Technique Building Exercise

Start with your first finger on the fifth fret of first string. Strike note with a downstroke. Next, place second finger on sixth fret of second string, and play note with an upstroke. Then, place first finger on fifth fret of second string, and play note with a downstroke. Lastly, use your second finger to hold down sixth fret of first string, and play with an upstroke. Begin this cycle again, for at least 30 seconds, taking care to play all notes evenly, and at equal volumes.

Once you've played the first step of this exercise for a reasonable length of time, try moving smoothly to this second pattern. Using the same fingers (one and two), play the same frets as above, except on the first and third strings. Take care not to vary your alternate picking pattern. Play this one for at least 30 seconds as well.

Keep moving up the strings. Play this same pattern on all the strings. For the final stage in the first phase of this technical exercise, play notes on the first and sixth strings. Again, pay careful attention to your technique, and make sure it remains flawless. Play for at least 30 seconds. At this point, you can either begin playing the above exercises in reverse, or move on two phase two of this technical drill.