Guitar Warm-ups

LEFT HAND
Combine table 1 with table 2 for a good number of exercises.
Finger combinations:
*Move exercise down the strings E to B to G to D to A to E
1. 1 2 3 4
*Move exercise down the frets (example, start from fret 12, move
2. 1+2 1+3 1+4 2+3 2+4 3+4
to 11, 10, 9, 8, etc. You can also move every other fret, or more.)
3. 1+2+3 1+2+4 1+3+4 2+3+4
*Move exercises up the strings, or up the frets.
4. 1+2+3+4
*All possible positions - the frets in the high register are smaller,
Do these backwards, ex: 2+1 4+3, etc.
making certain shapes awkward. The frets in the low register are
and combine, ex: 1+2+4+3 2+4+3+1
widely spaced, making finger placement more of a stretch - also,
wrist angle is somewhat compromised.
1. Finger Liftoffs adapted from The Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar by Jamie Andreas
Place fingers on the string, but not pushing down the string. Fingers 1 2 3 and 4 should be above your corresponding frets of
choice. I start on fret 9, high E string. Slowly lift finger up from string, then slowly place it back on the string, do NOT push the string
down, starting with the first finger. Then move the exercise both down the strings and frets.
Step 2 is to lift finger groups: example: fingers 1 and 2 simultaneously, 1 and 3, etc. See the finger combinations above.
2. String pushdowns
Place fingers 1 2 3 and 4 above the corresponding frets of your choice. Push down finger 1, all the way to the fretboard this
time, then lift back to the starting position. Do this with all of the finger combinations above.
**Use these first 2 exercises to become aware of your body, your seat position, and the first signs of tension that may crop up during
normal playing. Make sure your guitar is not falling off of your lap, the guitar should be able to support itself without you holding it.
3. Finger independence 1: Fix 3 fingers and let the other finger push down frets until maximum stretch.
fix fingers (do not move them)
2-4 on the top string:
and move finger 1 down strings:
-7-8-9------------------------------------6--------------------------------6--------------------------------6--------------------------------6--------------------------------6----------

then do this starting by fixing 2-4 on the 6th string

finger 1 goes up the strings
---------------------6---------------------------6---------------------------6---------------------------6---------------------------6-----------------7-8-9------------------------

then free finger 2, then 3, then 4 while fixing the fingers not in use.
4. Pumping Nylon 1: Fix fingers 2 3 4 on 3rd string, first finger moves like this:
------------------------5------5---------5-------5--------------------- the idea is to do this slowly and have each note sustain as long as possible.
------------------------------------ switch to fixing fingers 1 3 4 and moving finger 2, use fret 6
------------------------------------ then switch to fixing fingers 1 2 4 and moving finger 3, use fret 7
--5------5------------------------- then switch to fixing fingers 1 2 3 and moving finger 4, use fret 8.
--------------------5------5-------5. Pumping Nylon 2: Fix fingers 3 4 on 3rd string, fingers 1+2 move like this:
--------------------------------6-5--------6-5------ 6-5--------6-5----------------------- -again, the idea is to do this slowly and have each note sustain as long as possible.
------------------------------------------------- switch to moving fingers 1+2 1+3 1+4 2+3 2+4 3+4 while fixing fingers not in use.
------------------------------------------------- adapted from Pumping Nylon by Scott Tenant
--6-5-------6-5---------------------------------------------------------6-5--------6-5------6. Finger walking 2 fingers: use alternate picking to move up the strings and back down.
fingers 1+2:
---------------------------8-9---8-9-------------------------------------------8-9------------8-9------------------ do for all 2 finger combinations: 1+2 1+3 1+4
-----------------8-9--------------------- 8-9-------------then reverse: 2+1 3+1 4+1 etc.
------------8-9------------------------------- 8-9---------------8-9----------------------------------------- 8-9------8-9----------------------------------- ---------------8-9-

2+3 2+4

3+4

7. Finger walking 3 fingers: use economy picking to move up the strings and back down.
fingers 1+2+3:
---------------------------------------------------8-9-10---8-9-10--------------------------------------------------------------8-9-10---------------------8-9-10---------------- do for all 3 finger combinations:
---------------------------------8-9-10--------------------------------------- 8-9-10------------1+2+3 1+2+4 1+3+4 2+3+4
-----------------------8-9-10------------------------------- ---------------------------8-9-10--------- then reverse.
-----------8-9-10-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8-9-10------8-9-10---------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------8-9-10-D U D D U D D U D etc.
U D U U D U U D U etc
D = downstroke
U = upstroke
8. Finger walking 4 fingers: use alternate picking
---------------------------------------------------------- 7-8-9-10- then go back down.
-----------------------------------------------7-8-9-10------------------------------------------------7-8-9-10------------------------------------------------7-8-9-10-----------------------------------------------7-8-9-10-------------------------------------------------7-8-9-10----------------------------------------------------------9. Joe Satriani "spider walk"
---------1-2-3--2-3-4--3-4-5--4-5-6-etcfingers 1 2 3 2 3 4 1 2 3 2 3 4
---------10-9-8--9-8-7--8-7-6--7-6-5--etc
fingers 4 3 2 3 2 1 4 3 2 3 2 1
10.

