20 Quickfire Exercises
20 Quickfire Exercises
Exercises
GuitarZoom © 2012 1
20 Quickfire
Exercises by Steve Stine
Intro 3
What you can expect 3
A great side benefit 3
I admit it 4
Practical ways to use this book 4
About the notation 4
“Are you nuts?” 5
Your old friend, Mr. Metronome 5
How to quickly and easily make massive progress 5
A word of caution 6
How far should you go? 6
Ready, steady, go! 7
Zoom! Zoom! 7
Time to play! 7
Exercise 1 8
Exercise 2 9
Exercise 3 10
Exercise 4 11
Exercise 5 12
Exercise 6 13
Exercise 7 14
Exercise 8 15
Exercise 9 16
Exercise 10 17
Exercise 11 18
Exercise 12 19
Exercise 13 20
Exercise 14 21
Exercise 15 22
Exercise 16 23
Exercise 17 24
Exercise 18 25
Exercise 19 26
Exercise 20 27
Final thoughts 28
Intro
Many guitarists have trouble fretting difficult chords, playing certain scales and reaching big intervals. This
book sets out to solve these problems and more.
One of the biggest problems I see routinely with guitarists (especially those who played for less than a
year) is finger strength.
It’s actually not taught much anymore (or maybe I’m just not aware of it). And I don’t understand why.
I almost never hear of instructors giving practice assignments that are specific for building finger strength,
dexterity and agility.
Think about it. If you’re a professional football player how much time do you spend off the field training
your body? You run, lift weights, swim, ride a bike, stretch, etc., all to train your body. Now imagine if a player
decided he wasn’t going to work out. He just wants to show up at game time and play. He’d get slaughtered.
He wouldn’t last 15 minutes on the field with the guys who worked hard to get in shape.
It’s the same thing with guitar. Your hands and forearms are made up of a bunch of muscles, bones and
connective tissue. And you’ve got to train them to do what you tell them to do.
There is an inherent disconnect between what your brain wants to play and what your muscles are capable
of playing. In order to bring your brain and your muscles together in perfect harmony, you’ve got to put in
a little work.
Well... ok, ok. Maybe you won’t be able to do that, exactly. But I will say this. You will be shocked at how
much faster and stronger your hands and fingers get. And not just playing these exercises. You’ll have more
control, in general: more control over your songs, solos and riffs. You will essentially be a much better player.
All these exercises involve your right and left hand. So as your practicing them you’ll not only get a much
stronger and more agile left hand, you’ll also be able to pick with greater speed and accuracy.
I Admit
Ok, I’m going to go ahead and admit it, right on the front end. Playing these exercises isn’t that fun. Ok,
dang it. They’re pretty stinking boring. There, I said it. But you know what, Brett Favre probably didn’t think
running three miles every day was much fun either. But I assure you, he definitely thought winning the
Super Bowl was fun. But without his dedication to training, he wouldn’t have been able to win the big game.
You’ve got to think of these 20 exercises as guitar, boot-camp for your fingers. They are the training your
fingers need in order to play in the “big game.”
In other words, if you want to play the solo guitar part in “Free Bird” (Lynard Skynard) you better get in
shape. Why? Well, because that song is long. I think it’s something like ten minutes. And it has a lot of
hammer-on’s and pull-off’s. It takes a lot of strength, agility and speed.
Or maybe you just want to play in a three-chord, rock band. You still need to have massive finger strength.
Why? Because I used to play in a three-chord, rock band. And even if you’re only playing three chords, after
you rehearse for two hours, you’re going to be tired if you’re not in shape. And you know when you get tired:
you can’t fret your guitar, you’re not able to hold down the strings, your fingers slip, your forearm burns and
your back aches.
The point I’m driving at is this: no matter what your goals are for guitar, having super-strong hand and
fingers is going to be a huge asset. It just can’t hurt.
Most of the symbols you will be familiar with. A few you may not be. For those symbols that might be out
of the ordinary, I’ve created a few notes next to the diagram to explain.
One nice thing about these exercises is that they are atonal. In other words, they aren’t based the diatonic
scales, modes or pentatonic scales. They’re just exercises. So they aren’t supposed to be sweet to your ears.
And you do not want to play these for your sweetheart on the first date.
Anyway, here’s why I like to practice these with a metronome. You get to watch yourself improve day-by-day.
How? Well, when you’re first starting out, you want to pick a relatively slow speed: say, 60 beats per minute
60 BPM and play the first exercise. Now, tomorrow you’ll want to try to increase it to 75BPM, the next day,
go to 90, etc. You get the idea.
