Proper Practicing Guitar Lesson
Proper Practicing
There is nothing more valuable than your time. In this introductory phase 2 lesson, Matt reviews some basic practicing exercises so that you can get the most out of your practice time.
Taught by Matt Brown in Rock Guitar with Matt Brown seriesLength: 29:00Difficulty: 2.0 of 5
- Hammer-ons This exercise is designed to enhance the tone, rhythm, speed, and accuracy of hammer-ons. It's a really easy exercise to learn, but it really improves your left hand. This exercise is a must if you want to work on strengthening your pinkie finger.
- Kirk Hammett's Excellent Right Hand Exercise. Taking the left hand out of the picture allows you to really focus on your picking. Right hand speed is contingent upon two factors: economy of motion and speed. The first of these is the most important. Right hand speed is created through repetitious accuracy rather than simply moving your hand quickly. The first exercise focuses on these right hand mechanics. It is primarily designed to develop right hand speed, accuracy, and palm muting.
- Semi-Chromatic Right Hand Exercise This exercise focuses on the same skills involved in Exercise 1. It is very important to vary which exercises you practice. This is an exercise physiology concept that ensures maximum muscle development. The muscles in our body have memory. By performing tasks that they are less used to, they receive more benefit.
- Right Hand String Skipping Exercise 3 is straight from Villa Lobos' Etude No. 1. It works your ability to play arpeggiated passages in which your right is required to skip one or more adjacent strings.
- Right/Left Hand Synchronization AKA THE MOST IMPORTANT EXERCISE EVER! Playing cleanly (not with notes that accidentally are muted) requires careful planned timing between both hands. The left hand must fret the note before the right hand picks it. Eliminating wasteful movement enhances the accuracy of both hands. Matt explains "good classical left hand technique" alongside this exercise.
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Bending:
- Make sure you practice bends of varying intervals.
- Make sure all bends are in tune.
- Don't hurt yourself! Don't bend strings that are bigger than what you are comfortable with.
-
Tremolo Picking:
- Keep your wrist straight and pick using movement from the forearm
- Pull your pick closer to your palm with your thumb and first finger to create a sharper angle between the pick and the string.
- Rest your right hand on the bridge.
- Exercise 1 Designed specifically to develop left hand speed by strengthening both the extensor and reflexor muscles in each left hand finger.
Supplemental Learning Material
Rock Guitar with Matt Brown
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsChuck Berry among others pioneered the style of rock and roll in the 1950's. Today, rock and roll remains the most popular genre of music. Over the years the genre has progressed & spawned many sub-genres: soft rock, classic rock, punk rock, and more. Dive into this Phase 2 set of lessons to become a master of rock.
Lesson 1
Proper Practicing
Learn how to get the most out of your time when practicing.
Length: 29:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Introduction to Lead
Matt Brown discusses some of the fundamentals to playing lead.
Length: 15:41 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Figuring Out Notes
Matt shows you the basics of figuring out any note on the guitar.
Length: 7:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Scales
Learn the basic minor, natural, and major scales. Quite a few techniques & ideas start with scales - they're an essential building block.
Length: 34:15 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Major Scales
In this lesson, Matt takes you through the major scales & helps you to understand how they can be used.
Length: 20:25 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Natural Minor Scales
Matt teaches the most common natural minor scale patterns.
Length: 13:24 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Bending
Learn & master the most popular types of bends.
Length: 27:48 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Sweep Picking & Rakes
Learn sweep picking and string rakes.
Length: 18:36 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Solo Techniques
Learn various techniques to use when improvising / soloing.
Length: 12:51 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Tuning Down
Matt explains the most effective way to tune your guitar down.
Length: 7:18 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Barre Chords
Learn how to establish finger independence and a few tips and tricks with barre chords.
Length: 37:18 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Rock Licks
In this lesson, Matt Brown introduces a rock lick and shows how several famous players have modified it.
Length: 19:30 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Rock Sequences
In this lesson Matt teaches some crucial rock sequences. He also explains how these sequences can be integrated in to your playing.
Length: 34:52 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
String Skipping
Matt Brown focuses on string skipping technique. He provides several exercises designed to improve this aspect of your playing.
Length: 33:09 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Intervals
Lesson 15 in Matt's rock series is all about intervals.
Length: 34:47 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Rock Lead Guitar
Matt Brown demonstrates lead guitar techniques using Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion" as an example.
