This warm up exercise is good for finger independence. Also it builts up your forearm and give you streight to play longer. First we can work on the left hand exercise by picking the str. and placing your first finger on the first fret 6th str.) then your second finger on the 2nd fret 6th str.) then your 3rd finger on the 3rd fret 6th str.) then your 4th finger on the 4th fret 6th str. Now switch to the 5th str. and repeat. When you get to the last str, Your finger position in backwards. First starting with your 4th finger, then 3rd, then 2nd, and last first finger. Move all the way up to the 12th fret and then turn around back down the neck until you reach the first fret. I think you got the picture. Just make sure you pick the str. once when you change position. Practice slow first. once you get the hang of it, gradually go alittle faster. I advice when are getting better at this exercise, you should pick up a metronome. That will keep you in good timing. (For Intermediate) Start the metronome very slow about 80 or lower and gradually within a week at a time bring it up a knotch until it feels confortable.
(For beginners) Practice each exercise about five times before going to the next. Each exercise should be practiced about ten times a day. (For Advanced) Same concept accept start from 80 and gradually bring it up to 160 as a daily exercise. Use this exercise for lefthand exercises and righthand. Righthand exercises picks each note.
Here's one exercise for the intermediate to advanced to try. Use this with the Lefthand exercises.
Work with one string at a time then gradually go to the next string until you get to the last which is high E. Then go up a half step which is your 2nd fret position and come all the way down to low E. Work on this slowly at first, then once you build up the strenght that this will do, Gradually move alittle faster. I suggest you use a metronome. Put the metronome at the slowest speed and follow each down beat will be the change in finger position. Don't over do it.
Practice a minute at a time then rest, practice then rest I think you got the point.
Left Hand Exercises
Here's a pentatonic exercise for you to ad in your daily practice.
This is a good lefthand exercise. Starting with your 4th finger then your 1srt. the pattern looks like this: 4 1 4 1. Practice that on the 1srt string 5th fret. Follow the suggested fingerings throughout the exercise. When you get to the last string, switch to the 1srt string 6th fret. Move up with the exercise until you reach the 17th fret. After you reach the 17th fret, now come back down until you reach the 5th fret. Warning! Don't rush with this exercise cause you can hurt yourself. Practice slow at first until the muscles in your wrist and forearm build up.
The next exercise uses a combination on the thrill. The first finger stays on the position note which is chored throughout each group of notes. Experiment with different thrill patterns and different scales. Remember to look at Notation Symbols for explaination of the various symbols in the tab.
