Guitar Finger Exercises: Improve your Guitar Playing!
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Want to improve your finger strength?
Guitar finger exercises are an excellent way to increase your finger strength and flexibility. From having a better grip on chords to being able to play riffs at lightning speed, your fingers need to be up to the challenge. Here are some exercises to help you. And if you want more exercises, you can check out this program here.
Guitar Finger Exercise #1
This is a simple exercise that can be performed without a guitar, but you do need a tennis ball. It improves overall hand strength.
Taking your tennis ball, hold it in your left hand. Squeeze and hold for the count of ten, then release. Repeat ten times, working up to three sets of 15. After each set, switch hands.
Taking your tennis ball, hold it in your left hand. Squeeze and hold for the count of ten, then release. Repeat ten times, working up to three sets of 15. After each set, switch hands.
Guitar Finger Exercise #2
While at school...
This is a good one to do while you're sitting through a really boring lecture. Place your hands flat on the table, then lift them up so they rest on your finger tips. Your wrist should be straight. One at a time, practice picking up your fingers and setting them back down. Try different patterns. For example
1,2,3,4...
1,3,2,4...
1,4,3,2...
1 = index
2 = middle
3 = ring
4 = pinkie
And so on. Make up your own patterns. Once you can start moving faster, try doing both hands at once.
This exercise will improve your sense of rhythm and the ability of your fingers to move separately.
You can also try this exercise on your guitar. Just put one finger on each fret and strum in an up and down pattern as you change fingers.
1,2,3,4...
1,3,2,4...
1,4,3,2...
1 = index
2 = middle
3 = ring
4 = pinkie
And so on. Make up your own patterns. Once you can start moving faster, try doing both hands at once.
This exercise will improve your sense of rhythm and the ability of your fingers to move separately.
You can also try this exercise on your guitar. Just put one finger on each fret and strum in an up and down pattern as you change fingers.
Guitar Finger Exercise #3
Stretching
Also, try making the vulcan sign. Sounds silly, but it will extend your reach.
Lastly, try making a finger stack. Index on the bottom, with the middle on top of that, ring on top of that, and pinkie on top.
Increase Finger Span
Take your thumb and pull it out until you feel a stretch - you should not feel any pain. Hold for the count of ten, then release. Now take your pinkie and stretch it out to the side, holding for the count of ten.
If you're somewhere where you have a flat table edge, you can use that to stretch both at once. Place your hand on the table as in the picture. Push against the table for the count of ten. If you can't get your fingers out that far yet, work on the stretches outlined in the previous paragraphs.
Guitar Lessons
In person guitar lessons can be expensive, and hard to schedule. If you're really serious about taking your guitar playing to the next level, check on this online course. Compared to paid guitar lessons, it's a real money saver. You can find it here at Guitar Lessons.
Want more exercises?
There is one tool I would recommend. It's a software that runs you through 100 different exercises on the guitar, with drums and accompaniment. You can adjust the speed to run through exercises faster as you get better. It really helped me out and it might help you as well.
You can find it at this site. Hope it helps you like it did me!
You can find it at this site. Hope it helps you like it did me!
Any thoughts?
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Richard3331
Jan 25, 2012 @ 6:15 am | delete
- Hi
See the link to your lens on Richard's Guitar Book - Hope you like that
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desa999
Nov 15, 2011 @ 3:21 am | delete
- thanks for some great tips on playing the guitar as I am starting this coming year to play more.
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fulltimehockeymom
Jun 2, 2011 @ 6:02 pm | delete
- great lens. I'm still learning but im starting to get all of my finger exercises down pretty well know that im getting some callouses on my fingers.
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GoPoochYourself
Dec 14, 2010 @ 11:04 am | delete
- Thanks, this is cool. I've played the guitar on and off for a while and I think this'll help me a lot!
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KarenTBTEN
Oct 17, 2010 @ 7:04 am | delete
- Looks like some useful resources here for guitar players. (I think the physical side of playing a guitar is very difficult... a bit like playing a sport)
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by techgirl14
techgirl14
One of my hobbies is playing the guitar. Finger strength and flexibility can make the difference between an average guitar player and a superstar. T... more »
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