Learn to play guitar

In continuing with the string skipping techniques we learn in the previous free guitar lessons, the next series will reinforce your right hand technique, a necessity for anyone who wants to learn to play guitar.

Learn Guitar: Alternating 3 strokes per string/String skipping

The first exercise uses the three strokes per string as used in the last of your guitar lessons, plus adjacent strings.  Once again, since you’re using three strokes per string and using the alternating picking style; you’ll start with a down stroke for the lowest string and an up stroke for the next string, and a down stroke for the next one, and so on.  Regardless off which string or note you’re playing, you’re always playing down-up-down-up.

Starting on A (first finger, sixth string, fifth fret)
A# (second finger, sixth string, sixth fret)
B (third finger, sixth string, seventh fret)

Then skipping strings:

G (first finger, forth string, fifth fret)
G# (second finger, forth string, sixth fret)
A (third finger, forth string, seventh fret)

Then the adjacent lower string:

D (first finger, fifth string, fifth fret)
D# (second finger, fifth string, sixth fret)
E (third finger, fifth string, seventh fret)

Then skipping strings to the third string, and continuing the pattern throughout all six strings.

Learn Guitar: Alternating 2 strokes per string/String skipping

The next in this series of guitar lessons is similar to the previous learn to play guitar lessons, but only using two strokes per string:

Starting on A (first finger, sixth string, fifth fret)
A# (second finger, sixth string, sixth fret)

Then skipping strings:

G (first finger, forth string, fifth fret)
G# (second finger, forth string, sixth fret)

Then the adjacent lower string:

D (first finger, fifth string, fifth fret)
D# (second finger, fifth string, sixth fret)

Then skipping strings:

Then skipping strings to the third string, and continuing the pattern throughout all six strings.

Once again, we use the same guitar picking technique in these guitar lessons called alternating picking.  In fact, you can use these with any beginner guitar lessons you come across when learning how to play guitar.

Learn to play guitar: Variations

All the exercises in the above learn to play guitar lessons can be play ascending and descending, once you hit the high E string play the exercise in reverse and work your way back down to the low E string.

You can also play these learn to play guitar lessons as you did in the how to play guitar lessons in the previous chapter, where after you reach the high E you shift back to the low E but up one fret…or down one fret.

You’re bound to find some interesting combinations that you will use when you’re soloing, but…

This chapter of learn to play guitar is for ingraining the alternating picking style into your right hand.  There are some secrets for soloing (which we will cover in future guitar lessons, but it all starts with a solid foundation which you achieve through practicing.

Your right hand technique, enhanced with these guitar lessons, is your speaking voice.  While your left hand does determine “what” you say (which note), your right hand determines how you say it.  Are you shouting? Are you whispering?  Your right hand provides all the vowels and consonance, and articulates what you are saying.

Great job with these guitar lessons!