Exercises for getting back into guitar

jonnybadd

Hey, I played guitar for about 5 or so years, but haven't played in about a year, recently got a microcube which has made it possible for me to play guitar again without an almighty amount of hassle. Anyways I thought it would be like riding a bike, but my fingers are like jelly when it comes to playing lead/difficult riffs etc.

So is there any exercises I could practice for both my fretting and Picking hands that would help ease my way back into things?

Cheers

Doctor J

Good ol chromatic exercises should help get you nimble and improve finger and hand co-ordination.

For example, decicate one finger to each fret, eg, first finger - first fret, middle finger - second fret, ring finger - third fret and little finger - fourth fret.

Play on the low E string 1 2 3 4 (first, middle, ring, little) then move to the A string and repeat, D string etc.

Try it backwards, 4 3 2 1 and again move across the strings.

When you're comfortable with that try 1 3 2 4 (first, ring, middle, little) and again across the strings.

Also, on low E - 1 2 3 4, A - 2 3 4 5, D - 3 4 5 6, etc (keeping the one finger to a fret rule.

-=al=-

yea chromatics will get your ifnger independance and strength back.. ...i see so many guitarists that hardly ever use their pinky... but yeal a gauge higher strings to practice on, so when u get back to normal strings it will be easier... chromatics, chords even simple excercises u make up... just keep at it and use a metranome... some theory would help too

BossArky

Use one finger per fret, index on 1, second on 2, middle on 3, pinky on 4... do the following:

Low E: 1 2
A 1 2
D 1 2 .... etc... all the way across and back on the neck.

Then move to

Low E: 2 3
A 2 3
D 2 3 .... etc... all the way across and back on the neck.

Then move to

Low E: 3 4
A 3 4
D 3 4 .... etc... all the way across and back on the neck. This one is great for pinky independance.

-=al=-

these are great chromatic ones... great for finger independance.... especially that pinky... not enough people utilise it and get it nice and independant... legatto excercises are great for finger independace...

E-1-2-3-4

---

A

---

2-3-4-1

---

D

---

3-4-1-2

---

G

---

4-1-2-3

---

B

---

1-2-3-4

---

E

---

2-3-4-1-

E-1-3-2-4

---

A

---

1-3-2-4

---

D

---

1-3-2-4

---

G

---

1-3-2-4

---

B

---

1-3-2-4

---

E

---

1-3-2-4

mix em up...

BossArky

-=al=- wrote:

great for finger independance.... especially that pinky... not enough people utilise it

Nothing more satisfying that a good whole tone pinky bend whilst waving the other 3 fingers and thumb at the crowd.

Pinky should be compulsary.