#117 - 5 Best Beginner Picking Exercises! How To Start Shredding
Added 2020-09-29 13:01:03 +0000 UTCTime to discuss an incredibly important and much-requested topic! Since we mainly focused on challenging, advanced, and very tricky picking workouts, it's about time to check out some of the best beginner picking exercises :)
These are 5 workouts that really helped me out in the beginning and I'd recommend starting here when it comes to alternate picking. In this video, we also discuss which picks you can use for maximum control and how I approach picking technique in general (position of the wrist, the motion, forming a fist,...).
I also made some helpful video play-alongs for your practice routine again: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e962rv1cd1ltp0y/AADUwg8qc0XdWn06B6FOPdM4a?dl=0
Also, don't forget to download your tabs and guitar pro files below! Happy shredding :)
Comments
Hey there, the VIP group is open for VIP and Platinum members! Hope this helps, Team Bernth
Bernd Brodträger
2024-06-06 05:24:23 +0000 UTCIs the VIP group open to all paid members?
Jesse J Covey
2024-06-06 01:29:21 +0000 UTCI think it is better to practice with a clean sound so you can actually hear exactly every note you play.[also dont use fretwrap, delay or reverb.
Spyros Tsimboulis
2024-05-29 10:19:41 +0000 UTCHey yuya, Bernth usually recommends a slightly crunchy tone so that you can hear potential unwanted noise (so that you can make sure your string muting works) - he's still active in the VIP Facebook group, you can ask him anything yourself over there if you have more questions :)
Bernd Brodträger
2024-05-27 07:28:34 +0000 UTCIs it better to practice with a distorted sound?
yuya
2024-05-26 11:11:28 +0000 UTC🫤
NETANEL
2024-04-23 20:10:54 +0000 UTCT welcome video is not helping.
NETANEL
2024-04-23 20:10:00 +0000 UTCI really don't know what to do.. where to start?
NETANEL
2024-04-23 20:09:27 +0000 UTCSorry.. but it's the right place to improve the guitar skills...
NETANEL
2024-04-23 20:08:59 +0000 UTCBut
NETANEL
2024-04-23 20:08:51 +0000 UTCI'm completely new and I'm very confused
Tofer 2.0
2024-04-17 17:31:33 +0000 UTCHey Morten, in case you need feedback on your technique (via videos, questions, pictures, anything you want), feel free to join the VIP or Platinum tier anytime! Bernth set up a secret Facebook group where he gives feedback to VIP/Platinum members every day :) You can post your progress videos for helpful input and there are over 900 students in the group already. Hope this helps!
Bernd Brodträger
2024-03-07 07:46:19 +0000 UTCHave a question. My pick seems to get stuck at the 16th notes in exercise 2. Don't feel in control.
Morten Nissov
2024-03-06 20:59:22 +0000 UTCI have a question as a beginner: the title of each exercise video ends with a BPM, for example, 90BPM, do I need to start with 90 and end it there, or should I increase the tempo to a certain point?
Pedram Roosta
2023-12-16 12:34:21 +0000 UTCOh man this is awesome!!! Learning this new pick holding technique and applying this lol boy do I have a ways to go lol
Scott Ring
2023-03-31 21:42:33 +0000 UTCWhat pedal are you using for such a beautiful sound?
Vasyl Pedak
2023-03-28 20:39:36 +0000 UTCHoly smokes. Really focusing on keeping a closed fist. I can already see its correcting bad habits. Left hand thumb really needs to be trained.
LukerJames999
2023-03-22 00:25:24 +0000 UTCI noticed on EX5 that after speeding up just a little, I ended up starting with an upstroke instead of a down stroke because it felt natural. I understand this isn't how the exercise is written, but is it wrong to practice that type of picking? Thanks for all you're help Bernth!
Lee Gunter
2023-02-28 03:31:11 +0000 UTCI noticed two things about my playing as I went through these - 1. Resting my hand on the bridge gave me much more control, but the weight of my hand moving pushes the tremolo springs and causes notes to go out of tune. 2. On the chromatic run EX 4 I noticed my left hand fingers, particularly when descending, move further from the fretboard than is necessary. Can anyone point me to if there is a lesson on the proper distance between the fingers and fretboard for fingers NOT fretting? I hadn't noticed I do this before but can see it limiting my speed. Thanks!
Zhim
2022-02-19 01:43:57 +0000 UTCGreat, thanks - I will check them out..
Deej
2021-12-20 20:12:12 +0000 UTCHey Deej, here's a collection of fretting hand exercises: https://www.patreon.com/posts/128-top-10-best-43563180 And I recently made an entire course about hand sync: https://www.patreon.com/posts/191-best-5-min-56222239
Bernd Brodträger
2021-12-20 05:26:32 +0000 UTCGreat video to get back to the basics which I am sure will improve my technique and speed. It’s always my fretting hand that lets me down when the Tempo increases. Are there any good beginner/intermediate fretting hand and sync exercises?
