Strengthen Your Hands

Everyone who has ever touched a guitar has seen the same old exersices before. I'm not going to repeat old news, cause you dont need to know it for the millionth time. So these lessions go beyond the normal practice routine and into the world of vigerous practice. I'm wrinting this lession from the perspective of how I play it so here it goes.

Play all exersices to a metronome and evenly space the notes, it doesnt matter the speed! Remember accuracy is more important than speed and day. Exericises (a, b, c, d, e, f) are my basic examples that I will use for references. as the lession progresses, I will simply add little things that will strengthen your hand in a different way. I have 3 main changes that I use that I will show you in this lession, for each change I will give an example using "Exercise a", keep in mind the 3rd example is mainly for your picking hand, but keep the same form in your fretting hand.

a) - use your index and middle finger only.
|---------------------------1-2-1----------------------------------|
|----------------------1-2--------2-1------------------------------|
|-----------------1-2------------------2-1-------------------------|
|------------1-2----------------------------2-1--------------------|
|-------1-2--------------------------------------2-1---------------|
| -1-2-------------------------------------------------2-1---------|

b) - use your middle and ring finger only.
|---------------------------2-3-2----------------------------------|
|----------------------2-3---------3-2-----------------------------|
|-----------------2-3-------------------3-2------------------------|
|------------2-3-----------------------------3-2-------------------|
|-------2-3---------------------------------------3-2--------------|
| -2-3--------------------------------------------------3-2--------|

c) - use your ring anf pinky finger only.
|---------------------------3-4-3----------------------------------|
|----------------------3-4---------4-3-----------------------------|
|-----------------3-4-------------------4-3------------------------|
|------------3-4-----------------------------4-3-------------------|
|-------3-4---------------------------------------4-3--------------|
| -3-4--------------------------------------------------4-3--------|

d) -use your index and ring finger only.
|---------------------------1-3-1----------------------------------|
|----------------------1-3---------3-1-----------------------------|
|-----------------1-3-------------------3-1------------------------|
|------------1-3-----------------------------3-1-------------------|
|-------1-3---------------------------------------3-1--------------|
| -1-3--------------------------------------------------3-1--------|

f) - use your middle and pinky finger only.
|---------------------------2-4-2----------------------------------|
|----------------------2-4---------4-2-----------------------------|
|-----------------2-4-------------------4-2------------------------|
|------------2-4-----------------------------4-2-------------------|
|-------2-4---------------------------------------4-2--------------|
| -2-4--------------------------------------------------4-2--------|

Alright now for the first change. Basically I'm just hammering on each note accending, and using pull-offs for the decending. apply this example to each base exercise then continue to the next change.

|---------------------------1h2p1----------------------------------|
|----------------------1h2--------2p1------------------------------|
|-----------------1h2------------------2p1-------------------------|
|------------1h2----------------------------2p1--------------------|
|-------1h2--------------------------------------2p1---------------|
| -1h2-------------------------------------------------2p1---------|

The second change will be simple but willtake some getting used to for beinggers. Basically each string accending will have a hammer-on and a pull-off, this will be especially difficult for a week or two for your forgotten finger, (your pinky). here's how to apply it.

 (slight change) ******
|-----------------------------------------------1h2p1-2p1h2--|
|--------------------------------------1h2p1-----------------|
|-----------------------------1h2p1--------------------------|
|--------------------1h2p1-----------------------------------|
|-----------1h2p1--------------------------------------------|
|--1h2p1-----------------------------------------------------|

|------------------------------------------------------------|
|--2p1h2-----------------------------------------------------|
|-----------2p1h2----2p1h2-----------------------------------|
|-----------------------------2p1h2--------------------------|
|--------------------------------------2p1h2-----------------|
|-----------------------------------------------2p1h2--------|

Now if you cant peform pinch harmonics, just skp this part of the lession and practice the parts you do understand a little more. Basically just play a pinch harmonic for each note, its supprysingly hard to keep a pinch harmonic ringing with your pinky, but you will get the hang of it. Also a pinch harmonic tip:

if you get stuck on a certain harmonic, than your probly picking it in the wrong spot, try picking it closer to the bridge or closer to the neck, just mess around with them until you get a harmonic everywhere on command.

