The Guitar Exercise That Changed My Life

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As a university music student at 20, I discovered a guitar exercise that revolutionized my technique. This exercise, which I now credit for significantly advancing my left-hand skills, integrates several crucial elements: finger independence, stretching, economy of motion and muscle tension control.
Finger independence for guitarists refers to the ability to move each finger on the fretboard independently of the others. This skill is essential for playing complex chords, scales, and arpeggios smoothly and accurately. Achieving finger independence allows for more precise and efficient movement, enhancing overall playing speed and dexterity.
This transformative exercise is designed to enhance finger independence, improve stretching capabilities, and control muscle tension, all while keeping the left-hand fingers close to the strings. Here's how it works:
By consistently practicing this exercise, I noticed a significant improvement in my ability to navigate the fretboard with ease and precision. My finger independence became more pronounced, allowing me to tackle more complex pieces with confidence. Additionally, the stretching aspect of the exercise increased my hand flexibility, making it easier to reach wider intervals. The focus on muscle tension control helped prevent fatigue and strain, enabling longer and more productive practice sessions.
For any guitarist looking to elevate their playing, integrating this exercise into your routine can make a substantial difference. Emphasizing finger independence, stretching, and muscle tension control will unlock new levels of proficiency.

[@gitargrl72]

Very nice! Thank you!

[@PiotrPakhomkin]

Thanks for watching, Tina.

[@jmoorecareers]

Wow. That is a great exercise. Thanks!

[@PiotrPakhomkin]

Hey, thanks a lot. Have you tried it in the higher positions of the guitar? When you move towards the 12th fret, the feel becomes completely different with the narrowing of the frets. All the best!

[@cottonuke]

Thank you for this. How long would you recommend doing this? And is this exercise enough to cover most of the technical exercise. Trying on the ukulele. Any recommendations for getting better at barre?

[@PiotrPakhomkin]

I recommend no more than 3-5 minutes with this exercise or it‘s variations. Barre chords can be mastered with selective-barring technique, where you’re training the index finger to only press on the notes that need to resonate. A lot of players get into the habit to press on all 6 strings of a bar chord when they may only need strings 1 and 6.

[@Larry-v6j]

@@PiotrPakhomkin thanks so much for this lesson! Demanding, but rewarding as well.