Length: 29:24 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Solo Using Diatonic Scales
Matt Brown explains which scales can be used when playing a solo over a diatonic progression in a major key. As an example, he teaches the solo section to Candlebox's song "Far Behind."
Length: 33:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Diatonic Natural Minor
This lesson covers the natural minor scale and diatonic natural minor progressions. Matt uses the solo section to "Stairway to Heaven" as an example.
Length: 24:55 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Right Hand Technique
In lesson 19 Matt provides instruction on developing right hand skills including string skipping.
Length: 26:38 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Non-Diatonic Progressions
In lesson 20, Matt discusses chord progressions that don't follow a diatonic tonality.
Length: 29:07 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Harmonic Minor
Matt begins to discuss and demonstrate the harmonic minor scale.
Length: 29:46 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Improvising Over Harmonic Minor
In lesson 22, Matt continues his discussion of the harmonic minor tonality.
Length: 14:36 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Sweet Child O' Mine
In lesson 23, Matt takes a look at the solo section for the song "Sweet Child O' Mine."
Length: 19:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Today
Matt will be taking a look at the solo section from the live version of the Smashing Pumpkins song "Today."
Length: 7:29 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Back in Black
Matt Brown reviews and discusses the solo section to AC/DC's hit "Back in Black."
Length: 9:34 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Brother
In lesson 26, Matt will be covering the solo section from the Alice in Chains song "Brother."
Length: 9:42 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Matt's Rock Manifesto
Matt Brown discusses lead guitarists, what makes a good solo, and tips for your own lead playing.
Length: 41:06 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Legato Playing Exercises
Matt Brown teaches a number of exercises aimed at improving your legato playing technique.
Length: 37:16 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Right Hand Exercises
Matt Brown demonstrates a few exercises to build skill and speed in your right hand.
Length: 15:06 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
String Skipping Etude
Matt Brown teaches Heitor Villa-Lobos' 1st Etude as a lesson in string skipping.
Length: 38:47 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Three Octave Scales
Matt Brown demonstrates how to play three octave versions of the minor pentatonic and the major scales in all 12 keys.
Length: 16:56 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Diatonic Intervals
Matt Brown demonstrates how to play all seven of the diatonic intervals within the framework of a horizontal major scale.
Length: 23:01 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Diatonic 7th Arpeggios
Matt Brown discuss diatonic arpeggios as a theory lesson as well as demonstrating the technique.
Length: 9:55 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Diatonic 7ths Across the Neck
Matt Brown explains how to play the diatonic seventh chords of the major scale. Similar to lesson 32, this lesson takes a horizontal approach to the fretboard.
Length: 10:46 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Solo Ideas #1
Matt Brown teaches a progression and accompanying solo to demonstrate ideas for creating your own.
Length: 21:34 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Solo Ideas #2
Matt Brown takes a look at another chord progression and solo.
Length: 17:29 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Legato Playing Ideas
In lesson 37 of the Rock Series, Matt Brown demonstrates and talks about legato playing ideas.
Length: 21:24 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Rhythm Concepts
Matt Brown switches gears in lesson 38 to start talking about rhythm concepts for rock playing.
Length: 27:44 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Compositional Techniques
Matt Brown discusses some often used techniques to build effective rock compositions.
Length: 17:27 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Creative Chord Voicings
Matt Brown shows off some ways to add some creativity and originality to your rock chord voicings.
Length: 11:59 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Lead Approach
Matt Brown takes another look at his approach to soloing. He demonstrates ideas you can use in your own playing.
Length: 12:10 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Lead Approach #2
Matt Brown adds practice to his lead approach by giving you another chord progression to solo over.
Length: 7:14 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Lead Approach #3
Matt Brown has another chord progression and solo exercise to go over in this lesson on lead approach.
Length: 10:25 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
String Skipping Revisited
Matt Brown takes another look at string skipping. He breaks down some key areas of Matteo Carcassi's Allegro as an exercise.
Length: 16:29 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
About Matt Brown
View Full Biography
Matt Brown began playing the guitar at the age of 11. "It was a rule in my family to learn and play an instrument for at least two years. I had been introduced to a lot of great music at the time by friends and their older siblings. I was really into bands like Nirvana, Alice In Chains, and Smashing Pumpkins, so the decision to pick up the guitar came pretty easily."
Matt's musical training has always followed a very structured path. He began studying the guitar with Dayton, Ohio guitar great Danny Voris. I began learning scales, chords, and basic songs like any other guitarist. After breaking his left wrist after playing for only a year, Matt began to study music theory in great detail. I wanted to keep going with my lessons, but I obviously couldn't play at all. Danny basically gave me the equivalent of a freshman year music theory course in the span of two months. These months proved to have a huge impact on Brown's approach to the instrument.
