Effective exercises - do any stand out as highly recommended?

[michelew]

Neil,

I know we are all at different levels of skill. But, in general do you have any favourite drills / exercises that you would recommend to most players at some point? I'm looking for a set that I can use to get my fingers moving properly and efficiently at the beginning of a practice session. I'm assuming that you have given different exercises for different issues, strength, coordination, finger independence, fretboard knowledge. Are there any that you find particularly useful for most people? If so what are they and why are they good? Or can you recommend a good text?

Thanks

Michele

[sbutler]

P90X for guitar porn

[michelew]

I mustn't hang around pubs enough since I'd never heard of P90X. But, now I know how I can get the body I want in just 90 days. I'm sure there's a bad joke there, but I'm sitting.

So P90X for guitar? Maybe! I'm not getting where the guitar porn fits in, but I just work up.

By the way Scott, I thought your song suggestions for warm ups were good and I actually do play some of those piece at various times so I'm looking at the things I've learned or need to refresh that I can also use in a similar way. Is There Anybody Out There is one I've started using as a warm up.

Ta

M

[sbutler]

So glad you liked the suggestion Michelle. Honestly, I had never heard of someone surfing "guitar porn" until you mentioned it in one of your threads. I'm sure our instructor would have an opinion on what would work best to limber the digits, but it seems to me that anything that gets them moving would work. Like the old 70's saying "If it feels good, do it".

I'm sure I just gave you another opening there, oh yeah. Just keep smiling.

Scott

[michelew]

I'm smiling indeed. :):):):):):):) I like your thinking.



Drills / exercises - I guess it's not an essential thing. And I'm sure the key is just play more. But, given Neil's extensive experience, I wondered whether he's got some that would fit into the P90X for guitars packages.

I'm actually talking about more than just warming up your fingers, physically warming is not an issue in Sydney (even when I complain about the 'cold' in Winter ). I'm talking about improving your general dexterity and all the things you need to be able to do to be a good guitarist, so general guitar-skills that drills can assist with.

Ok - I'll stop gabbing and start playing.

So.....if it feels good ....

[thereshopeyet]

Michelle
I used to do exercises before joining TG but now just try to learn songs.
I do wonder though like yourself if there are any exercises that Neil would consider
worthwhile practicing for a couple of minutes everyday before songs.

[michelew]

And on the subject of guitar porn, here's an example of ukulele's that are sooooo beautiful and soooo unreachable...well for me at least, so it's definitely a case of look but don't touch. This company makes Eddie Vedder's gorgeous ukuleles - like his cedar topped one with the hibiscus sound hole. I'd looooove to play one.

http://www.devineguitars.com/

I'm tempted to start a guitar porn thread...but, I'm a little afraid to the possibilities... B) B) hhmmmmm... maybe I will anyway.

[willem]

michelew wrote:

And on the subject of guitar porn, here's an example of ukulele's that are sooooo beautiful and soooo unreachable...well for me at least, so it's definitely a case of look but don't touch. This company makes Eddie Vedder's gorgeous ukuleles - like his cedar topped one with the hibiscus sound hole. I'd looooove to play one.

http://www.devineguitars.com/

I'm tempted to start a guitar porn thread...but, I'm a little afraid to the possibilities... B) B) hhmmmmm... maybe I will anyway.

Gee Shell,,that was porn indeed,,what a great ukes...to look at!!!

[mickeynj]

Hi Michelew, I use the first scale which really isn't a scale but E-F-G; A-B-C; D-E-F; G-A; B-C-D; E-F-G and sometimes take each set out to the fourth fret with your pinky. Also saw another one on utube useing all four fingers starting at E and working your way up the neck...Start at E-F-G-G# then go to the B string starting at the 2nd fret then the 3rd string starting at the 3rd fret and so on...Then do it back wards.

[wiley]

Mauro Giullani - (1781 - 1829) cellist, guitarist, composer

Several Techniques and 'exercise' programs, considered a part of all Classical training.

There's the beginning of Mauro's 'Right Hand Appergio Exercises' referred to by Hector Garcia. There are 120 Right hand exercises in the series.

Do they work? Most classical students perform them extensively.