| |
|
FINGERING AND PICKING
Introduction: The 4-Finger and 3-Finger exercises will improve your right and left hand dexterity and coordination. They should be practiced with a
metronome set at a comfortable rate (e.g., 60 bpm for beginners). Begin at the 1st
fret and work your way to the higher (i.e., in pitch) frets. Once you reach the 12th
fret, work your way down again to the 1st fret. Follow the different practice methods
recommended below for optimum results. You may also practice by skipping strings
(i.e., play the 6th string, then instead of playing the 5th string next, skip to the
4th string, and so on). |
|
|
|
|
Tips
Picking:
- Pick the strings using all down strokes by keeping all movement confined to the wrist joint (i.e., lock your elbow).
- Pick the strings using all up strokes. Again, remember to keep all movement confined to the wrist.
- Pick the strings using alternating up and down strokes also by keeping movement confined to the wrist.
Once you become comfortable with the alternating method of picking, you will further be able to refine your technique by using the 3-Finger exercise, as it is more applicable to soloing.
Accenting:
- Practice applying varying degrees of force to your pick strokes (i.e., hard and soft picking). For example, play the first note of each string with a distinctively louder volume compared to the proceeding notes.
- Another method is to play each alternating note on a string with hard and soft pick strokes respectively (i.e., play the index finger hard, followed by the middle finger soft, and the ring finger hard again, etc.).
Practicing with different accenting will make the music you produce with your instrument sound dynamic rather than boring.
It is important to remember that when playing from the index finger (2) to the pinky (5) on a particular string that you keep your fingers on that string until you're finished playing on that same string (i.e., don't take your index finger off the string as your about to sound a note with your middle finger, and so on).
|
|
|
Legend
vertical lines = strings (thickest line represents low E)
horizontal lines = frets
numbers = fingering
1 = thumb
2 = index finger
3 = middle finger
4 = ring finger
5 = pinky
|
|
Home | Catalog | Download | Video | About |
|
|
|
|
|
Sound files and images are copyright protected and are not
intended for duplication, modification, or adaptation.
|
|
|
|
