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Guitar
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Guitar
Lessons
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A Visual Learning Experience,
Lead Guitar Made Easy.
Instructional CD ROM. It's time to Learn Right!
Guitar lesson
4 Picking exercises
Before we write our first original song, we need for our picking hand to get
the fretting hand in shape. To make things easier to understand each fretting finger will have a number
assigned to it.
1 =
Index finger
2 = Middle finger
3 = Ring finger
4 = Pinkie
T = Thumb
Look above and check out each number and the finger that it represents. Hold your hand out
in front of you and count out each finger. This is one of the most important things to learn. You will use these numbers
to play scales, leads and chords.
In our last lesson we worked on some picking exercises with only the picking
hand. Now we need to put the fretting hand to work with the picking hand. These
exercises will prepare you for the scales ahead.
|
 |
1
= Index finger
2 = Middle finger
3 = Ring finger
4 = Pinkie
T = Thumb |
Look at the image above and notice the numbers on the Low
E string. Then look at the image above to the right and see what finger
the number represents. In this exercise you will be picking one note at a time.
The first note is picked on the Low E string with
your 1 finger at the 5th fret. The next note is played with your 2 finger Low E
string 6th fret. Then the 3 finger 7th fret and finally the 4th finger
8th fret .
The tablature for the example above
have been illustrated below.
----------------------------------------------------------5-6-7-8----
----------------------------------------------5-6-7-8----------------
------------------------------------5-6-7-8--------------------------
------------------------5-6-7-8--------------------------------------
-------------5-6-7-8-------------------------------------------------
-5-6-7-8-------------------------------------------------------------
In our last lesson we learned how to alternate the picking hand. You will now
alternate the picking down then up while playing each of these 4 notes one at a
time.
|
 |
1
= Index finger
2 = Middle finger
3 = Ring finger
4 = Pinkie
T = Thumb |
Look at the next illustration above and now you are picking the notes on the
A string. Remember to alternate your pick. Continue this exercise with
all the strings in the same fashion. When you become comfortable playing this,
start with the High E string and work your way back
up. This is illustrated below. Start with your 4 finger on the 8th fret and work
back up towards the Low E string.
--8-7-6-5-------------------------------------------------------------
-------------8-7-6-5--------------------------------------------------
------------------------8-7-6-5---------------------------------------
------------------------------------8-7-6-5---------------------------
-------------------------------------------------8-7-6-5--------------
-------------------------------------------------------------8-7-6-5--
When you get real comfortable, start at different frets all over the fretboard.
Have your illustrations with your notes filled out in front of you and check out
the notes your actually playing.
Once you finish this exercise, you can check out some others in the exercise
chapter.
Assignment:
-
We will begin to write an original
song and the first part has been posted. I have written out the tablature for it and it will be coming up in
lesson 7 or so. The chords used in this progression are the Am, F and G so pay particular attention to those chords in the open
position chord chapter. You can play this progression with both the acoustic or electric guitar. Lead guitar has
been added to this progression below.
-
Listen to our slow
song beefed up a little for the electric guitar. This lead guitar part is played
using the Am pentatonic scale, root
note fret. The root note fret is the 5th fret for Am pentatonic. The pentatonic scale is one of the most important
scales to learn as it is used in practically all types of music. Listen how the lead guitar part is played over the
Am, F and G progression above. This is the object of playing the guitar, that is being able to play with other
instruments. This is what our CD ROM is all about, we will teach you how to properly use the scales and chords
together. This is a must for both the acoustic and electric guitar player.
Good Luck,
From The Jam Room