And it’s a good idea to keep a journal of your practice. Write down what you practiced and for how long. For
example, you might record that you practiced exercise one for five minutes at 60 BPM. Then a week later
you might notice that you’ve increased that same exercise to 120 BPM! That kind of feedback is good for
you. You should definitely make the effort to keep a journal, or practice log. When you look back a year from
now, you’ll be amazed at how much better you’ve gotten, in such a short amount of time.
until you can add. And you can’t bypass the first nineteen exercises and jump to number twenty. That won’t
work. You need to go in order.
What I suggest is that you practice number one for five minutes, at a given BPM. Tomorrow, you practice
number two for five minutes. The next day, number three for five minutes and so-on and so-forth. Then after
twenty days you will have been exposed to each one at least once.
At the end of those twenty days, you start to put more than exercise into your practice routine. For example,
you might have a five day practice routine where you play four a day (5 X 4 = 20). Because you’ll be getting
stronger and faster, you’ll be able to play more exercises in the same amount of time.
When you really get smoking, you’ll be able to do say one exercise per minute. So, in ten minutes you’ll have
half of these done! That will put you on a two-day routine (ten one day, ten on the next).
Keep in mind that these are just suggestions. You should definitely adapt these ideas to your own
personality, skill level and goals.
A word of caution
This probably goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. If you ever feel any pain whatsoever while you’re
playing these exercises, stop immediately. Put your guitar down for a day or at least the rest of the after-
noon and come back later. You don’t want to go hog-wild with these things. You can get hurt if you over do
it. I’d say about ten minutes is enough (maximum).
Use good common sense. You wouldn’t sign up for the Boston marathon if you couldn’t even run two miles
would you? It’s the same principle. You need to gradually build your fingers strength. Just be patient with
yourself and go at your own pace.
Keep in mind that speed cannot come until you have control. Always, always stay in control. You don’t want
to ever feel like the guitar or metronome is a run-away freight train. Those things wreck, and that’s no fun.
Play within your means and gradually increase the speed. In the end you’ll be glad you did.
Zoom! Zoom!
If you are viewing this book in Adobe Acrobat you might want to zoom in to make reading the tab for each
exercise a little easier. Here’s how to use the zoom function in Adobe Acrobat Reader. When you have the
document open in Acrobat, click on the “+” button on the toolbar to zoom in. Click the “-” button to zoom out.
It’s easy!
This document is created so you can easily browse and jump through pages using Bookmarks panel in
Acrobat Reader:
Time to play!
Well that’s enough talk. It’s time to play. So grab your favorite beverage, lock the door and get to work. You’re
going to have the strongest hands and fingers on the block!
Exercise 1
Note: You can play these exercises in different rhythms e.g. quarter notes, 16th notes, 32nd notes, swing 8ths, etc.
However, make sure that your rhythm is consistent throughout.
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
4
2 3 4 5
2 3 4 5
2 3 4 5
2 3 4 5
2 3 4 5
2 3 4 5
7
3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6
10 Etc....
4 5 6 7
4 5 6 7
4 5 6 7
4 5 6 7
Exercise 2
2
12
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
5 4 3 2
5 4 3 2
5 4 3 2
5 4 3 2
5 4 3 2
5 4 3 2
"#
6 5 4 3
6 5 4 3
6 5 4 3
6 5 4 3
6 5 4 3
6 5 4 3
21 Etc....
7 6 5 4
7 6 5 4
7 6 5 4
7 6 5 4
7 6 5 4
7 6 5 4
9
Enjoying these exercises? Here’s what to do next
20 Quickfire
Exercises by Steve Stine
Exercise 3
3
24
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
5 4 3 2
5 4 3 2
5 4 3 2
5 4 3 2
5 4 3 2
5 4 3 2
30
3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6
33
7 6 5 4
7 6 5 4
7 6 5 4
7 6 5 4
Etc....
35
5 6 7 8
7 6 5 4 5 6 7 8
7 6 5 4 5 6 7 8
Exercise 4
4 38
1 2 3 4
4 3 2 1
1 2 3 4
4 3 2 1
1 2 3 4
41
5 4 3 2
2 3 4 5
5 4 3 2
2 3 4 5
5 4 3 2
2 3 4 5
44
6 5 4 3
3 4 5 6
6 5 4 3
3 4 5 6
6 5 4 3
3 4 5 6
47
7 6 5 4
4 5 6 7
7 6 5 4
4 5 6 7
Etc....
49
5 6 7 8
7 6 5 4 8 7 6 5
4 5 6 7 5 6 7 8
Exercise 5
52 5
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
55
1 2 3 4 2 3 4 5
2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 2 3 4 5
2 3 4 5
58
2 3 4 5
2 3 4 5 3 4 5 6
2 3 4 5
2 3 4 5 3 4 5 6
61
3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6
Have More Fun With Your Guitar
Etc....
