Tips to Help You Get Better at Guitar

Many children grow up dreaming that one day they’ll be playing lead guitar in their band to a crowd of 50,000 people. The guitar is fun, and it is an advantageous instrument to learn and play. However, just because it’s fun doesn’t mean that its easy or doesn’t require practice. Unfortunately, for many individuals just learning the guitar, practice tends to be where they lose hope. Sticking with it and persevering can be challenging but, we promise, it will be worth it in the end! Here are a few finger exercises to keep in mind to help you progress on the guitar.:

Hold Your Fingers Down on The Strings

Easily, the toughest thing to get used to when you’re beginning to learn the guitar is holding your fingers in place without pain. Without calluses, it can be challenging to hold guitar strings down in place and play them. Be sure to hold the strings in place and start switching the positioning of your fingers to ensure you’re familiarizing yourself with the fretboard. Holding your fingers down on the strings is great resistance training and will help improve the strength of your fingers.

Use The 1-2-3-4 Technique

The 1-2-3-4 technique is a very popular guitar exercise that guitarists of all skill levels use to master their skills. To perform this technique, you need to know that each of your fingers are numbered. Disregarding your thumb, your index finger in #1, your middle finger is #2, your ring finger is #3, and your pinky finger is #4. To begin this exercise, place your index finger on the high E string on the first fret, pluck the string, and then move on to the second fret. After the second fret, keep your middle finger on the high E string and then place your ring finger on the third fret and pluck the string. Follow the same process with your pinky finger. Practice alternate picking and refrain from using a numbered finger on the wrong fret. When you feel comfortable enough with this technique, practice the same thing on the next string over.

Focus on Your Thumb Placement

Holding your guitar in your hand, pay attention to where your thumb is positioned. Every guitarist has their preference where they feel most comfortable placing it; some like to wrap their thumb around the neck of the guitar like they’re hugging it, while others place it directly behind the neck. Depending on the style of music that you wish to play, your thumb will be used differently. If you plan on focusing on soloing and riffing, you may want to place your thumb directly behind the neck, which would allow you more dexterity and the ability to reach the entire fretboard. If you plan on playing open chords, it will be much easier to wrap your thumb around the neck.

If you’re struggling to grasp guitar concepts, reach out to Carillon Music Academy where can assess your current skill set and put you on a track to success.