Some more pointers for this little lession:

1) Do not bar anything in this lession, and this is very important in building each fingers strength up, because the finger peforming the hammer-ons and the pull-offs is not the only finger that is being worked! it takes strength to frett the root note.

2) Make sure that everynote that is touched upon rings clearly, and I mean everything! The ones you hammer on are as important as the ones that you just plain old strike.

3) Most people who actually attemp this lession will do fine with all the fingering except for the pinky, if you have trouble with any one thing more than another thing, play it more than the easier ones, this will equal out your hand strength so that you will have 4 strong fingers, instead of 1 or 2 useless fingers an two good ones.

4) Move the patterns everywhere on the neck, these are just basic "shapes" for these exercises, in order to incorperate this into your playing, you need to do this everywhere on the frettboard, because it takes different strength to play it in different areas on the frettboard.

5) Buy a metronome and use it! They are one of the most useful tools you can own if you play music.

Comments

[troutBoy]

not bad

[blu9999]

some good techniques. Thanks

[MetalGuitarist0]

yeah... good stuff... quite similar to my warm up

[heggazz]

pretty exceptional lesson (notice its not spelt lession)

[heggazz]

yeah and i liked the stuff about pinch harmonics ill try to incorperate that into my warm up

[jaden_123]

good lesson but what the hell is a pinch harmonic!?!?!

[nish]

amazing lesson, especially exercise c

[peroxidebasser]

good god you have no idea how much that helped.

[Iboseth]

Thanks a lot. Tired of old exercises.

[semus]

lmao just seen this practices in anotherlesson

[pogmog]

thats a great hand warm up relli usefull

[clwy87]

good stuff...

[JackoMaltby]

boo yeah! that rules and now my fingers look like arnold swalzernigger!

[jehovas]

Thx.. I'm gonna' practise this everyday
My ring/pinky is retarded.. haha I didn't know that actually.. it doesn't seem to work =)

[Jet]

spel checker would helped though

XP

[IsayNI]

ya ive been playin for a little over a year and ive never actually done "exercises"... so this is new to me but i think i might try it... i think just playing songs often is the best way to practice and continually progress to harder songs and once you get really good you start redoing songs and making your own... but i will still try this whole strengthening stuff... so ya umm cool

[solojoshlopez]

heh those are a hella nice change but me? i been doing some stuff like that

|-5-6-7-8-5-6-7-8-5h6h7h8-| basic stuff

[battleofla]

Peter Shilton, the old england goalie, used to squeeze tennis balls to keep his fingers strong, the same applys for guitar.

So give your balls a squeeze.

*p.s. the article is good*

[bigal]

I been playin for over a year n I thought all my fingers were pretty good.... then I did this and realized my pinky is retarded!!!

[harvey0]

WOW... not bad

[ibanezza]

^^^ Nice one.
Good article, I thought I was good at guitar, then I tried Exercise C... Just goes to show how much I need to practice...

[SPO763]

dang. this is a big help. great ex.

[aliceinnirvana]

Nice mate

[phantom_lord700]

Nice help man, I've been playin' almost a year now, and I'm gettin into the scales n stuff, this is a help!

[Bellah]

Great exercises. I will definitely be using these.

[ak Gitaroo Man]

smart stuff

[Cool Blink]

Cool!!!

[dorian_mode]

excellent man

[Sun King]

i saw this befor i was a memeber and i couldent respond.. this is great, whenever i wake up and my fingers are all wackey or i just wanna learna new song i play this first.. its a great... whatever it is, it helps

[shimaroller3]

I've been doing this every day for a week or so and it's really starting to improve my accuracy and dexterity with my pinky, which is why i started. Thanks!

[Ganjrockr]

Luckily I have naturally dextrous hands. Without any stretching or training beforehand, I could pretty much use all my fingers. My pinky and ring finger took a little training to get them used to being used. I did something similar to what you have posted to strenghten and train my fingers. Seems to work i'd say.

[Piratechic137]

Thanks 4 the great advice

[d_man2k]

useful techniques - excellent lesson thanks a lot!

[Camdon]

I REALLY need pinky work. I NEVER use it

[IWannaR0ck]

ya im just starting guitar and think helps alot, thanks.

