Does it sometimes feel like your picking hand is out of sync and your fretting hand’s accuracy is all out of whack?
In this lesson, I will teach you an acoustic guitar exercise that will introduce speed, accuracy, independence, and control to both your fretting and picking hand.
This exercise will help you increase your fretting hand accuracy and finger independence as well as your picking hand’s accuracy and overall control.
Plus, at the end of the lesson, I’ll show you how to progress through this exercise so it continues to help you on your guitar-playing journey.
Originally published on December 22, 2018, this post was republished on September 13, 2022.
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How to Practice Acoustic Guitar Exercises
Now that we know what practicing these exercises can do for your guitar playing, I’m going to break it down step by step.
Follow along with the video as you go through it the first time, and don’t be discouraged if it takes a while to get up to speed!
These exercises are all about taking it slow, getting the movements into your muscle memory, and challenging yourself from there.
You can call it “The In and Out Exercise” when you’re just starting out. But when you’ve got the basic sequence down and you’re ready for a challenge, call it “The Annihilator!”
Step 1: Learn the First Part of the Sequence
This first part of the sequence uses the B string and the high E string. Keep in mind that for this part of the sequence, you will always be picking down on the B string and up on the high E string.
The First Part of the In & Out Exercise Looks Like This:
- First fret of the B string [downstroke]
- Second fret of the high E with your middle finger [upstroke]
- Third fret of the B string with your ring finger [downstroke]
- Fourth fret of the high E string with your pinky finger [upstroke]
Step 2: Flip It for the Second Part of the Sequence
The second part of the sequence is essentially the first part in reverse:
- First fret of the high E string [downstroke]
- Second fret of the B string [upstroke]
- Third fret of the high E string [downstroke]
- Fourth fret of the B string [upstroke]
During this part you’re always going down on the high E string, and up on the B string.
Step 3: Combine for the Full Sequence
Now perform both parts of the sequence together – ideally with a metronome if you have one on hand – in a loop over and over again.
It’s going to sound weird, kind of like music in a horror movie, but remember, this exercise isn’t about the musicality of the notes – it’s about training your hands to work in unison while picking and fretting accurately.
Step 4: Move Down the Strings
Awesome – you’ve nailed the sequence and shape that you’re going to use for the rest of the exercise!
Now it’s time to move that shape so that your fingers get used to performing this exercise on multiple pairs of strings.
Here’s how it goes:
- Start on the low E and A strings and perform the full sequence.
- Drop it down and play the full sequence on the A and D strings.
- Drop it again and play the full sequence on the D and G strings.
- Continue with this pattern through all the strings!
Step 5: Move up the Fretboard
Now, you can play the whole thing in reverse, going back up the strings, but on a different fret.
- Shift all of your fingers forward one fret.
- Perform the sequence back up the strings, finishing on the low E and A strings.
- Shift your fingers forward again.
- Play the sequence, moving down the strings, finishing on the high E and B strings.
- Rinse and repeat!
Keep playing the sequence up and down the strings, shifting up a fret each time you get to the top and bottom.
Practice it until you can play comfortably at a consistent speed – then ramp up your metronome a few BPMs and keep going!
Did you find this exercise helpful? Well, there’s a whole lot more on the guitar workshop that I created. It’s called Tony’s Acoustic Challenge and includes a whole bunch of content like picking exercises, chord charts, soloing tips, and more.
I use this weird, kind-of-backwards technique that will catapult you from guitar dabbler to serious guitar player in no time at all.
Watch the FREE guitar class to learn the three things that will help build a life of consistent guitar playing in just 10 minutes a day.
What guitar is that?
It appears to be a Santa Cruz Vintage Southern, but I’m not 100% certain. It’s definitely a Santa Cruz. The vintage southern model was sorta inspired by a Gibson J-45. Tony’s guitar sounds absolutely great, beautiful articulation on single notes and chords.
Is Tony sending us a secret message ala “Paul is dead”, or am I the only one seeing this. Something occurs on Tony’s ring finger nail starting at 1:14 and again at 1:32, continuing sporadically thru out the video. I see the letter F on his ring finger nail. PS, I love the lesson.
Nice. Really helps. Thanks
Killer exercise. Thanks
Yes my fretting hand accuracy is sometimes “out of whack” but it usually occurs when string skipping – especially 2 or more strings – which this exercise does not address. I will try this anyway. Thanks.
Use it and when you got it try doing it as you skip string oairs
The eliminator exercise I was thinking if the problem is when skipping strings use the pairs but instead of doing them in order practice skipping a pairs
Love this! …”only” 60bpm?
This was a great little exercise. I need to practice it some more so I can play it up the fretboard without making any mistakes. After that, I will speed it up.
Thanks! this exercise seems really cool.and with lots of potential.to loosen up my stiff fingers.
Thanks, Mr. Tony
I am in the process of guitar rehabilitation after numerous surgeries, transplants, and internal organ diseases for the heart, liver, kidneys, ect., add to that I quit guitar playing 20 years ago at an advanced stage of competence. My mind remembers all the theory structure, scales, songs, solo’s of Southern Rock playing, (think Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allmon brothers, Z/Z. Top etc.) but my body has not been able as yet to bring it all back to my life. So, thanks for the simple exercise to help me along towards eventual soloing again to Freebird, Hiway song, Whipping Post, Tube Snake Boogie, etc., I do and have always loved the guitar and soloing with madness. I so much in my heart want those abilities back once more. Guess I am getting desperate in my old age of 67.
