My Advice To Beginner Guitarists

So, you have decided to learn to play the guitar. Congratulations! You have made a great choice. If you are willing to work hard, you will enjoy a great sense of accomplishment and personal satisfaction as you learn to play the guitar.

Begin Your Practice Sessions With Finger Exercises

It is important to warm-up as you begin your daily practice routine. There are several techniques you can employ as you prepare to practice. In this lesson I want to briefly mention some fingering exercises that you may find useful. These techniques will help you loosen your fingers while increasing your flexibility and dexterity over time.

Begin your guitar practice session by flexing your fingers rapidly for a minute or two. Create a rhythmic motion by balling your fingers into a fist followed by extending the fingers fully in rapid succession. Add a second part to this exercise by including a galloping motion with the fingers of each hand while your thumbs are extended. Combine both parts of the exercise in rapid succession for approximately one minute.

This should loosen your fingers and increase blood flow to the hand without triggering the onset of fatigue. As you become accustomed to this daily exercise, you may want to consider adding a minute or two to the warm up process. Be careful not to over-do it. It is possible to increase your flexibility and hand strength by adding time to this warm-up exercise, just be sure to do so gradually.

Another good exercise to add to this regimen is to spread your fingers as far apart as possible. Using the fingers of one hand, spread the distance between the index and middle fingers as far as possible.

Repeat this process between the middle and ring fingers, and the ring finger and pinky. Spread the fingers as far as possible and flex the separation action in and out. Repeat this process for several minutes. The goal is to increase the flexibility in your fingers and stretch your reach.

The long-term results of these exercises will increase flexibility, co-ordination and dexterity. The immediate results will include increased blood flow to the hand and fingers. It will also raise your level of finger awareness. Try closing your eyes and concentrating on your fingers during these exercises.

The goal is to develop solid stretching, strengthening and flex techniques. As you add these and similar exercises to your practice routine, your guitar playing will improve. It is not as fun or glamorous as burning up your favorite guitar riffs on-stage, but it does work.

It is also beneficial to use grip strengthening devices