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
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.
Guitar picking arpeggio exercise using fingerpicking
| Tuning | 5-0 Method • Reference Tones • Octaves, Audio, or a Chord |
| Study Tools | Tone Names on Fretboard • Metronome • Circle of 5ths • Octaves |
| Visuals | Tablature • Chord Frames |
| Exercises | Picking Workout on Open Strings • 1234 Chromatic Cycles • Chromatics Expanded |
| Chords in Keys | Chart for 13 keys • Triads in A minor • Chord Progressions |
