Best technique exercises??

[jmv]

Okay so i played guitar for about 6 years or so, and i was okay at it for my level of experience i guess. I took lessons with a guy who was really talented, but basically all i ever did was learn songs that i kinda liked.

I took a while away from guitar because i was pursuing other musical endeavors..... namely, drumming. Mostly rudimental and solo-type percussion drumming, not drumset. As a drummer i've learned many different 'boring' repetitive exercises that lead to a much better fundamental understanding of how to harness movement. This has lead me to the point where i can participate in an ensemble that competes at a national level....

I'm looking for this same sort of thing for guitar. Learning songs is fun, but i just need something to experiment with and play sheerly for the technique and fluid understanding of the instrument.

Can anyone help me out?? It may be difficult to explain via internet, i'm not sure, but i will say i'm well versed in most musical terminology if that makes explaining things any easier.

Thanks,
Jason

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: Best technique exercises??

Play the scales in two octaves - Major, All of it's modes, Melodic and Harmonic Minor.

Play the scales in thirds (1, 3, 2, 5, 3, 6 etc) then fourths, fifths, 6ths etc.

Pick a jazz standard (something like autumn leaves) and arpeggiate it. By that I mean, start with quarter notes and play the intervals - 1, 3, 5, 7, of each chord. Then go at it again with 8th notes - 1, 3, 5, 7, Octave, 7, 5, 3. And go through the entire progression, increasing your speed when you can play it cleanly. It cleaned up my playing ALOT.

 

[subanots]

Re: Best technique exercises??

can you explain that to someone who doesnt know theory?

 

[jmv]

Re: Best technique exercises??

can you explain that to someone who doesnt know theory?

if you know your scales, basically all the numbers that he's throwing out there are just the different members of the scale (3 being the third note that comes in the scale when you start in the traditional spot, for example). Its a bit hard for me to explain it better than that via the internet, if you can be more specific with your questioning i could certainly try and help you out some more.

I appreciate the tips TimmyPage, i particularly like the autumn leaves idea. I've got an ear training teacher who uses that song for everything.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Best technique exercises??

a friend of mine showed me this violin exercise that his classical guitar teacher taught him and it improved his playing and cleaned him up ALOT. I dont remember how it goes, but it involves a non linear movement that skips strings...but once applied to muscle memory u can play things that used to 'twist ur fingers'.

 

[carpfishy]

Re: Best technique exercises??

It's all about the scales bro. Learn as many scales as you can and see how they relate to chord progressions.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Best technique exercises??

I'd say get The Guitar Grimoire and learn all the scales and exercises in it. They gave me essentially the same thing when I was taking college level piano lessons: Schmidt's Preparatory Exercises. They're almost identical in concept to each other. That's what I'd recommend. Thanks!

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Best technique exercises??

I'd say get The Guitar Grimoire and learn all the scales and exercises in it.

Searching Amazon, there are about 8 different books with that name. Any standouts?

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Best technique exercises??

Searching Amazon, there are about 8 different books with that name. Any standouts?

:boggled:

The Guitar Grimoire - The Exercise Book

Oddly enough mine is green with white lettering (almost looks like a Dungeons and Dragons book :boggled, but looks like the other ones with that circle of fifths on the front (the thing that looks like an occult symbol lol).

Anyways, that should be the right one. ISBN number is 0-8258-3565-8 on mine.

 

[SCOTT502]

Re: Best technique exercises??

Like has been said several times already....learn and practice scales. But take the rudiments that you practiced for say the snare drum and apply them rhythmically to the guitar. For example take a simple para-diddle rhythm and walk down a scale fragment with it....

Start on the high E string, use your pinky as a pedal tone on the 12th fret and work your way down....then back up...


----12--10--12--12--10--12--10--10--12--10--12--12--10--12--9--9--12--9--12--12


///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


9--12----------12------12--12-------12-----------12-------12--12-------12---------
-------12--12------12-----------12-------10--10-------10-----------10-------9--9--

-etc.

This will not only help you develop scale knowledge but also RT/LFT hand coordination as well.

Just like rudiments for drums....practice sloooowly with a metronome.

Have fun!

 

[jmv]

Re: Best technique exercises??

practice sloooowly with a metronome.

thats where the real fun is!

 

[edsmith]

Re: Best technique exercises??

I can suggest books by Troy Stetina, Carl Culpepper, and Musicians Institute. That's all you need to get started.

 

[FrankAxtell]

Re: Best technique exercises??

you might want to check out jazz guitar virtuoso Jimmy Bruno....he gives lessons online...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQChYrqUQzE

 

[Wattage]

Re: Best technique exercises??

Hey J good to see you around.

If you can find it a great book is -

Rick Derringer's Rock Guitar Secrets