Guitar Lessons: How to Strengthen Fingers
Using Altered Chromatic Scales for Faster and More Creative Playing
Aug 22, 2009
Every guitar player has had the humbling experience of hearing or witnessing a great player tear through riffs and solo's that leave you feeling overwhelmed, stunned and horridly incompetent.
So how can you develop speed and ability on the guitar quickly? Are there a lessons for guitar to aid such rapid growth?
In truth there is no special secret, there is no golden paved pathway which will suddenly turn you into a maestro in seconds.... unless of course you find Robert Johnson's legendary crossroads, but that might cost something a little more than your time.
So are there any exercises to help develop quickly? To help fingers find the frets faster and more confidently, for example?
Chromatic Scales
No matter the type of music, blues, acoustic, metal, rock, jazz, folk..... In order to increase ability it is necessary to increase the strength and power in the tools used to play. Therefore it is essential to increase finger strength!
To do this use simple exercises such as chromatic scales along with a metronome slowly building faster to gain speed and power.
For these use ALL FOUR fingers,
Always, always, ALWAYS, all FOUR fingers
Using: index, then middle, then ring, then pinkie on EVERY string.
Also use alternate picking with the right hand, so one note is a downstroke then the next an upstroke, this will also help speed develop greatly.
(If learning fingerpicking or classical guitar perhaps try picking with individual fingers on the right hand in order to gain further strength in both hands)
The first exercise is a simple moving from fret 2, 3, 4 and 5, as shown on picture 2 at the bottom of the screen...
This exercise, although simplistic and plain, if practiced with a metronome or software such as Guitar Pro, will increase strength to a degree which is almost stunning!
Advanced Finger Exercise 1
Once the first exercise is practiced, getting slowly faster and faster until it is necessary to stop, it is a good plan to take a break, relax and listen to some Stevie Ray Vaughan
The muscles in the hand will take a few days to build, so the first few days of practice may seem unnatural and trying, but as they develop everything will get much smoother.
The second exercise is similar to the first, however contains a key difference to stretch and work different muscles in the hand.
It is shown in picture 3.
Advanced Finger Exercise 2
Once again once the exercise is completed and has gone to as fast as the guitarist can on a metronome it is a good plan to rest again.
Never over work muscles, as specially ones such which haven't been exercised much previous. Therefore it is a good idea to stretch the muscles, breath deeply and watch a YouTube video of Buddy Guy playing his blues away.
The third exercise once again has a subtle difference from the first and second and therefore will work on different muscles and help them develop further.
It is shown in picture 4
Warm-Up for Guitar Playing
These exercises will also help the guitarist get the blood running into his hands. Much as a sprinter might warm up before a race, these exercises will prepare a musician for his music.
Keep performing these exercises every day, as a warm up before you play to help the muscles develop and also to aid everyday playing
Don't be afraid to move exercises up and down the neck, starting on perhaps the fifth fret, or the ninth, or the thirteenth, go as far as you can dream.
Keep building that metronome faster and faster.
Having mastered these techniques, the guitarist can add more strength to their fingers, again following some simple step by step instructions and techniques.
Keep blusing!
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