5 Totally Non-Boring Picking Exercises for Guitar Players

Jul 20

Let's face it. Picking exercises are necessary to build picking speed and dexterity, however they're usually not much fun, or sound too boring to practice for any useful length of time. If you're an advanced player, you know what I'm talking about. So, why can't picking exercises be more interesting? I think they can. Here are 5 exercises that I find will get under your skin and stick with you like a Britney Spears chorus: "I'm a slave 4 you…" Plus, you'll sound good while you're playing them, so they'll be easier on the ears of those around you.

One more note though before we jump in: I apologize now if the names I chose for these exercises sound Harry Potter-ish. I assure you that Mr. Potter wasn't on my mind.

 

Exercise #1: The Harmonic Minor Neo-Classical Egyptian Mummification Thingus

 

Exercise #2: The Sweep Picking Pedal-Tone Triplet Interruptus Thingus

 

Exercise #3: The Bold String Skipping Progressive Rage Against Boring Picking Thingus

 

Exercise #4: The Triplet Blasting String Skipping Machine Gun Thingus

 

Exercise #5: The Alternate Picking In a Dream That Could Go On Forever and That's Alright With Me Thingus

 

Download the Power Tab file of all 5 picking exercises to print it and hear how the exercises sound: PowerTab File (Just right click this link and select "Save file as…") Please let me know what you think of the exercises by adding your comments below. Did you enjoy these?

Update: If you're new to the guitar and can barely hold a chord yet, you probably found these exercises way too hard. I invite you to drop by my review of the "Guitar Made Easy" lessons and pick up a copy to learn to play in one weekend flat. Here's the link to the review.