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Spider Legs Warm-Ups: Great Finger Exercises!

 
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Description

This lesson raises the bar by introducing the fourth finger (pinky) into the mix of what the left hand is doing. This not only strengthens and stretches the pinky finger, but it also reinforces proper hand positioning, as you'll find it is virtually impossible to complete the exercise unless your hand is well positioned.


Also in this lesson, we'll introduce the idea of using a pick to play the exercise.

This versatile warm-up exercise can easily be adapted for beginner through advanced players. It is also equally useful on acoustic and electric guitars, and relevant for players of any guitar style.


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Spider Legs Warm-ups offer many benefits, including:


FOR THE LEFT HAND:

*Proper Hand Positioning

*Finger Stretch

*Finger Strength

*Finger Orientation and Coordination

*Tone Control


FOR THE RIGHT HAND:

*Pick Accuracy

*Picking Speed

*Pick Timing and Phrasing


FOR BOTH HANDS WORKING TOGETHER:

*Two-hand Coordination and Timing


FOR THE BRAIN:

The exercise can serve as an excellent context through which to learn the note names on the guitar’s lower frets, including gaining an understanding of sharps and flats.


This series of lessons examines different ways that you can adopt the basic Spider Legs concepts to reflect your individual skill level, and the skill areas you wish to focus on. These lessons progress sequentially, introducing new areas of focus, or new ways of increasing the difficulty level as they go along.


I recommend you add five to ten minutes of Spider Legs warm-ups to your daily practice routine. Compile an array of variations that is a good fit for your skill level and practice needs. You may wish to bookmark some of these lessons and play along with them as part of your warm-up routine.



Touch on each of the following areas of focus in your customized practice routine:



1. Focus on FINGER STRETCH, STRENGTH, & PROPER HAND POSITION

Recommended Lessons:


Spider Legs 1: Beginners Level, 3 Fingers. Spider Legs Warm-Ups 1: Focus on Hand Position

Spider Legs 2: Advanced Beginner/Intermediate Level, 4 Fingers. Spider Legs Warm-Ups 2: Focus on Finger Stretch

Spider Legs 9: All Levels, Playing Random Patterns. Spider Legs Warm-Ups 9: Playing Random Patterns: It's Alive!



2. Focus on TONE

Recommended Lessons:


Spider Legs 3: Focus on Tone. Spider Legs Warm-Ups 3: Focus on Tone


3. Focus on PICK ACCURACY & TECHNIQUE

Recommended Lessons:


Spider Legs 4: 8th Notes and Alternate Picking. Spider Legs Warm-Ups 4: 8th Notes & Alternate Picking

Spider Legs 5: 8th Notes and Alternate Picking, Advanced Applications. Spider Legs Warm-Ups 5: 8th Notes & Alternate Picking, Advanced

Spider Legs 8: Triplets and Fancy Pick Work. Spider Legs Warm-Ups 8: Fancy Pick Work: Playing Triplets



4. Focus on LEARNING NOTE NAMES

Recommended Lessons:


Spider Legs 6: Learn Note Names, plus Sharps. Spider Legs Warm-Ups 6: Learn the Notes, Learn the Sharps

Spider Legs 7: Learn Note Names, plus Flats. Spider Legs Warm-Ups 7: Learn the Notes, Learn the Flats

Lesson Info
Styles:
Any Style
Difficulty:
Published
Tutorial
Spider Legs Warm-Ups: Great Finger Exercises!