The Guitar Exercise that Changed My Life

If you enjoyed the video and learned something new, could you please hit the 👍button, it really helps a lot! Thank you so much everyone! Andre

One time I was in Guitar Center. Some dude was playing and was so good a small crowd had gathered around him to listen. Somebody complimented him and said ‘You’re really talented’. He said ‘Yeah people say that all the time and I always tell them it isn’t talent…it’s hard work’

When I first picked up guitar 40 years ago my college roommate showed me exactly these exercises. I practiced for hours before learning any actual music. 5 years later when I first started playing with other musicians they heard me noodling and said “okay you play lead” even though I didn’t know shit.

I am pretty much a beginner and I started off not liking this exercise. However, in just a few days of playing every combination I am noticing a significant improvement in my playing, speed and accuracy. Thank You...

Pushing 60 years old, finally decided to learn how to play, can't afford lessons. This exorcise is simple genius. Even with my untrained eyes and ears I understand the value. Thank you.

your pinky is longer than my index !

The guitar exercise that changed my life: time.

always use a metronome while practicing and use your voice too along with the notes. Amazing how that works

With 26 years of guitar practicing under the belt I must say this video is hands down one of the most important I've ever seen. This really is going to take your guitar ability to the next level. Thank you.

I’ve been warming up with this exercises every time I practice. I’ve incorporated my picking strokes to coordinate with the first finger of the set. Example: 4213= 4 strokes per note. 3142= 3 strokes per note etc. This is yielding both fretting and picking dexterity. A great exercise for all levels of player. Thanks for tutorial AND for posting the chart!

That exercise my teacher showed me 40 years ago but as a 12 years old I didn't understand the point but a few years later I incorporated it in my practice routine. Highly recommended!

Lots of guitar players share their expertise, I think this is one of the best. Many thanks to you and God bless you ❤😊

I was self-taught at around 10 years old. I played consistently until my late 20s. I played chords/rhythm with emphasis on my right hand for "flourish" (right-handed) After a 35 year hiatus I have begun trying to play again. Now 64 years old. I still remember each chord, but not the order they go in to play any of the large catalog I used to play. But I have started learning songs I never played before, primarily rock. I also am learning lead riffs and solos. The exercise you show in this video is helping immensely. This might help stave off the arthritis that is increasing in my fingers. Being new and clumsy to this I found picking each note 4 times helps. Then 3 times, then 2, then 1. Old dog relearning and old, and new, trick. Thank you.

You know, I have a very addictive personality. When I do something I try it to the absolute max, it used to be things that were not good for me, about 6 months ago I bought my first guitar, a squire tele. I playing about 3-4 hours a day, work on scales everyday, and in between work on songs that I’ve wanted to learn. I do hand stretching to work on my range of motion, and decided to look for something new to add, and by the end up doing this my hand was actually sore lol, those weird combos work awesome. So big thanks, I will definitely be adding this to my practice routine, and hopefully help me along on my guitar journey here.

For those of us who were less fortunate not being able to take lessons, (very expensive) this is such good information and I hope you will continue to pass on these great tips and exercises on to us. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you Andre. I am from the Netherlands and 63 years old. After playing for 2 years when I was 25 I stopped for 38 years. I bought myself a second hand guitar one month ago. Your video and lesson gave me the good spirit (again). God Bless you.

Yeah, these types of exercises are great. I hope you don't mind me adding that I think it's helpful to also use a metronome and then try quarter, eighths, triplets and sixteenths (when you can do them evenly) always start slow and don't move up the speed until you can play the spacings evenly . Doing that with the metronome really helped my sense of time that carried over into other playing situations. You also can do all of these exercises legato -just pick the first note. Stop if you feel any pain. Nice video!

I have been using this exercise on my students for 20 years, my guitar teacher showed it to me over 35 years ago, great dexterity exercise and so many variations on the theme.

I did this practice about 15 minutes yesterday and then about 10 minutes today. I then decided to test my newfound coordination by playing through Landslide, specifically where Buckingham solos over the travis picking. I couldn't believe it. I sailed through what is usually a very tricky part for me. Wow!

Michael Toth in Vancouver was the teacher who showed me this in 1978. After career and kids “paused” my guitar playing for 35 years, I picked up guitar again and this was my first step back. Thank you both.