67. Me too, A string of injuries and illnesses. Me too. Delight in building back my physical and musical skills. Absolutely. Keep the faith brother
That’s fun! It looked like a great way to tie my fingers in knots, but turned out to be easier than expected. Of course, I haven’t tried it at a faster speed yet….! I think this will be a regular part of my practice – should work for fingerpicking, too. So much to learn, so little time ….
Like this exercise very much!! Thanks!!
Totally like this exercise!! Thanks
That kind of reminds me of an exercise is saw a few weeks ago called the spider exercise. I will try this out tomorrow when I get up
When looking at the clock it’s 5:06am so it’. Morning
Woah, now THIS IS A CHALLENGE for sure. The way the fingers alternate between strings gives me the imagery of basket weaving (I know, I know, whaaaa????). Essentially each finger trades places between each coming string. Kinda cool, but oh man is it hard. I‘ve always struggled with that darn metronome and my head getting ahead of the beat, so this really forces me to stay on beat, pick each string cleanly and if I mess up, so what! Just pick up on the next string combo. Muscle memory is really on high alert now. Thanks, Tony!
good stuff, thanks
Great exercise. I’m always looking for exercises that focus me on practicing technique to help my right hand. I will add this to my daily warm up. Just one I’ve learned out of many on my almost year at TAC. Thanks,
Are you watching your left hand as you do this exercise or do you try to do it without looking?
In general, you should start by watching your fingers intently. Sight is an essential component of motor learning. After you’re completely fluent (or think you are) try it with eyes closed. That’s where you’ll discover how well you’ve actually learned it. With daily practice, you should be able to get it up to speeds north of 150 bpm with eyes closed.
Tony – # small win – FINALLY have figured out how to hold the pick and get that “lever-motion” you have talked about many times before. This video — isolating the fretting AND picking hand — give me my light bulb moment. Now onto practicing to make it really sink in. Thanks.
Hi Tony–I’m working on it….it’s hard but a great challenge.
Hi. This will help me indeed. As an intermediate player this will certainly help me be Like Tony. Thanks for your help. This is a good time investment. Will continue to follow Tony’s acoustic Tuesdays
THANKS Tony, makes me feel better about your e-mail about hitting the complete button at the end of a lesson. I guess its about the journey not the destination. Thanks
Thank you.
This is a great exercise, I have been working on it every day for the past week and I have notice a clear improvement in my single note picking when I play anything.
Well clicked on every lesson n it goes to something else
I need to know if you can help me on the electric guitar with TAC.
I enjoyed the exercise for beginners! It helped me feel like I actually learned a technique for future playing! I’ve had lessons before and all I heard was practice your chords! I’m in for your challenge if it’s not to advanced
Tony I cant believe its something I can do and even share with mt daughter who is trying to learn to play at school. It is a fun and great way to train your hands with mine being so weak this helps me a lot. Im slow but its ok now I can get a good ground work going . Thanks
Hi Tony it’s Dan just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate your videos. I have been playing guitar since I have been 10 years old, and I am now 62. I recently had a stroke, on the left side and the dexterity it’s not there anymore. However watching your videos has got me interested in trying. A big part of recovery is trying. Just wanted to thank you forgetting me back interested in doing something that I thought I would never be able to do again. Is slow going and very frustrating, but with your encouragement, and excellent knowledge, and teaching skills I have rekindled the flame and the passion I always had. Is becoming fun again. I am looking forward to a very basic beginning and continuance to play. Thank you once again Tony I appreciate your videos. You’re awesome. Dan
Good lessons. Right amount of talking and playing
Thank you Tony. This is the kind of material i need. Looking forward to getting this down.
Thank you so much for your generous gift.will be working on this exercise daily from now on..ro
Hi Tony would real like to move on in my dream of playing so I can play at my sons wedding. I have been dreaming of doing this for a few years now and have finally went out and purchased a Martin OMPCA4R a little extreme but only want to learn on the best please send me more excerpts from your site thank you.
Nice, thanks Tony. I had 2 lessons when I was a kid, you’re so much more dynamic than my first teacher who showed me a more basic version of your”inside out” exercise, and he showed me the spider walk with I haven’t done either for many years, but I do know they help. So Tony I’m a young 63 year old guy, and as I reach retirement age I do hope to return to this hobby, and be able to play the way I once did, and more. Thank you again for the lesson. ☮️
awesome technique to practice with cant wait to start this exercise
My left hand has always out-run my right because I learned the “Hammer-on/pull-off” method at an early age. I wish someone had told me this 40 some odd years ago. This will help in the flat picking for sure.
Hey Tony great exercise for me . My fingers sometimes get lost on the fret board and feels rather weak at times. Thank you for the videos you put out!
as a rank beginner, I find it really hard to spread my fingers enough to cover four frets on the keyboard. Are there exercises or techniques to better position or “expand” my left (fretting) hand? Note: I have large hands and fingers so this is frustrating.
Thank you Tony. Excellent exercise plan. I will practice the exercise every day.
very good idea Tony. I am waiting on my 1957 Gibson that my dad bought me, to get done being tweaked back into shape. It has sat for over 20 years. I just got frustrated with playing the same old stuff. I recently bought my son a nice guitar to learn to play, so now I want to learn all over again, but maybe be able to actually play well. When I get my guitar back, I plan on looking into your system more. I cannot read music, I played by ear and just practiced and learned after being shown some basic chords. I hope these old hands and fingers can limber up and make some music again. I do like your easy way of talking to us out here in computer land.
Thank You For Sharing these nuggets of Gold towards my Guitar Journey!!
Enjoyed your lesson….I am a beginner at 68 years old ….still young thinking but my brain is not as fast as younger !!!
Hard for me but I’ll try real hard