Tips & Tricks

Technique Building Exercise - Picking

The following excersise was adapted from Dan Cross at About.com, and has been designed to improve both your picking accuracy, and to strengthen the fingers in your fretting hand. Play these exercises carefully and with no mistakes! Move seamlessly from step to step— don't stop playing to start the next part of exercise. Use a metronome to make sure you play in time, and don't go faster until you have mastered each metronome tempo.

Phase I

Start with your first finger on the fifth fret of first string. Strike note with a downstroke. Next, place second finger on sixth fret of second string, and play note with an upstroke. Then, place first finger on fifth fret of second string, and play note with a downstroke. Lastly, use your second finger to hold down sixth fret of first string, and play with an upstroke. Begin this cycle again, for at least 30 seconds, taking care to play all notes evenly, and at equal volumes.

Once you've played the first step of this exercise for a reasonable length of time, try moving smoothly to this second pattern. Using the same fingers (one and two), play the same frets as above, except on the first and third strings. Take care not to vary your alternate picking pattern. Play this one for at least 30 seconds as well.

Follow above guidelines for part three of this exercise. Play these notes on strings one and four, steadily, for at least 30 seconds.




When you begin to play the later stages of this exercise, with notes several strings apart, it is common for your technique to degrade slightly. A common error is "throwing" your fingers on the fretboard. Be sure to use your fingertips only when fretting all notes. Play this stage of the exercise for at least 30 seconds.

For the final stage in the first phase of this technical exercise, play notes on the first and sixth strings. Again, pay careful attention to your technique, and make sure it remains flawless. Play for at least 30 seconds. At this point, you can either begin playing the above exercises in reverse, or move on two phase two of this technical drill.

Phase II

Follow initial guidelines (from first step) for the first part of the second phase of this exercise, except use your third finger to play notes on seventh fret (instead of second finger for notes on sixth fret).



As with phase one of this exercise, you can move this new shape through all six strings on the guitar. Always use your first and third fingers to play the notes, and always use alternate picking. Play each part of the exercise for at least 30 seconds, and keep an eye on your technique. For the sake of space, not the rest of the exercises from this phase have been omitted.

Phase III

The only difference involved in playing phase three of this exercise is using your fourth finger to play notes on the eighth fret. Be sure you're using the tip of your fourth (pinky) finger, as many people have a tendency to let this finger go flat on the fretboard. Play each part of this exercise for at least 30 seconds before continuing. For the sake of space, the rest of the parts of this phase have been omitted.

Phase IV

Comfortable so far? Here's a challenge! Now, try the concept of the original exercise, except use your second and third fingers to fret notes. Most guitarists will find this difficult. As with previous exercises, take this new finger shape through all six strings, playing each part for at least 30 seconds.

Phase V

No surprises here. Using your second and fourth fingers, take this exercise through all six strings. Continue paying careful attention to your technique.

Phase VI

In the final phase of this exercise, you use your third and fourth fingers to play this four not repeating pattern. Take this shape through all six strings, playing each stage for at least 30 seconds.