Stews Lessons: Exercises: #1

If you're comfortable with your hand strength, you can start at the first fret, but to learn this drill it's easier to start at the fifth or even the seventh fret, where the scale's a little kinder for making reaches. The important thing about this drill is to keep your fingers down on the strings except when you're moving from one string to the next. This ensures the best workout for your tendons, ligaments, and connectors.

Begin with your fingers on the second lowest string, spaced one finger per fret. So if your low string is your B and you're starting on the 5th fret, you're going to begin by fretting the A, Bb, B natural, and C. Play that string. Holding the note with your pinky, move your first finger to the E on your B string . Play it but let the Db ring. Letting the higher note sustain, shift your middle finger to the F on the B string and play it. Next -- still letting that Db sustain -- move your ring finger down and play the Gb on the 7th fret. Finally, keeping all your fingers fretting the last notes they played, shift your pinky to play the G on the 8th fret of the B string. As the G rings, shift your first finger back to the A where it was resting initially and play it.

Remember, keep all your fingers fretting notes and play SLOWLY.

That G sustains while you shift the middle finger to play the Bb. Next -- no surprise here -- bring your ring finger back where it was to play the B natural. Then , while the B's ringing, shift your pinky to play the C. Repeat this pattern all the way to your top string, always fretting with all 4 fingers, always playing slowly and evenly.

When you have all five fingers on the high string, you're going to work your way back down the way you started the exercise. That is, while the highest note -- the one your pinky is fretting -- rings, move your first, then second, then third fingers to the next lowest string. When the ring finger is fretting a clean note bring the pinky to the same string as the other fingers.

You should play this twice, low string to high string to low string. When you're comfortable in whatever four fret range you've chosen (usually this takes a couple of days to a week), move down two frets. Eventually you want to be able to play this smoothly and without exhaustion at the first fret. Don't get frustrated if it takes some time; this exercise is harder than it looks or sounds!

		Home > Lessons > Exercises > #1 #1 If you're comfortable with your hand strength, you can start at the first fret, but to learn this drill it's easier to start at the fifth or even the seventh fret, where the scale's a little kinder for making reaches. The important thing about this drill is to keep your fingers down on the strings except when you're moving from one string to the next. This ensures the best workout for your tendons, ligaments, and connectors. Begin with your fingers on the second lowest string, spaced one finger per fret. So if your low string is your B and you're starting on the 5th fret, you're going to begin by fretting the A, Bb, B natural, and C. Play that string. Holding the note with your pinky, move your first finger to the E on your B string . Play it but let the Db ring. Letting the higher note sustain, shift your middle finger to the F on the B string and play it. Next -- still letting that Db sustain -- move your ring finger down and play the Gb on the 7th fret. Finally, keeping all your fingers fretting the last notes they played, shift your pinky to play the G on the 8th fret of the B string. As the G rings, shift your first finger back to the A where it was resting initially and play it. Remember, keep all your fingers fretting notes and play SLOWLY. That G sustains while you shift the middle finger to play the Bb. Next -- no surprise here -- bring your ring finger back where it was to play the B natural. Then , while the B's ringing, shift your pinky to play the C. Repeat this pattern all the way to your top string, always fretting with all 4 fingers, always playing slowly and evenly. When you have all five fingers on the high string, you're going to work your way back down the way you started the exercise. That is, while the highest note -- the one your pinky is fretting -- rings, move your first, then second, then third fingers to the next lowest string. When the ring finger is fretting a clean note bring the pinky to the same string as the other fingers. You should play this twice, low string to high string to low string. When you're comfortable in whatever four fret range you've chosen (usually this takes a couple of days to a week), move down two frets. Eventually you want to be able to play this smoothly and without exhaustion at the first fret. Don't get frustrated if it takes some time; this exercise is harder than it looks or sounds!