[dan_the_pie]

semen
nuts
whore
rectum
anus
cock

[Newbie Rocker]

Yeah I like the article but another suggestion would be to practice bends in your workout, Play the 9th fret on any string and try to bend the 7th fret to match the pitch of the ninth fret and so on bending will also help to build caluses. But the article is good.

[inline_henry]

Thnx.It is so simple but I would never have thought of it

[Losergoth]

Thanks! This lesson helped me a lot. I normally just play solos, but this actually helped me with chords. But maybe you should use spell check next time.

[Misfit66]

good leeson dude, had 2 modify it a bit thou, cauz i play bass, but other wise it was good, printed off the worm-ups also getting a stress ball helps, u can just sit there watching tv and u jus mush it around, does wonders for ya hand

[guitarist163]

Great article, I've been playing for a little over a year, and in the past all I did to practise was play songs and a few scales, but now I'm trying to do finger excersises and that. I havn't seen these excersises before, they'll be helpful, thanks.

[Jcool268]

awsome

[jrompeeris]

gud stuff chap

[prettyduck]

thanks

[sandwich_man]

good stuff mate, it actually works!

[KENZI]

good lesson, when i really try and play it fast i can feel it getting harder to play, thanks for the ace lesson.

[Jimmy_13]

very good! I wanted to be quicker whith the fingers, and this helps! It sounds pretty cool when this is being played. (Sorry for my bad english!)

[john15]

very good lesson....i too have been paying for about a year now and thought my hand works fine...but i was wrong...keep up the good work.

[Sanity]

Thanks,that was a very good lesten,i've only just realised how weak my pinky is!

[Migraine Boy]

Great lesson will work on my fingerings.
rock lives forever

[shmokeweed]

good shiiat

[elf+cheb]

dus it really make ya fingers stronger?

[jrnjd]

I think this will help a lot. Ive only been playing for 10 mos and my pinky is not very strong. It will help with my pinch harmonics also. Good stuff dude!

[Iron_Beast]

my three first fingers is a bit fast, but when i tried my pinky....hahha, its so slow. :P
practise.
great lesson

[Normozoidz]

the lesson is quite usefull but it is very very basic

[Kabella]

It's special ed lessons for your pinky!!!
haha, seriously, It's a nice lesson. Very basic, but incredibly useful. My pinky thanks you

[lil_angus_young]

GrEaT LeSsOn KiD WhO EvEr YoU ArE>>ThE ErIk

[thelilhendrix]

NiCe LeSsOn BoI>>ThE AiRiK

[battleaxe]

Yep, Nice lesson indeed.

[Lysol]

thanks alot this is gonna help my 3rd and 4th fingers alot.

[pornstarrr]

u da man

[FairyDandy]

Wow, this is awsome.

[box778899]

finally i know what to practice...i've been standing with my guitar for 10 minutes at a time just to think of what to do.

[eljorge]

great exercise man... to give my fingers even more of a work out i like to do these exercises on my old acoustic. once you can play it decently on an old acoustic its amazing how fast and well you can play on an electric

[Next Hendrix]

Sweet excercise, my middle and pinkie fingers actually work now =)

[Cold_Fire711]

holy crap i nevery reallized how slow my pinky is. thanks alot good lesson

[Jman813]

This lesson was awsome it really works good

[jesm1]

great!

[SG Special]

Meh, its pretty good.

[Jitox]

Yeah its really godd, like everyone else i realize my pinky its ****&$%" slow , but i think this will help me

Thanks man

[arcadeassasin]

i'm a begginer and i'm gonna do this everyday see how it works so watch this space

[ministerjason]

Good exercise regiment.
I'm just starting really, and I've noticed the difference.

[Inahrima]

LOL!!!!! the dude spelled everysingle "lesson" - as lession LOL!!!, great lesson though

[TToe]

Newbie Rocker wrote:

Yeah I like the article but another suggestion would be to practice bends in your workout, Play the 9th fret on any string and try to bend the 7th fret to match the pitch of the ninth fret and so on bending will also help to build caluses. But the article is good.

Bending behind the nut is an easy way to build calluses ,but you have to be careful about damaging the nut.