Brown continued his music education at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. He completed a degree in Classical Guitar Performance in 2002. While at Capital, he also studied jazz guitar and recording techniques in great detail. "I've never had any desire to perform jazz music. Its lack of relevance to modern culture has always turned me off. However, nothing will improve your chops more than studying this music."
Matt Brown currently resides in Dayton, Ohio. He teaches lessons locally as well as at Capital University's Community Music School. Matt's recent projects include writing and recording with his new, as of yet nameless band as well as the formation of a cover band called The Dirty Cunnies.
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Member Comments about this Lesson
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Hi, Matt: For playing-while-standing, what do you recommend for the height and angle of the guitar? Thank you!
I adjust my strap pretty much the exact same way regardless of whether I'm sitting or standing. The strap should be adjusted such that your left bicep is exerting the least amount of energy to hold your left arm up. For most people, the neck will form a 45 degree angle with the ground. The body of the guitar will most likely rest against your abdomen rather than your right leg. Once you have your strap adjusted like this, just stand up! Then, make any necessary minor adjustments. I bring my strap down just a little since I have relatively long legs and a shorter torso.
matt, why not rest your hand on the bridge?
When you're playing string skipping stuff, anchoring your wrist limits its range of movement since its fixed to a certain location. It's just way easier to skip from the sixth string to the first string quickly when your wrist isn't locked in one spot.
and again with the resting or not resting your hand on the bridge question, I find when i play better styles, songs, techniques sometimes with my hand resting on the bridge or not resting on the bridge
Lots of great stuff that is saving me wasted time and energy. Thanks Matt!
Glad to hear it! That's what I was hoping for!
Regarding the hammer-on exercise. Do I need to use alternate picking or just downstrokes. Maybe not a very clever question but I just want to get things right.
I usually do it with just downstrokes...I like to keep things simple when possible.
i vote for 3-1-2-4 as the hardest of the synchronization excercise.
yep...that one is definitely a tough one.
Matt, i have a question regarding the Kirk Hammet low E string sixteenth note and sixteenth note triplet exercises. Should i increase speed within the 3 minutes or stay at the same tempo for 3 minutes and increase for the next 3, etc?.
Within the 3 minutes, keep the metronome at the same tempo. Then, if you can, increase the tempo the next time you repeat the exercise.
All great exercises. I've just one question that doesn't seemed to be covered anywhere. How do you work these exercises while standing up? I'm guessing most guitar players actually stand up during performances and the techniques must be different from sitting down, which I noticed myself. Like how far up do you strap your guitar? Do you have it lower or higher while standing or?
Hi! Good question. Technique is exactly the same regardless of whether you are sitting or standing up. The key is making sure that your strap is adjusted properly so that you can play just as comfortably standing as you can sitting down. Check this lesson out for more info: http://www.jamplay.com/members/guitar/phase2/matt-brown-14/lesson9.html
Matt, I have developed what I consider a pretty good practice routine using a combination of your practice drills and the drills Dennis Hodge presents in the Metal Section. The improvement has been awesome. Despite my progress, I struggle to play the 16th note repetitive riff at the beginning of Slayer's Raining Blood. It is a simple pattern of 5-3-2-0, 6-4-3-0 played on the low E. The tab shows part at a mind numbing 218 BPM. I struggle to play this clean at 96 BPM. The problem is the left hand just cannot keep up. Is there a technique or trick to playing this fast, or is it simply practice, practice, practice?
Hey! First and foremost, your entire body has to be as relaxed as possible to play all of that crazy fast thrash stuff. Second, developing speed is like training for a sport. You consistently have to practice almost every single day, or you will lose endurance and speed. Another thing to consider is that the Slayer guys are some of the fastest players on the planet. I learned Rain in Blood as a teenager. I think I had been playing for about 7 years at the time. I got pretty close to the recorded tempo, but not quite all the way there. So, it's going to take some serious time and practice before you can pull a song like this off. I recommend you start practicing the song in its entirety. Start at around 85 beats per minute and make sure that you can play the song start to finish with absolutely no mistakes. Then, go up to 86 and repeat the process. It will take you at least several months if not years to get to the recorded tempo, but if you hang with it, I guarantee you'll get there.
im british and i drink tea
Hi Matt: Regarding the hammer-on drill ... You show examples using the index & middle fingers and middle & ring fingers. No drill involving the index & ring fingers?
