Lesson 3 Guitar: Basics Fretting Exercises

by Mickey Cochran

Acoustic Guitar Website Map • Return to Lessons Section • Return to Homepage

We will now start our focus on the fretting hand...we are trying to establish a solid foundation, and gain some dexterity, before we start learning our first tune.

Fretting Exercises

Make sure you're in a comfortable position to both flatpick and fret the neck simultaneously. We have established the importance of keeping rhythm with methodical down and upstrokes matching your tapping foot. We will now utilize the same exercise but incorporate our first C scale exercises.

In the follow exercise, each number represents a fret within the first four frets of your guitar.
Which finger to use follows:
First Fret: Index Finger (first finger)
Second Fret: Middle Finger (second finger)
Third Fret: Ring Finger (third finger)
Fourth Fret: Little Finger (fourth finger)

All of the following studies are played completely with all Downstrokes...we're focusing on learning to properly fret our instrument and do not need to make it more complicated by adding eighth notes. This is a great time to start learning how to read standard notation.

Practice the above exercises until you are completely comfortable with fretting and picking simultaneously without hesitating between beats. Remember, these exercises are considered accomplished only if you're keeping an even tempo without losing a beat.

Acoustic Guitar Website Map • Return to Lessons Section • Return to Homepage

---