63
3 4 5 6 4 5 6 7
4 5 6 7
3 4 5 6 4 5 6 7
Exercise 6
6 66
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
69
4 3 2 1 5 4 3 2
5 4 3 2
4 3 2 1 5 4 3 2
5 4 3 2
72
5 4 3 2
5 4 3 2 6 5 4 3
5 4 3 2
5 4 3 2 6 5 4 3
75
6 5 4 3
6 5 4 3
6 5 4 3
6 5 4 3
Etc....
77
6 5 4 3 7 6 5 4
7 6 5 4
6 5 4 3 7 6 5 4
Exercise 7
7
80
1 3 2 4
1 3 2 4
1 3 2 4
1 3 2 4
1 3 2 4
1 3 2 4
2 4 3 5
2 4 3 5
2 4 3 5
2 4 3 5
2 4 3 5
2 4 3 5
86
3 5 4 6
3 5 4 6
3 5 4 6
3 5 4 6
3 5 4 6
3 5 4 6
89
4 6 5 7
4 6 5 7
4 6 5 7
4 6 5 7
Etc....
91
5 7 6 8
4 6 5 7 5 7 6 8
4 6 5 7 5 7 6 8
Exercise 8
8 94
4 2 3 1
4 2 3 1
4 2 3 1
4 2 3 1
4 2 3 1
4 2 3 1
97
5 3 4 2
5 3 4 2
5 3 4 2
5 3 4 2
5 3 4 2
5 3 4 2
100
6 4 5 3
6 4 5 3
6 4 5 3
6 4 5 3
6 4 5 3
103
7 5 6 4
!"
7 5 6 4
7 5 6 4
7 5 6 4
# Etc....
105
!"
6 4 5 3
7 5 6 4 8 6 7 5
7 5 6 4 8 6 7 5
Exercise 9
108 9
1 3 2 4
1 3 2 4
1 3 2 4 1 3 2 4
1 3 2 4
1 3 2 4
1 3 2 4 2 4 3 5
2 4 3 5
1 3 2 4 2 4 3 5
2 4 3 5
114
2 4 3 5
2 4 3 5 3 5 4 6
2 4 3 5
2 4 3 5 3 5 4 6
117
1
1 2 3 5 4
3 4 1
1 3 5 4
3 5 4
119 Etc....
3 5 4 6 4 6 5 7
4 6 5 7
3 5 4 6 4 6 5 7
Exercise 10
10122
4 2 3 1
4 2 3 1
4 2 3 1 4 2 3 1
4 2 3 1
4 2 3 1
125
4 2 3 1 5 3 4 2
5 3 4 2
4 2 3 1 5 3 4 2
5 3 4 2
5 3 4 2
5 3 4 2
5 3 4 1
5 3 4 2
!
130 Etc....
"#
6 4 5 3
6 4 5 3
6 4 5 3
6 4 5 3
Exercise 11 11
Note: For exercises 11 to 14, use the 1st, 3rd and 4th fingers of your fretting hand to stop each note i.e. 1st
finger on 1st fret, 3rd finger on 3rd fret and 4th finger on 4th fret. Alternatively, if you want to give your fingers
a good stretch, you can use the 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers while working on these exercises at a slower tempo.
132
1 3 5 2 4 6
1 3 5 2 4 6
1 3 5
1 3 5
1 3 5
1 3 5
136
2 4 6 3 5 7
2 4 6 3 5 7
2 4 6 3 5 7
2 4 6 3 5 7
140
3 5 7 4 6 8
3 5 7 4 6 8
4 6 8
4 6 8
Etc....
143
4 6 8
4 6 8 5 7 9
5 7 9
Exercise 12
12145
5 3 1 6 4 2
5 3 1 6 4 2
5 3 1
5 3 1
5 3 1
5 3 1
149
6 4 2 7 5 3
6 4 2 7 5 3
6 4 2 7 5 3
6 4 2 7 5 3
153
7 5 3 8 6 4
7 5 3 8 6 4
8 6 4
8 6 4
156 Etc....
8 6 4
8 6 4 9 7 5
9 7 5
Exercise 13
13
158
1 3 5
1 3 5
1 3 5 1 3 5
1 3 5 1 3 5
1 3 5
1 3 5
162
2 4 6
2 4 6 2 4 6
2 4 6 2 4 6
2 4 6
2 4 6
166
3 5 7
3 5 7
3 5 7 3 5 7
3 5 7
3 5 7
169
Etc....
3 5 7 4 6 8
3 5 7 4 6 8
Exercise 14
14171
5 3 1
5 3 1
5 3 1 5 3 1
5 3 1 5 3 1
5 3 1
5 3 1
175
6 4 2
6 4 2
6 4 2 6 4 2
6 4 2 1 6 4 2
4 2
6 4 2
Wanna take the next step and learn your favorite songs?
179
7 5 3
7 5 3
7 5 3 7 5 3
7 5 3
7 5 3
182 Etc....
7 5 3 8 6 4
7 5 3 8 6 4
21
Enjoying these exercises? Here’s what to do next
20 Quickfire
Exercises by Steve Stine
Exercise 15
15
Note: In this exercise, the most intuitive way of playing it is using only the 1st and 3rd fingers of the fretting hand.
