Guitar Speed Exercise No. 3

Guitar Speed Exercise No. 3

Chromatic Variation 1

So, we've been discussing the power of the chromatic scale
and as I had mentioned before, with any type of patterning,
a large amount of customizing can be done. I had also
mentioned that I would show you a few more ways that you
can alter the chromatic scale, to keep your fingers guessing.

This one is a small alteration, but believe me, the slightest
change in familiarity makes all the difference.

In this example, we'll continue to move up a semi-tone/half step
(one fret), but at the peak of the chromatic run, we'll actually
gain a note. We will achieve this by sliding our pinky (on the
fretting hand) up to another note.

As an example, if we are the high E, and we go 1,2,3,4, our
pinky is now on the forth fret. We slide our pinky up to the
5th fret, and start the descend from that fret.

This is very important as this accomplishes 2 key factors.

1. Instead of an even, alternately picked 4 frets, you're
now including an uneven alternately picked 5 frets.
Your right hand coordination is developing evenly with
your left hand coordination.

2. This is the start of learning how to glide around the
fretboard.

In future articles, I will show you ways to train your
hands to glide around the fretboard, so that you may
break away from being trapped into the infamous "box
shape".











click on image to enlarge

I didn't finish the transcription, as you will notice, because
if I were to have notated the entire exercise, it would have
taken up pages and pages. Starting at an even tempo and
using this formula, go as far as you can up the neck.