Finger speed and control - practice fun

[Dock]

The Spider
Practice moving each finger independently by

fretting your index finger on string 1 fret 5
then
middle finger string 1- fret 6 (do not lift your index finger from fret 5)

Ring finger on string 1- fret 7 ( important to keep other fingers on the fret board)

Little finger on string 1- fret 8 ( keep fingers in position )

Now
Move only the index finger from string 1 to string 2- fret 5
Move only the middle finger from string 1 to string 2 fret 6
Keep all fingers in the same positions, until it is time to move them one ata time

Move ring finger from atring 1 to string 2 - fret 7
move little finger to string 2 fret 8

Continue on to the 3rd string moving om;y one finger at a time when ypi reach the 6th string , work on backwards to the 1st string

Sounds easy but it is not
if you are doing this properly and moving only one finger at a time while holding the strings down with the other fingers

You should have a big cramp in your fingers, and it should sound terrible.

Keep trying, in about two weeks of daily practice 5 minutes/day, you will be able to glide across the strings easily.
Each note will sound good, your finger strength and control will be many times better.

When I first tried this , I thought " This is impossible".
But after a few days I was able to do it , crudely but I did it .

Soon it was easy , my fingers separated each string so it sounded clean and my speed increases .

My ability to play leads improved tremendoulsly
my fingers were so fast that my picking hand could not keep up
So I went to work in moving the pick faster with double picking strikes (up and down rapidly Naw I can pick at a rate around 32 strokes / second

Amazingly enough because of the string changes my fingering of a scale is still faster then my ability to keep up with the pick

Do it and see for yourself

[Spock]

You are right, it is "impossible"
After 3 days, I can go in one direction sorta, but moving backwards from the 6th string is a joke, right??

I mean you must be " pushing my arm"

Seriously, I notice some improvement, but I doubt that in 2 weeks ,I will ""gliding across the strings"!!!!!

[Spock]

OK you win DOC

After 2-3 weeks of daily practice with the SPIDER
my fingers finally developed the strength to rip through the exercise,
My playing of leads has improved beyond what I expected, wwould be possible in so short of a time.
The truth is , it has opened up a whole new era for me, I seemed to have broken through a slump I was in.
Finger speed and control must have improved by at least 3-4 times in just a few weeks
Needless to say , Thanks.
I must admit in the beginning, it was really a sux deal ,
Frustrated a hell but, I just kept after it, then suddenly I could do it.

[rockmund]

This exercise rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, and I really mean thanks. It is tough, but wow, it does develop improvement.

[Spock]

A great exercise to increase independent finger action and speed
This may be practiced at any area of the fret board.
The idea is to use a variety of complex finger patterns,
---------------
The fingers are numbered
1 = index
2 = middle
3 = ring
4 = little(pinky)

---------------- For exanple--------------------
Beginning at fret 5 with the index finger play the following sequence,
on every string from string 1 to string 6 and back again.

1 4 3 2 = index fret5, little fret8, ring fret7, middle fret6
then reverse the sequence
2 3 4 1 = middle fret6, ring fret7, little fret8, index fret5.

try other sequences, make it hard on yourself, by choosing odd sequences
initial reversed
------ --------
4 1 3 2 2 3 4 1
2 4 3 1 1 3 4 2
4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4
2 1 4 3 3 4 1 2
1 4 2 3 3 2 1 4

Play at different frets beginning at fret 1 or fret 8


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Warming UP Very valuble
-----------------------
Gains in finger control, are related to Waeming up brfore olaying.
Some of the fastest players warn up for 20 minutes before beginning
thier practice session.

A typical warm up might be
-------------------------
The spider 5 minutes
Scales 5 minutes
This exercise 5 minutes
a prior lesson 5 minutes

If you are not Warming up those fingers before a practice session. please give it a try,
Soon you will impress yourself and others with your rapid improvement in playing.
The warn up exercises won't teach you a new song, but more generally they will make you a better player across the entire spectrum of a guitarists skill.