Hammer-ons from open strings

h
h
--------0-9-four times -0-10-four times
fingers - 1
- 2
11.

Pull-offs to open strings

p
p
---------9-0-four times -10-0-four times
fingers 1
2

do this very evenly, alternate picking.

h
-0-11-four times
- 3
p
-11-0-four times
3

h
-0-12-four times
- 4
p
-12-0-four times
4

12. Combination Hammer-on and Pull-off

start with fret 8 or 9: use these fingers: repeat each 4 times
h p
h p
h p
h p
h p
h p
1 2 1
1 3 1
1 4 1
2 3 2
2 4 2
3 4 3
13. Pumping Nylon Combination Hammer-on and Pull-off
start on a higher fret, then go through all 2 finger combinations.
h p
h p
h p
h p
h p
h p
h p
h p
h p
h p
h p
h p
-------------------------------2-1-2-----1-2-1------------------------------------------------------1-2-1-----------------2-1-2------------------------------------------2-1-2-----------------------------1-2-1------------------------------1-2-1-----------------------------------------2-1-2-------------------2-1-2-----------------------------------------------------1-2-1---------1-2-1-----------------------------------------------------------------2-1-2---14. John Petrucci warmup
place all 4 fingers on consecutive strings. pick all notes as a chord, concentrate on
smooth chord changes.
-12---12--9----9----- start on fret 9, move down frets.
-11---10--10---11--------then start on fret 9 and move down strings.
-10---11--11---10-----later, split strings (have one or 2 fingers on non-adjacent strings).
-9----9---12---12--------finally, add stretches between fingers.
------------------------------------------------15. Vibrato - wiggle finger parallel to the string and vary pressure into the fingerboard.
Then try slightly bending the string (perpendicular pressure) for wide, more exaggerated
vibrato.
Slides - try 1 fret, 2 fret and 3 fret slides.

Try fast, and slow slides.

Bends - use multiple fingers on the same string to help support the bend.
turning motion, like you are opening a door knob.

Also use a wrist

Guitar Warm-ups
RIGHT HAND
Combine table 1 with table 2 for a good number of exercises.
All downstrokes
One string
All upstrokes
Adjacent strings
Alternate picking, reverse alternate picking
Skip strings
economy picking
All strings
circle picking
sweep picking
Here are some especially good table combination exercises:
1. "Outside picking." Alternate picking on adjacent strings.
---0---0---Definitely do this with skipped strings as well.
-0---0-----D U D U
2. "Inside picking."
---0---0----0---0-----U D U D

Reverse alternate picking on adjacent strings.

More difficult than outside picking.
Definitely do this with skipped strings as well.

3. Sweep picking. Very slow and detailed approach:

-----------------------------------0------------0---------------------------------------------Downstroke, rest on next string. Downstroke, immediately rest on same string for upstroke.
sweep continued:
-0--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0--------------------------------Upstroke, rest on next string.
Upstroke, immediately rest on same string for downstroke.
repeat. Expand to 3 strings by starting on the 3rd string and doing 2 downstroke/rests.
Expand to 4, 5, and 6 strings. move your right arm at the elbow with a strumming type
motion.
4. Fingerpicking.
Work all combinations P - thumb, I - index, M - middle, A - ring fingers. Remember, you
can work these using 2,3 or 4 fingers at the same time and separately.
2: p+i
p+m
p+a
i+m
i+a
m+a
3: p+i+m
p+i+a p+m+a
i+m+a
4: p i m a
work backwards. then reverse: i+p m+p etc
remember to use the right side of the above table with string combinations.
5. Hybrid picking. Use a pick and your other 3 available fingers.
P - pick, M - middle, A - ring, C - pinky
This adds one other dynamic, down and upstrokes with the pick. It is very hard to do
upstrokes in conjunction with fingers, but be able to alternate a finger with an up or
downstroke.
6. Rhythms of all kinds. Find some sheet music and practice the rhythm only.
7. Dividing the beat: Quarter notes, eighth notes, eighth triplets, 16th notes,
quintuplets, 16th note triplets, septuplets, 32nd notes, 9-lets, 32nd note triplets.
8. Tremolo picking: stiffen the right arm (less wrist motion) and alternate pick as fast
as you can! Make sure your pick is at an angle to the string.