Practice
Technique, rhythm, scale, arpeggio and ear exercises with a metronome.
Quick 5-minute session
Three varied exercises to start with. Once you rate your exercises, the suggestion adapts.
Fingering & coordination
Finger independence, position shifts and hand synchronisation.
- EssentialChromatic spiderOne finger per fret across all strings for independence, accuracy and hand synchronisation.
- AppliedFinger independenceFour-finger permutations that make each finger move on its own.
- AppliedPosition shiftsTravel a scale along the neck, changing position without gaps in the sound.
Picking & articulation
Alternate picking, string skipping and clean legato.
- EssentialAlternate pickingSynchronise down and up strokes with the fretting hand at a steady speed.
- AppliedString skippingSkip a string with the pick without losing accuracy or letting unwanted strings ring.
- EssentialLegato (hammer-ons & pull-offs)Even-volume slurred notes that don't rely on the pick.
Rhythm & accompaniment
Strumming, chord changes, rhythm reading and accents.
- EssentialStrumming patternsKeep your arm moving steadily while following a pattern and changing chords.
- EssentialChord changesChange chords on time, without pauses, inside the pulse.
- EssentialRhythm readingRead and play note values and rests accurately against the pulse.
- AppliedAccent displacementAccent groups of notes that don't line up with the bar without losing the pulse.
Scales, arpeggios & fretboard
Scale patterns, arpeggios over progressions and fretboard notes.
- AppliedScale sequencesPlay melodic patterns (thirds, groups…) to master the scale in one position.
- EssentialPentatonic positionsTravel the five pentatonic positions and connect them.
- AppliedArpeggios over a progressionArpeggiate each chord of a progression with as little hand movement as possible.
- EssentialFretboard notesFind any natural note on any string in less than one bar.
Ear & improvisation
Finding notes by ear, answering phrases and targeting chord tones.