guitar technique

Developing technique is essential for all guitarists, regardless of the style of guitar you play. Technical development will improve your coordination between fretting hand and picking hand, speed, accuracy, fluency and clarity in your scale and lead playing. It will also improve your chord changing, strumming and groove in your rhythm playing.

Technical development is best achieved with the use of a metronome. If you do not have one, there are many free downloads on the internet. In order to develop your technique, you have to be very self critical. You should not speed up any exercise until you can play it with total accuracy and clarity several times, with no mistakes, before increasing the tempo. It is no good having two very fast hands that are not coordinated with each other. I aim to add to these free lessons as often as I can, and will include exercises to develop every aspect of your playing.

It is essential you are totally familiar with the scales in each exercise and can play them accurately, with strict alternate picking, before attempting them. If you are not familiar with any scale used, check the scale section of the site. All you need to know is there. You can develop these exercises yourself to include any other scales or modes you know.

  1. picking speed development
    This exercise, played with a metronome, will improve your coordination and picking speed. It is based on the minor pentatonic scale.
  2. string skipping
    This exercise will improve your coordination and interval leaps in your lead playing. It is based on the minor pentatonic scale.
  3. scale sequences 1
    This exercise will develop your speed, coordination and melodic shaping in your lead playing. It is based on the minor pentatonic scale.
  4. scale sequences 2
    This exercise will develop your speed, coordination and melodic shaping. It is based on the major scale, but could be used with any scale.
  5. scale sequences 3
    Another exercise to develop speed and coordination. This exercise is very melodic and is based on the major scale. However, it also works well with the natural minor scale and all the other modes of the major scale.
  6. slurring development
    This exercise will develop your slurring (legato) technique. This is essential for fast, fluid and smooth playing. Practicing this will increase your speed, coordination and fluency; it will also enhance your phrasing ideas.