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T.R. · #1 August 29th, 2005

Hi everyone,

I've just started playing guitar and I havn't had the chance to look this whole website over yet but Im wondering if there are any exercises that would help me move along the frets faster other than just practice?

allthumbs · #2 August 30th, 2005

Hi.TR. You should be able to google tons of stuff for that. A basic is go up and down the strings 1finger to each fret on each string. Start on the top string , play the first 4 fret then move down to the next string and repeat till you have played the 6th string then move up one fret for the frst finger, which would be the 5th fret and repeat across all strings going from the bottom string to the top this time and then move up one fret etc. til you can't reach any higher and then work your way back down.
Look at where you are weakest and make up your own ways to practice.
hope that helps

allthumbs · #3 August 30th, 2005

Keep in mind with the above exercise, that you want to move the finger that has played a note to the next string over right away.. That is the secret for playing faster, anticipate where your next note will be and get your fingers there before the notes are played. Same idea with chords, decide what finger shapes are going to help you change chords faster, see if one finger or more share common notes between 2 chords or having the index finger free to start playing the next chord while the other 3 are playing the first chord.

Spyder F16 · #4 August 31st, 2005

Yep. Always make it easy to change over to the next chord.

Depending on what progressions are occuring, I may play a E minor in several different fingerings (Although still on the same two strings). If i anticipate on moving over to an A Minor, or throw in an E Major after it, I usually will play it using my middle and ring finger. Otherwise, I usually use the standard Index/middle combo.

But still, practice is the main way of building speed. When you practice enough, you will build muscle memory needed to go back to the chord shapes quickly.

Pete · #5 August 31st, 2005

Another common technique to smooth out chord changes in a beginner is to use the last half-beat as an up-stroke in common time to change ie: 1 2 3 and 4 and. In the case of the last ""and", the fingers are in mid-air, positioning for the next chord.
The same thing works in 3/4, of course.