|
Fingerstyle guitar requires a strong
left hand as well as a well drilled right. Often the player has to think
in terms of up to three independent parts. The Left Hand development
exercise that follows, if practiced diligently, will greatly increase
the independence of the left hand fingers. A concentrated practice routine
allotted about 15 minutes per day of your practice schedule will develop
your technique much faster than the playing of favorite pieces which
are often selected for their ease of execution.
The exercise is to be played with a
full left hand bar throughout. You will notice that the two bar pattern
is simply repeated a semitone or one fret lower on each repetition.
Play each pattern twice, moving down the fingerboard till you can comfortably
perform down to the first fret.
Take it easy at first and if you find
that your left hand begins to ache then take a rest. Do not overdo it
and damage your left hand. Don't be discouraged if you can only play
the first few bars. Persevere and you will eventually be able to perform
down to the first fret position.
Information on left hand fingering
conventions can be found on this page.
Remember to hold a full left hand bar throughout
the exercise.
| 
Left
Hand Development Study by Bill Tyers
