Guitar Picking Exercises

Guitar picking exercises are essential for understanding how your motor hand works & getting comfortable with the string span (width & location of all the strings - 'which string am I on?'). You are ultimately looking for your picking pocket [comfort zone for smooth motion & sweet tone].

Picking Single Strings in 4's & 2's

guitar picking exercise, open strings

Open String Arpeggio

One way for you to create picking consistency is to understand your most efficient picking motion, then move your arm to wherever you are going to pick [we call this 'the leave']. Your picking arm moves to keep the relationship between your hand & a particular string consistent. 'This is how I pick, now go there.'

Sometimes you will stabilize your hand [to the bridge, strings, or body], but in this exercise, keep your hand floating. Pick to where you are needed next (the string space - prepare for next up or down).

We can also think in string couplets (set of 2 adjacent strings) & if we are picking on the outside of a pair or inside.

inside and outside guitar picking exercise

Guitar picking arpeggio exercise using fingerpicking