Remodeling The Way You Use Chords

This first example is dedicated to individually picking each string in order from the 6th string to the 1st string. This slows your playing down to focus on each individual note. This may seem basic, but it's the foundation we will build from. Don’t just pass over this exercise!

In this exercise, we'll remove some notes from the first example. This pattern focuses on playing 4 notes ascending and 4 notes descending. This will break up the monotony of the first exercise and focus on separating the lower tones from the higher tones.

This exercise is much like the second, but we shift the pattern. Here you will ascend 3 notes and descend 5. This is to shift the higher tones forward in the measure, creating an imbalance compared to exercise two and changing the feel.

In this exercise, we will challenge you further. This pattern requires you to skip a string and return to the one below it. Pick the 6th string, then the 4th, then return to the 5th. Focus on lifting your pick to cleanly cross over the muted string.

This exercise incorporates a little bit of everything. The beginning is an ascension from the 6th to the 4th string, followed by three descending sections. Each descending section will require you to skip strings to begin the descent.

This pattern is a challenge for you to analyze and master. More importantly, it's a prompt to consistently think of new ways you can play chords by picking individual strings instead of only strumming.