Hey! Good question. You're right...this particular exercise doesn't give you any practice playing a hammer-on between fingers 1 and 3 or fingers 2 and 4. You could easily include these combinations though. For example, hammer-on from the first fret to the third fret with either of these finger combinations. Then, just continue the pattern like I demonstrated in the lesson.
Matt, I am not clear on how to count the 16th note triplets or how to pick them? Should it be down-up-down, down-up-down? BTW - Could not believe how hard the 16th note down picking "only" was. I expected it to be easy, but the repetitive motion got to me about 2 mintes in. Great lesson and just what I needed to improve technique.
Great! I'm glad that you're improving! I originally learned these from an interview / lesson with Kirk Hammett. He mentioned that these are some of the right hand exercises that have helped his speed and endurance the most. As far as the picking pattern for sixteenth note triplets (sextuplets) is concerned, the pattern is down-up-down-up-down-up. It's just alternate picking.
Ok, so straight 16th notes are 16 notes per measure and counted: 1-e-&-a, 2-e-&-a, 3-e-&-a, 4-e-&-a. 16th note triplets are 24 notes per measure and counted: 1-trip-let-&-trip-let, 2-trip-let-&-trip-let, 3-trip-let-&-trip-let, 4-trip-let-&-trip-let. Is this correct?
Yep! Sounds like you understand this. There are a few different ways to count sixteenth notes and sextuplets out loud. The two ways that you listed will definitely work though.
the hammer on exercise sounds like something from mario bros.
Ha! I never noticed! It does kind of remind me of the music they play in the underground type levels.
I kind of went backwards... I learned my first song then I went into Chromatic scales and such. It helps A LOT to practice scales and other finger exercises before learning a song. Especially if the song has a solo... -_- Thanks for the variable exercises Matt, I'll use them every day.
Hey! I'm glad that you're finding these exercises useful! I learned most of these exercises over 10 years ago, and I still practice them on a daily basis. There's always room for improvement!
I was surprised how much it worked my ring and pinky fingers. If then cant strengthen them nothing will it sees... Whew tire fingers.
Yeah...These exercises are great. Make sure that you don't over do it though. Pain does not equal gain when it comes to improving your guitar skills.
this really could've helped during the football season
Brilliant, just what i needed to know :)
Yea my schedule is booked with dungeons and dragons.
Such a GREAT lesson!! Thanks so much!
This is what I've been missing. I always practice my guitar but I never know how to really exercise or how to work on my technical work. Thanks
Glad you found this helpful! Good luck!
I can't find the right hand string skipping exercise, the one "straight from Villa Lobos' Etude No 1" as said in the lesson information.
Hey! If you check out jazz lesson 9, there is a complete transcription of that piece under the Supplemental Content area.
The Trill Exercise in the supplemental content shows a broken link. Help please. Great lesson.
Excellent exercicies!
Is it wrong to use my pinky as an anchor with my right hand? I noticed you dont in any of the exercises. Is there any loss in accuracy, speed, consistency or range of the motion? Plus, for fast picking, should the picking motion come from the wrist or the fingers?
In a one of the rock lessons with Brad, he mentions to use the pinky as an anchor. Can you please clarify this for us Matt
From what I understand (from hearing 2 dozen different teachers give their input on the topic), this is a matter of personal preference. It is 'proper' not to use it (provides more mobility / fluid motions) but a lot of people advise using it. I've also seen a ton of great guitarists (famous guys/gal) use it as an anchor.
exactly what Kevin said.
The Hammeron exercise is hard.
Yeah, that is a tough one. Just keep in mind that every new skill is hard at first. Work at it slowly, and you'll get it.
This lesson is great! I've been doing the exercises everyday since I've first seen this lesson and I can see that my technique as improved alot. Thanks Matt
Hi Matt I can't see the trill exercise in the supplemental content. Could you help me?
Excellent lesson Matt! I'm looking forward to continuing this series.
