A beginning player faces a myriad of challenges, each requiring patient practice and focus on technique to overcome. Some of these include: unwanted notes ringing, weak hammer-ons/pull-offs, lack of coordination between the left and right hands, weakness/awkwardness when using the fretting hand little finger, and overall fluidity in play. The good news is that these are merely challenges, not insurmountable mountains, and with a little attention to each of these areas, a player can achieve stunning results.

In this part of my series, we'll look at some exercises I've developed that will ensure improvement in areas where most beginners have trouble. On each exercise, start very slowly to perfect the technique, and build speed as you achieve proficiency. A metronome is a huge help, as it will keep you in time and prevent rushing or slowing down (see the end of this article for a link to a free, online metronome!). It is also important to practice each exercise with both clean and distorted tones, as each one will have a different feel.

As with any activity that requires agility, we'll need to stretch prior to beginning. No marathon runner or swimmer would dream of beginning his or her workout without stretching and warming up, and so we as guitarists also need to take this measure to avoid unnecessary strain, fatigue, and possible injury. So, in this first example, we'll work on using the fretting hand little finger to build strength as well as the ability to stretch across wide intervals. In each eighth-note run, begin with the first finger at the 12th fret, and use the fourth finger to fret the subsequent note. We'll begin with a simple, three-fret interval (minor third), followed by a five-fret spacing (a perfect fourth), and finish with a wide, seven-fret jump (a fifth interval). The last portion of the exercise will likely be uncomfortable at first, but with slow, steady practice, it will become easier to perform. If you feel unreasonable strain or pain as you execute this portion, work on the smaller, five-fret stretch more until you are able to do the larger stretch without pain. Here's the exercise (set your metronome to a 6/4 rhythm):

Example 1
It is important to pick each note clearly and ensure that the unwanted strings don't ring out when transitioning from string to string.

In the next exercise, we'll address string skipping with alternate picking. The exercise may appear confusing at first, but the idea here is not to stay within a certain scale or key signature; the point is to focus on jumping from string-to-string without having unwanted notes sounding and build accuracy between the left and right hands while picking. The first note will be sounded with a down-stroke of the pick, and the following will be sounded using an up-stroke. As you play the exercise, continue with this down-up-down-up picking motion until it begins to sound fluid. Remember to set your metronome to a 4/4 beat.

Example 2

can be moved to each fret, all over the fretboard, as an extended string-skipping/alternate-picking exercise. Remember to focus on getting the lines to sound cleanly; if you're experiencing unwanted notes or over-ringing tones, slow down and practice until each note is distinct and clear.

Many inexperienced players have difficulty with hammer-ons sounding weaker than plucked or picked notes. This is caused by two factors: low fretting-hand finger strength, and poor technique. It is important to hit each hammered note with the direct tip of the fretting finger, accurately and without hitting adjacent strings. Keeping the left wrist arched properly with the thumb centered underneath the neck will make this technique easier, as will using consistent pressure when fretting each note. It isn't necessary to pound each note to the fretboard, but you will need to strike the notes with enough pressure to produce clear sound. In example 3, we'll use eighth-note triplets (three, even notes per beat , counted: ONE-trip-let, TWO-trip-let, and so on) played by hammering-on the second two notes of each triplet. When played fluidly, the exercise is an ascending, energy-building lick that will greatly improve the ability to play lightning runs in solos.

Example 3

After building even medium speed with this lick, you'll begin to see how it can be used to add energy and build tension in your own improvisations. It will also ensure that your hammer-ons have a volume that is even with your plucked notes.

A natural progression to using the hammer-on technique properly is sounding "pull-offs." These notes are very often found immediately after a hammered note in a fast, or "legato" passage. Just like with the technique of hammer-ons, the notes sounded with the pull-off technique should not be of a lower volume than picked notes, nor should any unwanted notes ring out.
In the following example, we'll use an exercise to build the ability to sound pulled-off notes in even, fluid fashion. The exercise moves from highest string (the high E) to lowest string (the thickest, low E) and back up. Once again, we're using triplets, this time played in nine-note groups against a 6/4 rhythm. This means there will be six triplet groups played for each full measure, and three notes-per-beat. When pulling off to a lower-pitched note, it will help if you remove the fretting finger at a slight angle rather than straight up; this will add momentum to the lower notes and prevent uneven volume between pitches.

As with the hammer-on exercise in example 3, you can see that when played fluidly, this exercise has a very "liquid" feel that will assist you in building your own licks and assist you while improvising. As you build proficiency in the 12th-fret position, try moving the exercise lower down the fretboard, to the wider-spaced frets. This will assist you not only in continuing to build overall fretboard proficiency, but also build strength and accuracy in the fretting-hand little finger.

Each of these exercises, while simple in construction, can be very useful in building blazing-fast technique and clarity in your play. If any questions arise, I can be reached via AllExperts.com under "Electric Guitar" and "Guitar" related questions. And, until next time, good luck and Happy Shredding!