[sam--o]

its a good exercise

[Daisuke]

Good lesson.. Thanks.

[Mark Magdamo]

Nice...

[inno]

what is metronome?

[berteth]

great article man...i read earlier that people have troubles using the ring and pinky fingers...i play bass...and ive never had trouble using my ring or pinky...all of my friends who play guitar dont use there pinkies....i think its kinda wierd...i think it would be harder to use them for bass considering they're thicker strings...anyways good article man keep it up

[~~cemetary~~]

i have a propblem with that because 2 of my fingers lock up.
i can do fine after i've been playing for a while but i can't seem to do warmups i just go straight into playing

[-=JB=-]

man i now realise my pinky is like spastic

[ledzep1991]

Amazing Lesson Man!

[mr_chinnery]

Excellent, as a relative newbie I felt the difference after a couple of thorough sessions with these techniques.

[hassaan_q]

well... i guess it's nice but some of the famous guitar players don't use their pinkys like "SLASH"
... i never saw or heared him playin' through his pinky! i'm not actually against ur lesson but i'm questioning that does it really matters if i'm not using the pinky??
Please help me out!

[gangster_guitar]

my fingers are alot stronger now

[:TeK:]

ty cool

famous guitar players don't use their pinkys like "SLASH"

0.o did not know that, learn something new everyday^.^

[Nosf3ratu]

Been playing for almost twelve years now, but never learned properly. I've been focusing more on my finger strengths and soloing, and this lesson has helped a lot, already! I've only played it for maybe three hours (1 hr for 3 nights), and I can notice huge results.

Thanks for the terrific lesson.

[metal0guitar]

great job it really helps

[Gman400]

Been playin for about 2 years and never thought of this despite knowing many scales and chromatic excercises. Should be pretty easy but definately very useful.

[a0kalittlema0n]

althought its kinda obvious that you should do things like this to strengthen your fingers nice lesson

[The Stranger]

yeah, crank up that metronome for a challenging woodshop workout!

[fullamularky123]

dude that was a great lesson i've never really done excercises before but man made my fingers burn. thanks i'll use it often

[GuitarLezGirl25]

this is really good. my hands are really weak thanks. its good.

[jrnjd]

I really need to start practicing serious. I hope this helps, It sounds like it has helped others. I grasp the concept of pinch harmonics and have been practicing for a few days, I havent quite got that really cool "squeal" yet but we are getting there. Thanks

[bigal_85]

Newbie Rocker :
Yeah I like the article but another suggestion would be to practice bends in your workout, Play the 9th fret on any string and try to bend the 7th fret to match the pitch of the ninth fret and so on bending will also help to build caluses. But the article is good.

Yeah i agree, also you can practise them with only one finger to build up strength, work out that pinky! another thing you could try to make the exercises above slightly more challenging is do it all, but with only one finger. then change so each finger gets a work out. although you will have to change pulloffs to slides...

[bigal_85]

some of the famous guitar players don't use their pinkys like "SLASH"

may as well use your pinky if you can! p.s good way to strengthen hand-jamming!!

[carterb]

Amazing **lession**! Also, alternate picking makes this a 2 for one.

[arguy337]

Hey this is pretty neat

[Guitar-Nooby]

Nice one... ima practise it, good way to strengthen hand( advise for ppl - use the pinky and ring finger excercise the most, they the weakest fingers)

P.S Slash is da man

[stephen scott]

Great Stuff i will use these excercises
in my warm-ups. Thanks

[jackfey]

Hey! do you have some EXERCICES ON BASS GUITAR!!!ANYONE THERE WHO CAN HELP ME PLS.....

[wags296]

Great Lesson thanks

[Lead guitarist]

Im gna start doin this now, my pinkys weak n doesnt responde fast. Thx for the exercises

[Alex212]

Nice lesson. Got only one question; how are you supposed to pick the notes with your right hand? Is it allowed to use only one finger? (with plectrum) Or do you have to use all the fingers on the right hand?

[simonjw87]

Nice lesson, to the person saying slash doesnt use his pinky, if u watch the velvet revolver - slither video he does, and on some live videos

[Guitar|Freak]

Great lesson.

[depthofdrowning]

Great lesson. I have noticed a considerable difference after doing this for a while.