Great lesson Matt. Like iserious, I wanted to play songs, went straight to phase three and realized I was being a little unrealistic. I found this lesson and will try to do a little each day. Already I can see how it will benefit and your comment about doing these exercises first makes a lot of sense as I have the attention span of a goldfish/ low boredom threshold, and if I start playing songs, I never go back to do exercises. The pinky problem made me laugh as mine still sticks up about an inch off the fretboard and it drives me nuts! I'm so glad to know this is a common problem for beginners. I have already learnt more from the few of your lessons I've done than I did in the year I spent with my old instructor. Your awesome!
ok so no matter how hard i will my pinky finger to stay close to the string it still jumps out to far is there some exirise i can do to trian it because no matter how hard i try and ive been trying for weeks now it still dosnt respond
Great stuff Matt, thanks so much - on thing though Between the intro and second lesson - the text on the string should say 'deXterity', yes? Other than that - really great help to me Jess
yo mat how long did it take you to get it sounding good?
teach metallica's (one) matt
I'm a Brit and have have diligently practiced keeping my pinky down as you taught. Now I can't drink tea properly and am ostracised by my peers. I may have to sue
Yeah, and all these good technique exercises made me late for my fencing class, the chess club demoted me, and my D&D clan won't even talk to me now that they know I'm learning guitar -- j/k, great lesson Matt, your dry humor keeps my attention!
I bet your D&D clan secretly wishes that they could play guitar too though. Thanks for the feedback!
Lets get visuals of all those different scales in the Teaching Tools section; that would be great!
It's a work in progress. We're working on a "scale library" for you guys.
The finger exercises are fantastic, like anything else you must practice practice practice. I do right hand exercises while the commercials are on during football. At age 49 I have alot going on so I try to utilize time when I can. Thanks Matt.
Matt - When I first started here just over a week ago I casually through some of the site content and was particularly interested in the songs section (3). Being a complete novice I'm sure you can imagine what it was like trying the Stairway to Heaven lesson. I was sorely disappointed - thinking you were going much too fast and barely lifting your fingers off the fret board made it difficult to see exactly what you were doing. Same is true of the scales lesson. Now for the irony - I've since gone through things a bit more methodically I've come to understand the *reasons* for all these "mistakes". Having listened to some of your lessons repeatedly it started making sense! Above all, I must say that THIS LESSON bought it all together. I know understand that you're SUPPOSED to keep your fingers close to the fret board and that the reason you're so agile is precisely because of exercises such as those taught in this lesson. I've tried it with marked improvements in less then an hour! Matt - You've since become my favorite instructor! Thanks & keep up the great work!
Thanks a lot for the feedback! I'm glad you're enjoying the lessons. I still practice these exercises on a weekly basis, and I always run through them before a gig. If you need help with anything in the future, feel free to send me an email or something.
One more thing... I was just looking at the practice regiment again - you had mentioned there are 16 possible combinations of 1234. Help me out if I misunderstood, I can come up with 24 combos: 1234 1243 1432 1423 1324 1342 2134 2143 2431 2413 2314 2341 3124 3142 3241 3214 3421 3412 4123 4132 4213 4231 4312 4321
Sorry - My bad. Ignore the 16 part. Just replayed the lesson and did in fact say 24. Though maybe the combos listed will be helpful to some people
This is a great lesson matt, I just started this series. Ive been playing guitar for about 2 months now, and for about a month, everyday I would practice most of these routines. Its really helped me alot. Also beats the hell out of paying 50$ an hour for a guitar tutor :D
Glad to hear it! Keep up the good work!
Thanks for the answer, all hope is not lost then ! And after 2 weeks of exercices, I already feel I gained a lot of dexterity and coordination - learning songs is just that much faster now.
Matt is absolutely right! When I first started my pinky was all over the place except where I wanted it. Now I use it more than my third finger. I can't use my third finger for "A" shaped barre chords cuz it won't bend back at the first knuckle but my pinky works great for the barre! It did take at least a couple of years to feel comfortable and in control of it though!! Keep on rockin' it'll happen!
This is a very common problem amongst guitarists. It took me three years of diligent practice before I felt like my pinky and brain were totally synced up. Keep working on the excercise, but don't drive yourself crazy. Work at it a little bit each day. Like I said, it will take you a few years. Just keep doing what you are doing!
Hey there. I have been trying to get a pratice routine worked up (thanks for the exercice ideas, they really help). There is just one thing that is still a problem when practicing. When i do chromatic like / scales exercices, my fingers stay pretty close to the fretboard, but sometime and for no reason my pinky comes up. And when I do the hammer on exercice between my fingers 2/3 and 3/4, sometimes my first finger straigtens up. Do you have an advice to keep those down, or should I just keep practicing harder ? It really feels like they get disconnected from my brain, and beside the "hoh sh*t loosing control of my fingers" unpleasant feeling, I can't seem to find a way to train those to stay down.