Last Updated on March 29, 2021 by Klaus Crow
I couldn’t resist the temptation to write one final post on notes-per-string licks.
I just love ‘m! They’re great for warm-ups and to work on your alternate picking.
Previously I wrote a post on 2-notes-per string called “10 Smoking 2 Notes-Per-String Licks to Rock On!” and a 3-notes-per strings article (my most popular post) “21 Cool 3 Notes-Per-String Exercises”, but today we’re gonna take it one step further and dive into some 4 notes-per-string exercises for the adventurers among us.
You can play all 4 notes on each string with all your four fingers, that would be a nice finger stretch exercise which is good for building strength and reach. Or you can play it a more easier way which feels and sounds really nice too. You can see below the tabs with which fingers to play each note.
i = indexfinger, m = middlefinger, r = ringfinger, p = pink
Building speed:
– First play the exercise slow a couple of times.
– Memorize the exercise.
– Gradually increase your tempo. (play the exercise a couple of times)
– Now play the exercise slow and accurately. (a couple of times)
– Increase your tempo a little more. (play the exercise a couple of times)
– Rest for a minute or 2. (strum some chords in the meantime)
– Play the exercise slowly. (a couple of times)
– Increase your tempo and relax your muscles. (play the exercise a couple of times)
– Increase your tempo some more.
– Repeat the whole thing over and over.
Rock on and be cool!
EXERCISE #1 (G major scale)
e:---------------------------------------------|
B:---------------------------------------------|
G:--------------------------------9-11-12-14---|
D:---------------------7-9-10-12---------------|
A:-----------5-7-9-10--------------------------|
E:--3-5-7-8------------------------------------|
e:---------------14-15-17-19-------------------|| B:--12-13-15-17--------------------------------|| G:---------------------------------------------|| D:---------------------------------------------|| A:---------------------------------------------|| E:---------------------------------------------||
EXERCISE #2 (G minor scale)
e:---------------------------------------------|
B:---------------------------------------------|
G:-------------------------------8-10-12-14----|
D:--------------------7-8-10-12----------------|
A:----------5-6-8-10---------------------------|
E:-3-5-6-8-------------------------------------|
e:---------------13-15-17-18-------------------|| B:--11-13-15-16--------------------------------|| G:---------------------------------------------|| D:---------------------------------------------|| A:---------------------------------------------|| E:---------------------------------------------||
EXERCISE #3 (G Melodic minor scale)
e:---------------------------------------------|
B:---------------------------------------------|
G:-------------------------------9-11-12-14----|
D:--------------------7-8-10-12----------------|
A:----------5-7-9-10---------------------------|
E:-3-5-6-8-------------------------------------|
e:---------------14-15-17-18-------------------|| B:--11-13-15-17--------------------------------|| G:---------------------------------------------|| D:---------------------------------------------|| A:---------------------------------------------|| E:---------------------------------------------||
EXERCISE #4 (G Minor Blues scale)
e:---------------------------------------------|
B:---------------------------------------------|
G:---------------------------------12-15-17-18-|
D:---------------------10-11-12-15-------------|
A:----------5-8-10-13--------------------------|
E:-3-6-8-9-------------------------------------|
e:--10-13-15-18--------------------------------|| B:---------------------------------------------|| G:---------------------------------------------|| D:---------------------------------------------|| A:---------------------------------------------|| E:---------------------------------------------||
Hi Klaus. Signed up for your mailing list about four days ago and received confirmation, but didn’t get the download link to your e-book, which sounds invaluable. Could you send me the link? Thanks a lot. –GL
Hi Greg,
If all goes well, you have just received the link in your emailbox. The link is also at the bottom of each new post you’ll receive by email.
Best regards,
Klaus Crow
Please include me in your posts and link to your e-book thank you Michael.
please pt me in your mail list gd staff!!
thanks.vic
Hi Vic,
You only have to verify via the link in your email.
I just sent you the Free Ebook!
Best regards,
Klaus Crow
Dear sir I just found your site few days ago even @59 poor sick broke but your work and your teaching really inspire me I would like to tell you Ia\m really appreciated I wish I could learn something and go to my coutry to give back to the next generation what I’d learned from you Thank’you very much sir.S.I
This definitely helps with the alternate picking. Great post as usual.
Hi,Klaus. The scale of Exercise #3 is wrong. It´s not “G Harmonic minor”(1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 ) but “G Melodic minor” (1 2 b3 4 5 6 7).
Regards
Hi Paco,
You’re right. I immediately changed it. Thanks for mentioning!
Best regards,
Klaus Crow
Do you suggest a particular 3 finger or 2 fingers. I would vary 123 and 345. 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 4 and 5, Thanks Klaus. good stuff Joe Francis