[engstrom]

This was really good.. not only easy to understand but using this feels great, and after doing it for quite some time I can see noticeable improvements.

Thanks mate! Great job!

[boboguitar]

I like it. My fingers are getting a lot faster and stronger.

[fender-rocker14]

I Think this is a great lesson.My pinkie already feels alot stronger.i'm gonna keep practicing part c to work on my pinkie/ring fingers.and an addition to my warm up i'm gonna play a simple riff all with one finger and then keep changing my fingers...it works, i tried it with blackdog....well anyways.Great Lesson!

[SL!!!]

dan_the_pie wrote:

semen
nuts
*****
rectum
anus
cock

uhhhhh...was there a need?

great article though.

[josh_oster]

i just got my guitar and dont know any of the vocab really....so what does hammering and pulling off mean?....is it like striking the note and then pulling your finger off/on the fretboard or something?

[WrathOscuro]

Excellent. I'll definitely bookmark this and try it whenever I can.

[cameronbingo]

sweet. pls write article describing guitar phrases (eg. what are licks etc)

[Lord Waltaa]

loveley warm up dude great lesson
you earn a 10 for that... it helped me a lot

[SsPunk]

BLEHTWAS GOOD

[burningcowsrule]

battleofla wrote:

Peter Shilton, the old england goalie, used to squeeze tennis balls to keep his fingers strong, the same applys for guitar.

So give your balls a squeeze.

*p.s. the article is good*

Sigged!

And also, very nice article

[silv3r]

Thanx man!!! These exercises r reli KWL!

[Supadude]

Nice one!

[GuitarH3ro]

Wow thanks my ring finger,pinky finger seem to weak and this helped alot!

[shamankingster]

Great warm ups. I use the exercises before i play to stop my stiff fingers. They work very well. I recomend them to beginers who aren't realy fast to help increase speed :

[JuNiOrWaFfLe]

Swicked!! i liked it! too bad you cant spell lesson :P

[deathinfire2112]

u ripped this off rusty cooley...not bad however.

[xtaste0fcha0sx]

works very well..and helps with my pinky...which is pratically useless

[Hunter14180]

How long should you practice these exercsies for each day, and how long in terms of months / years before your fingers become as strong as they ever will?

[Chisao]

wow man this lesson actually changed my life. thx!

[godofthesunn]

It burns, ahhhhh

[Joboffal]

great lesson, thanks alot, pinky says thank you.

[Jesse Nouveau]

I've been playing for about 5 years, but theses lessons are still very helpful, say, a day or two before I'd play a gig to loosen up. If you're a beginner, I highly suggest to practice these daily. But even if you're of intermediate or a higher experience, they're still useful, as I've given my example. =)

[Jesse Nouveau]

I'm also surprised how few people ripped on this "lession" by the way...

[ZaM ZaM RoCkeRz]

This is very helpful... *shaking my hand* It's quite painful in the hand when you use the ring and pinky only... But, hey, it's a good lesson... Well, at least it strengthen my hand and more control on my pinky... Thanx and \m/ RawK oN \m/

[Violet_Strummer]

Hey Thanks! It helps Mr. Pinky a lot

[MrCarrot]

Brilliant lesson, helps dexterity too. I've played seriously for about 1 year and was playing baseball-bat, not using my pinky and my fingers were flailing. Now I'm satrting to get it under control

Seriously, thanks a lot.

[ledcaveman]

cool, im gonna try and sweep those things lol never really thought u could do more stuff with those 1-2-3-4's lol gd job

[198x]

Cheers for this. I've read this a couple of times but forgot to thank you for this lesson.

I've been doing the old 1-2-3-4 for ages I never knew how week my pinky finger was until I done this individually.

[ecolitsky]

Nice! c",)

[gamejokerr]

Nice im practicing with my pinky =)

[id105]

not bad.. thanks

[eddiesclone]

I say you need to correct spelling errors. Great lesson though.

[muse-aholic13]

great lession =p

[SG6578]

Fantastic...builds dexterity and finger strength...should add some new fret combo's though.

[kevin_vocals_09]

Very good!! it really helped me alot thanks!!!

