Guitar Finger Exercises | How to play Guitar

Guitar Finger Exercises 

In this another lesson of “How to play Guitar” we will explore three very important Guitar finger exercises.

Also, there is other lessons available for beginners on below topics,

1.       “Types of Guitar, Body Parts of Guitar, Whatis a chord, how to hold a guitar pick & how to hold guitar”.

2.        “Completelearning Procedure, Guitar Note Series, Guitar different Notes position,  Finger Picking Techniques, Guitar Scales andGuitar Chord”.

So if in case you would like to check the basics of these topics, you can check these as well by clicking on their title.

Before explaining these Guitar finger exercises, I would like to tell you the finger names, this is required to understand the finger exercises since when I will explain any guitar picking so you should follow me exactly in the same way I am explaining.

These finger name is been followed globally by everyone who so ever is playing guitar, so again this is important to know their names.

1.       Index finger is known as finger 1 or Pointer finger.

2.       Middle finger is known as finger 2.

3.       Ring finger is known as finger 3.

4.       Little finger is known as finger 4 or Pinky.

The Strings are numbered from the bottom line. The thinnest string is named as first string, the second string is just above to this one, same for third, fourth and fifth string and the last or the thickest string is your sixth string.

The spaces in the fretboard are numbered as one, two, and three and so on from left to right. You may observe that spaces given in the fretboard is narrowing down from left to right, this means that guitar fret on the right side is wider that the fret on the left side.

Now coming to the GUITAR FINGER EXERCISES, first of all these are very useful not only in the beginning but when you started playing Guitar in the full pace. This is because these exercises give you a direction and strength to play guitar in a better way. 

The recommended duration is to give 15 to 20 minutes to each guitar finger exercise every day.

Explanation on these exercises may seem so long but I have explained all instructions and procedure in very simple language so that you can easily follow the same.

1.    Plain Horizontal Inversion:

This is one of the basic exercises and you might be familiar with this one, remember to place your thumb in the back of fretboard to apply adequate pressure. Let’s begin with the exercise now.

In this exercise you need to pick strings from first one to sixth and then move one fret to the right and then from sixth to first string then again move one fret to the right and again from first to sixth, one by one and play four consecutive guitar frets in the same string.

First of all you need to place your first finger on the first string and first guitar fret and play first string. Then place your second finger on the first string and second guitar fret and play first string. Then put third finger on the first string and third guitar fret and play first string then fourth finger on the first string and fourth guitar fret and play first string.

This way we have moved fingers and guitar frets from left to right now change the direction and play the last note that is fourth finger on the first string and fourth guitar fret. Then third finger on the first string and third guitar fret then place second finger on the first string and second guitar fret and play, then the first finger on the first guitar fret and same string.

Now change the string and move to string number two, start placing fingers from first guitar fret to fourth guitar fret in the same way we did on string number one and play the inversion or reverse on the same string from fourth guitar fret to first. Remember to change your fingers with every play from first finger at starting guitar fret and other three individually on next three frets.

Now change the string to third and perform the same (First guitar fret to fourth fret and reverse). Then repeat same on second and then first string.

Now your fingers are at the top string i.e. sixth string.

Change Guitar fret: You need to change the initial guitar fret from first to second (Basically you need to move one fret to the right once you completed this exercise for all six strings and four frets).

So now your first finger is on second guitar fret and sixth string, second finger is on third guitar fret and sixth string, third finger is on fourth guitar fret and sixth string, fourth finger is on second guitar fret and sixth string.

Now play each note (Position) in the same way from second guitar fret to fifth guitar fret and then reverse. Then change the string from sixth to fifth (same fret position) and repeat. Then repeat same till you reaches first string.

Change guitar fret: Again you need to change and move your entire fingers just one fret towards right side and repeat the whole process.

You can repeat this till your last finger touches 12^th guitar fret or fifteenth guitar fret based on your suitability.

NOTE: Try to play each note or finger position correctly with clear sound of that note and don’t try to hurry while playing this. Try to play in a way that each note play have same time interval and clear sound.

2.    Alternate Horizontal Inversion:

This is quite similar to the first Plain horizontal inversion exercise. The only difference is that there are skip notes in between in order to pick up alternate notes.

Place your first finger on first string first guitar fret now instead of playing second fret (skip second guitar fret) and play first string on third guitar fret from third finger. Then after you need to place your second finger on second guitar fret and play same string. Then pick up the fourth guitar fret from fourth finger and play first string.

1^st Fret -> 3^rd Fret -> 2^nd Fret -> 4^th Fret on first string.

Then Reverse, 4^th Fret -> 2^nd Fret -> 3^rd Fret -> 1^st Fret on first string.

Repeat same on the second string then third and so on in the same fashion explained for the first guitar finger exercise.

3.    Vertical Inversion:

Let’s break this exercise into two parts,

A.      First three guitar strings

B.      Last three guitar strings

A.      First three guitar strings:

Place your first finger on the first guitar fret and third string, second finger on the second string and first guitar fret, and third finger on the first guitar fret and first string.

Then reverse, (3^rd finger 1^st string -> 2^nd finger 2^nd string -> 1^st finger third string) on the same guitar fret number one.

Then change the guitar fret and repeat all the steps from third string to first and reverse.

Keep moving till you reached 12^th guitar fret.

B.      Last three guitar strings:

You don’t need to use your index or first finger in this part of exercise.

Place your Second or middle finger on the first guitar fret and sixth string, third or ring finger on the fifth string and first guitar fret, and fourth finger or pinky on the first guitar fret and fourth string.

Then reverse, (2^nd finger 6^th string -> 3^rd finger 5^th string -> 4^th finger 4^th string) on the same guitar fret number one.

Then change the guitar fret and repeat all the steps from third string to first and reverse.

Keep moving till you reached 12^th guitar fret.

So far we have completed three exercises; there are more exercises which I will try to discuss as soon as possible.

Hope you have enjoyed this post and it will help you to play expedite the improvement on your guitar skill.

There is lot more to share, Keep in touch and stay happy.

Happy Guitar Learning!!!