By: Dr. Matt Warnock
Welcome to Day 1 of GI’s series, “30 Days to Building Better Guitar Technique: Volume 1,” glad you’re here. These articles, the first volume in a multi-part series, lay out 30 exercises to develop better left and right-hand technique. Though these exercises may seem simple to some of us more experienced players, they are staples of the daily routines of guitarists of all level, both professional and non-professional alike.
Check out all 30 exercises on the Better Technique Volume 1 Page
The exercises are presented in order of easiest to hardest, but if you feel like mixing things up to provide an extra layer of variety in your practice routine this month feel free to do so. I suggest spending about 10 minutes a day on each exercise. And always work with a metronome.
These exercises are designed to slowly build a solid technical foundation through short practice sessions done every day, for a 30 day period.
This is not a “get rich quick scheme” for guitar technique. Instead, these exercises are designed to deliver results in both the short and long term, while not eating up all of your practice time, leaving you with ample time to pursue other guitar interests.
So get out your axe, turn on your favorite metronome, pour your favorite hot beverage and get ready to Increase Your Guitar Technique in 30 Days!
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Today’s exercise is going to focus on a simple concept, but one that provides proven results over time, when practiced slowly and with proper technique.
When playing through this exercise make sure to keep your left-hand fingers curved at both knuckles, so your fingertip is the only part of your finger that touches the strings. If you find your fingers going “flat” slow down the exercise and focus on getting those fingers nice and curved.
Your left-hand thumb should be behind the neck of the guitar, sitting about half-way down the neck and pointing to the ceiling, as if you’re hitchhiking.
Remember, go slow! The goal is not to rip through these exercises. The goal is to develop good, fundamentally sound muscle memory. This will allow you to play fast and not have to think about your technique, as you’ll already have trained your muscles to play correctly.
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About the Author
Dr. Matthew Warnock is a jazz educator and performer in Manchester, UK. He owns and operates www.mattwarnockguitar, a free online resource for jazz guitarists and is on the faculty of the Leeds College of Music. You can connect with him on Facebook as well as sign up for his free weekly jazz newsletter, where you’ll get free copies of his ebook “10 Essential ii-V-I Licks” and “5 Essential Jazz Scale Techniques” when you sign up.
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30 Days to Building Better Guitar Technique Volume 1: Day 2 | Guitar International Magazine (1 year ago)
[...] of the same technical aspects of the exercise from Day 1 apply to this new [...]
mississippi (1 year ago)
Hi Matt
Nice lesson
Just a thought for this site, you might add Lessons where it says “home about, contact ect.
also if is possible on your lessons add an mp3 sound file, now that would really help us for the rhythm patterns greatly
and thanks again Matt
mattwarnock (1 year ago)
thanks Mississippi, I’m going to release an ebook of all 30 days, with added practice material, rhythmic variations, right hand (pick and finger) variations etc in October and I’m thinking mp3′s would be a nice addition. I’m also thinking about doing videos as a follow up to demonstrate each exercise, stay tuned for more updates! and you should be able to find the home/about/contact at the top of the screen on each article, hope that helps!
30 Days to Building Better Guitar Technique Volume 1: Day 3 | Guitar International Magazine (1 year ago)
[...] of the same technical aspects of the exercise from Day 1 apply to this new [...]
30 Days to Building Better Guitar Technique Volume 1: Day 4 | Guitar International Magazine (1 year ago)
[...] of the same technical aspects of the exercise from Day 1 apply to this new [...]
30 Days to Building Better Guitar Technique Volume 1: Day 5 | Guitar International Magazine (1 year ago)
[...] of the same technical aspects of the exercise from Day 1 apply to this new [...]
30 Days to Building Better Guitar Technique Volume 1: Day 6 | Guitar International Magazine (1 year ago)
[...] of the same technical aspects of the exercise from Day 1 apply to this new [...]
mississippi (1 year ago)
Matt
What I was thinking of is that the site add an additional “Lessons” thread where they have the “home about contact” if they add “Lessons” there , then we could find all the lessons by the editors or teachers such as you
again for all the work you are putting into these execises, great stuff for me to practice
mattwarnock (1 year ago)
Hey Mississippi,
We’re one step ahead of you! We’re working on getting a “Lessons” tab in the top bar that will link to all the lessons on the site. It should be up very shortly. Thanks for the suggestion!
30 Days to Building Better Guitar Technique Volume 1: Day 7 | Guitar International Magazine (1 year ago)
[...] of the same technical aspects of the exercise from Day 1 apply to this new [...]
30 Days to Building Better Guitar Technique Volume 1: Day 8 | Guitar International Magazine (1 year ago)
[...] of the same technical aspects of the exercise from Day 1 apply to this new [...]
30 Days to Building Better Guitar Technique Volume 1: Day 9 | Guitar International Magazine (1 year ago)
[...] of the same technical aspects of the exercise from Day 1 apply to this new [...]
30 Days to Building Better Guitar Technique Volume 1: Day 10 | Guitar International Magazine (1 year ago)
[...] of the same technical aspects of the exercise from Day 1 apply to this new [...]
Better Guitar Technique Volume 1: Day 12 | Guitar International Magazine (1 year ago)
[...] of the same technical aspects of the exercise from Day 1 apply to this new [...]
Better Guitar Technique Volume 1: Day 14 | Guitar International Magazine (1 year ago)
[...] of the same technical aspects of the exercise from Day 1 apply to this new [...]
Better Guitar Technique Volume 1: Day 16 | Guitar International Magazine (1 year ago)
[...] of the same technical aspects of the exercise from Day 1 apply to this new [...]
Better Guitar Technique Volume 1: Day 18 | Guitar International Magazine (1 year ago)
[...] of the same technical aspects of the exercise from Day 1 apply to this new [...]