49th Guitar Snake River Rapids Exercises: Ring, Ring, Index, Pinky in 4s

You don’t have to start with exercise one. Start with this exercise if you like!

Note: If at any time you are experiencing pain during the playing of this exercise or any other exercise I give, then stop immediately! Please! It doesn’t help me as a teacher to gain students with tendonitis, or other guitar injuries.

Note2: Palm muting refers to muting the actual string that you are playing, and all the other strings.

Note3: Without palm muting refers to not muting the string your are playing, while you are playing it, but then muting it after each note, while muting all the other strings.

Note4: Down strokes refers to playing a string only with a downward motion of the pick. Thus, the pick starts high hits the string and bounces off, and instead of picking the note with an upstroke of the pick on the rebound, return to a position with the pick above the string before making another down stroke. This is a style of play Metallica commonly uses. Generally, a down stroke sounds heavier than an upward stroke, such that using all downward strokes makes for a heavier sound.

Note5: Alternating strokes refers to picking with upward strokes and downward strokes. The purpose of alternating strokes is usually to gain speed while picking.

49:1 The first set of exercises I gave was primarily so that one doesn’t injure their fretting hand by stretch too much. Next, I increased the “jiggas,” giving a picking hand work out. The lesson-blogs from 40 to 63 will be on strengthening speed and finger motility.

49:2 The exercises in this blog will involve the index finger, the ring finger, and the pinky finger. Unlike earlier exercises, it will go below the 5th fret.

49:3 On string 6, at the 12th fret, play the following pattern using all down strokes: 14th fret w/ring finger, 14th fret with your ring finger, 12th fret with your index finger, and 15th fret with your pinky finger.

49:4 On string 6, at the 11th fret, play the following pattern using all down strokes: 13th fret w/ring finger, 13th fret with your index finger, 11th fret with your index finger, and 14th fret with your pinky finger.

49:5 On string 6, at the 10th fret, play the following pattern using all down strokes: 12 fret w/ ring finger, 12th fret with your index finger, 10th fret with your index finger, and 13th fret with your pinky finger.

49:6 On string 6, at the 9th fret, play the following pattern using all down strokes: 9th fret w/ring finger, 9th fret with your index finger, 9th fret with your index finger, and 12th fret again with your pinky finger.

49:7 Work this pattern down to the 1st fret. Then, work it back up, a half step higher each time.

49:8 Repeat exercises 49:3 and so on; on the string 5.

49:9 Repeat exercises 49:3 and so on; on the string 4.

49:10 Repeat exercises 49:3 and so on; on the string 3.

49:11 Repeat exercises 49:3 and so on; on the string 2.

49:12 Repeat exercises 49:3 and so on: on the string 1.

49:13 Repeat exercises using alternating strokes (up and down) instead of just down strokes.

49:14 Repeat without palm muting w/down strokes.

49:15 Repeat w/palm muting and w/down strokes.

49:16 Repeat w/alternating strokes, w/palm muting.

49:17 If it feels comfortable, this pattern can be played at higher frets than the ones listed.

49:18 Follow the pattern in 49:3 - 49:34 as far up the frets is as still easy or playable on your guitar.



49:19 Then, feel free to work your way back to the 12th fret using the same pattern. Possibly consider moving the pattern down the fret in whole steps. For example, start at the pattern at the 19th fret, then the 17th fret, then the 15th fret, then the 13th, then the 11th fret.