thought i could talk about finger exercises. The idea behind these exercises is to build up stamina as well as help with dexterity and picking technique. The first one is a simple three note per string exercise. starting on the first fret of the low E string and then play the 2nd and third frets in succession. Move to the next string (A) and do the same and so on until you reach the G note on the top string and then reverse the motion and go back down. Always try to have the note ring out clearly without extraneous noise and play them in a rhythmic timing. It is good to practice with a metronome. If you concentrate on playing the note clearly and take your time then the speed will come over time and will become easier because you have trained your muscles to play properly. another exercise is a four finger thing. Start on the first fret of the low E String again and play the first fret and then the third and then the second fret and then the fourth. Then when you move up to the next string play the second fret and the fourth and then the first fret and the third. This will take a little time but it will help with the control of your fingers on your left hand.as far as picking goes there are two basic ways to practice it. One is what is called alternate picking where you stroke the pick in a downward motion on the first note and an upward motion on the next etc... The other way is called legato where you strike the first note with the pick and then you just hammer your fingers onto the subsequent notes. The key with legato is to get the notes to ring at the sane consistency as the picked note. So keep on practicing and I'll catch you next time...dune