[trivium_rock]

thanks i feel the stretch in my fingers after i did it loads thanks

[mosh_rocker2006]

I never thought i could do one excercise so many times!!...thanks a bunch dude!!

[Metalic Demon]

great lesson but i havent got a clue what a pinch harmonic is!!!!

[Jake-Everitt]

I hope this helps, and judging by the rating, it most likely will!

[degraw14]

I know i'm like the 1 millionth person to say this but its simple yet very useful. Awesome work!

[Hillwouston]

Nice i had no idea how weak my pinky was

[happy-and-lost]

Great lesson. You get 10 times the workout if you apply it to a bass as well

[Noitalevier]

Hmm, 3 of my fingers are good, but i got a pinky problem lol. Even when I spread my hand it bends towards the ring finger O.o Anyone know a way to help my pinky so that it can quit bending? >.< Oh, and good lesson, I could've used it to the fullest if i didnt have that pinky problem. lol XD

[TalithaK]

I am really beginner at this stuff...but this seems like a pretty good exercise

[Addis Ababa]

eh...

[GunsNRoses2332]

I wasnt able to do solos be4 because my hands weren't strong enough thanks alot man

[fthelife15]

the exercise is easy if you just relax your whole fretting hand and press gentle it works try it just try not to think to hard and relax your hand and keep it light as a feather it worked for me

[Led Zepper]

Woah, great lesson, very very good, I started to notcie results within the first 20 minutes great work!

[bayotka2006]

what if pain persist?

[t3l3caster]

that was rather good, thanks for that mate

[dawiese]

I've always wondered how to place the thumb when practicing riffs. Should the thumb pad be placed directly behind the neck, or should the neck rest in crotch of the the thumb and index finger?

[bradwhiteuk]

Wow my little finger (pinky as you americans call it) sucks ass. I've been playing for 2 months and the only exercies I can't do are c and f. I need to work on that a bit harder methinks. Thanks for makin me realise how much I suck lol

[skatingslash]

Practice C helped the most

[OzzysGrrrl]

I can do it, but it'll take some time to speed it up...nice lesson...I can feel my hand muscles working

[ely07]

good lesson,..two thumbs up to you mate..

[dcookie87]

short and sweet... *****

[melitjuh]

very good

[omgiplayguitar]

theres a site called metronomeonline.com its free plus no download

[xX Royal Xx]

Hey, thanks for the tips

[demonmouse500]

Nice lesson, it showed me just how retarded my pinky is. Definitely have to work on that.
Kudos.

[Spiggy]

wow, thanks for this lesson, it's great!

[ShadeBlade1990]

Hey thanks this has been the most useful lesson i've used so far

[ShadeBlade1990]

dan_the_pie wrote:

semen
nuts
*****
rectum
anus
cock

se riously was this nesecary

[thrash3x6master]

yea man sweet. i can basically play any notes with just three fingers, but i know i should start using my pinky more often. this helps

[Jk3y]

I never got the chance to thank you because I only joined as a member a while back and when I was started this helped me, To this day I still warm up with these (although I slack off a lot more now)

Just want to say Thanks!

[cjmancol]

i don't know what 'hammering' is....could you also teach me that?hehe...

[LiquidFox]

That dude read my mind about cursing...Bad ass tips man.

[TheCatsPyjamas]

This is really helpful, after a few goes my pinky was playing just as strong as my index. Thanks man.

[jblacksher]

Simple yet helpful. I came into this as intermediate and didn't realize my pinky sucks. Thanks for the help

[ski8ah]

This is amazing =]

I can feel my hands getting less tense
the more I do them

[adfrocker13]

those exercises are on the speed kills 2 dvd

[Spaded_Ace]

EXCELLENT

[killerboy22]

to easy

[tolis]

PERFECT

[adamlovesbcrich]

Great exersices! I really need some warm up stuff. Thanks!

[DIFTWOOD]

ill try it

[UnearthMetal]

instead of buying a metronome, if you like, there is an online free metronome thats not bad at all by D'Accord

[Displace]

great workout man. thanks a lot for it.
i need to work on not straining up my pinky when I do workout c though. but thanks all the same. it's perfect for a beginner like me.

[08L1V10N]

c is painful when hammering