Some Helpful Guitar Playing Tips
to help you play the guitar correctly

Study the following guitar playing tips for correct guitar playing techniques and hand development. Practice the strokes till you are able to do so easily and automatically.

Correct Hand Techniques and Development

Guitar Tips: Which Type Of Pick

In most pop and rock music, a plectrum is used. The type of pick used will affect the color and tone of the instrument. Selecting a good pick is crucial to correct hand development.

Note that a light pick is normally used to strum through chord changes while a hard pick is best used for solo work.

It best to go through a selection of picks and see what are your requirements and what suits you best.

Guitar Tips: How To Hold A Pick

When holding a pick, strive for a relaxed fore arm and wrist.The pick is held between the right thumb and index finger, reverse if you are left handed. Keep the pick in a steady position and try not to let it slide about. It is best to keep the palm of the right hand on the guitar or near the bridge. The right hand fingers can be rested on the pick guard.

Guitar Playing Tips: Playing Down Strokes

Click here to download Exercise #1

Play the 3rd string G open. Hit the note, one by one with a down stroke. Try to get an even tone on each note, aiming for a balanced volume between the notes. Play the notes as uniformed as possible in terms of volume.

Go to the 5th string, A open note, use a down stroke for each of the note. Strive for equal volume between notes.

Approach the 6th string, use a down stroke for each note. Listen to the balance between the notes. To the best of your ability, strive to get a balanced tone between the notes.

Guitar Playing Tips: Using Up Strokes

Click here to download Exercise #2

On the 1st string open E, use an upstroke for each of the open strings. Listen for the evenness of volume between the notes. Do not hit one note louder than the other but try your best to make the notes uniformed in volume.

Note that movement comes from the combination of the wrist, thumb and index finger.

Go through the 2nd, 3rd,and 4th strings in the same manner.

Guitar Playing Tips: Up and Down Strokes

Click here to download Exercise #3

Practice the up and down stroke regularly as this will help you to develop better plectrum technique. Much of the speed picking techniques begin with up and down plectrum exercises. The development of the correct hand technique, is crucial in executing fast passages.

Play the 1st string E open for the down stroke, and use the up stroke on the 2nd string B note. Play this in a continuous manner. Observe the down, up motion. See that only the wrist, thumb and index finger are used.

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Notes: The various strokes can also be used for strumming chords. When you approach a chord, the first beat is always a down stroke.

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Click here to download Exercise #4

View the chords and its positions. Work it out and when you're ready, we will play through these changes.

Apply the above chords. Strum through these changes using only up and down strokes.

Adjust the plectrum so it does not slip from the fingers. Avoid too much pressure on the left hand and keep a comfortable steady tempo when playing the changes.

Relax and you will enjoy playing the guitar.

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