However, it would be better to practice this exercise using all four fingers of the fretting hand e.g. 1st and 3rd
fingers for 1st and 3rd frets then 2nd and 4th fingers for 2nd and 4th frets, after which you would shift hand position
as you move up the fretboard.
184
"H" stands for "hammer on". Pick the first note and then "hammer on" the slurred note with the next finger.
H H
H H
1 3 2 4
H H
H 1 3 2 4 H
H 1 3 2 4 H
H 1 3 2 4 H
1 3 2 4
1 5 2 4
187
H H
H H
3 5 4 6
H H
H
3 5 4 6 H
H 3 5 4 6 H
H 3 5 4 6 H
3 5 4 6
3 5 2 4
190
H H
H H
5 7 6 8
H
H 5 7 6 8
H 5 7
H 5 7
5 7
5 7
192 Etc....
H H
H H
6 8 H H 7 9
6 8 H H 7 9
6 8 7 9
6 8 7 9
Exercise 16
16194 Note: In guitar tablature and notation, slurred ascending notes mean that you pick the note at the start of the slur
and then hammer-on the rest until the end of the slur.
1 3 5 2 4 6
1 3 5 2 4 6
1 3 5
1 3 5
1 3 5
1 3 5
198
2 4 6 3 5 7
2 4 6 3 5 7
2 4 6 3 5 7
2 4 6 3 5 7
202
3 5 7 4
6 8
3 5 7 4 6 8
4 6 8
4 6 8
4 6 8
4 6 8
206
5 7 9
5 7 9
5 7 9
5 7 9
5 7 9
5 7 9
Etc....
209
6 8 10
6 8 10
6 8 10
6 8 10
6 8 10
6 8 10
Exercise 17
17
212
2 4 6
1 3 5
1 3 5 2 4 6
1 3 5 1 3 5
1 3 5
1 3 5
216
2 4 6
2 4 6
2 4 6 2 4 6 3 5 7
2 4 6
2 4 6 3 5 7
220
3 5 7 4 6 8
3 5 7
3 5 7 3 5 7 4 6 8
3 5 7
3 5 7
224
4 6 8
4 6 8
4 6 8 4 6 8
4 6 8
4 6 8
Etc....
227
5 7 9
5 7 9
5 7 9 5 7 9
5 7 9
5 7 9
24
Have More Fun With Your Guitar
by Steve Stine 20 Quickfire
Exercises
Exercise 18
18230
6 8 10 7 9 11
5 7 9 6 8 10
4 6 8
3 5 7
2 4 6
1 3 5
234
5 7 9 6 8 10
4 6 8 5 7 9
3 5 7 4 6 8
2 4 6 3 5 7
Ready to see how these exercises help you play songs better?
Go to guitarzoom.com
Etc....
238
8 10 12 9 11 13
7 9 11 8 10 12
7 9 11
6 8 10
5 7 9
4 6 8
Exercise 19 19
Note: In guitar tablature and notation, slurred descending notes mean that you pick the note at the start of the slur
and then pull off the rest until the end of the slur.
242
P
P
1 4 5 2
P
1 4 5 2 P
1 3 4 2 P
1 3 4 2 P
1 3 4 2
1 4 5 2
When you see a slash (/) between two notes in guitar tablature, it's means slide your finger from one note to the next.
"P" stands for "pull-off"
246
P
P
3 6 7 4
P
3 6 7 4 P
3 5 6 4 P
3 5 6 4 P
3 5 6 4
3 6 7 4
Etc....
250
P
P
5 8 9 6
P
5 8 9 6 P
5 7 8 6 P
5 7 8 6 P
5 7 8 6
5 8 9 6
20
Exercise 20
Note: This exercise develops your skill alternating between hammer-ons and pull-offs.
The key to this exercise is that after a hammer-on, use the "hammering" finger to pluck the string,
254 hence performing a pull-off. Always remember that when playing slurred notes, use hammer-ons ascending
and pull-offs descending.
256
1
1 2 1 3 1 4 1 3 1 2 1
1 2 1 3 1 4 1 3 1 2 1
1
1 2 1 3 1 4 1 3 1 2 1
2 1 3 1 4 1 3 1 2 1
2 1 3 1 4 1 3 1 2 1
2 3 2 4 2 5 2 4 2 3 2
2
Etc....
262
3 2 4 2 5 2 4 2 3 2
2
Final thoughts
I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed this book. And more than that, I hope you’ve greatly increased your finger
strength, agility and dexterity. You are well on your way to playing nearly any chord, solo lick or riff.
Cheers,
Steve Stine
guitarzoom.com
28 GuitarZoom © 2012