Deej
2021-12-18 12:57:43 +0000 UTCWelcome Brent, great to have you here! Hope you have an awesome weekend :)
Bernd Brodträger
2021-12-04 08:12:32 +0000 UTCJust signed up after watching your videos for a few weeks on YT. Newer player to the electric guitar world, and your new picking style has me very interested. Keep up the good work and thank you
Brent Neibert
2021-12-03 19:09:37 +0000 UTCThanks for sharing this Dan! Did you check out this quite recent video? https://www.patreon.com/posts/202-10-life-59095578 I finally realized that the zoom on my camera is great (after 3 years) and got some good close-up shots of the picking hand - this video also features some additional tips that will help I think :)
Bernd Brodträger
2021-12-02 06:20:43 +0000 UTCThese are absolutely great! The issue I have is that I cant seem to find a hand position/ anchor point that allows me to have control whilst being able to relaxed. Do you have any tips on this?
Dan Shipway
2021-12-01 22:53:50 +0000 UTCThanks for asking! I made this one as a follow-up video: https://www.patreon.com/posts/123-4-best-time-42946523 If you feel comfortable with the exercises in this intermediate one, you can definitely start working on this level! :)
Bernd Brodträger
2021-11-22 05:52:56 +0000 UTCGreat lesson, thank you! What's a good goal in terms of BPM to get these exercises "mastered" as such and move on to the more advanced version?
Skye MacInnes
2021-11-20 17:33:44 +0000 UTCAwesome lesson! Going to put this into my daily routine!
Andrew Johnson
2021-11-10 21:16:35 +0000 UTCWelcome, great to have you here! :)
Bernd Brodträger
2021-07-21 04:46:23 +0000 UTCI just signed up today after following on YT for a month. Hopefully this old dog can learn some new tricks but I really like Bernth's attitude and approach to this process. Cheers!
Baz Van Riet
2021-07-20 20:25:09 +0000 UTCWelcome, Tamás, and thanks so much for sharing that! :) Happy to hear you will give it a shot, we all have different approaches but this one definitely worked best for me so far!
Bernd Brodträger
2021-06-21 05:20:04 +0000 UTCHi Bernth! I am new here. I am an intermediate-like guitarist looking for ways to improve. Just watched this beginner video to be sure about everything and even here I got new things to try out: the fist forming with the right hand. I never did that, I always use my little finger to sort of anchor myself to the bridge pickup and I used picking with my thumb and index finger to move the pick, but I definitely will try to learn this, maybe this will improve my speed better, but at first I don't feel that much control, but with this exercise I will slowly use to it. Thanks! I use DAVA jazz grips picks, these are the same size as Dunlop Jazz III but even better grip with the rubber, at least for me.
Tamás Piri-Cser
2021-06-20 07:27:02 +0000 UTCThanks bernth i'm starting to create my routine to practice every morning
Rafa Val
2021-05-17 00:37:07 +0000 UTCDon't Float your thumb. Your thumb will be resting on the back of the neck. Over time your hand will get used to the pressure and it will feel easier. I hope this helps
Swefty _
2021-04-27 20:55:30 +0000 UTCNice, I have been playing guitar since I was 15. I stopped for about 5 years and now I am getting back in to it. I am 28 now and I found your videos. I would say that I am in between intermediate/advanced. You videos actually are helping me improve in my overall technic. Thank you so much.. I love you for this
Swefty _
2021-04-27 20:50:57 +0000 UTCUse the side of the palm of your picking hand to mute the string, close to the bridge.
Mark Seymour
2021-04-11 06:34:40 +0000 UTCthanks!
Simon Shreds
2021-04-10 19:33:34 +0000 UTCIt should be pointing up and that's the correct technique somewhere between index and middle finger, I figured it out from the left hand technique videos from bernth especially the one with spider excercise (which I recommend)
Przemek Hendel
2021-04-10 08:23:22 +0000 UTCi just asked the same question. did you get an answer for this Przemek?
Simon Shreds
2021-04-10 07:54:55 +0000 UTCHey Bernth or anyone who can help, with Exercise 4 im not sure what my left thumb is meant to be doing on the back of the neck. ie. if I have it placed then it is hard to slide it down, but if i have the thumb floating it makes my fingers weak and a bit unco-ordinated when fretting. What would you suggest?
Simon Shreds
2021-04-10 07:53:18 +0000 UTChow do I get the same sound as he when he hits the E string? I want the same "closed palm" sound, but i don't understand how to do it without actually pressing the F# lightly to get that sound.
Shany Golan
2021-03-17 21:16:52 +0000 UTCHey Bernth, do you have exercises (or approaches) for chords that absurdly stretch your fingers?
Arcanist Bear
2021-02-22 02:40:06 +0000 UTChow should I hold my thumb for excercise 4? or guitar in general? should it be sideways, straight and laying flat on the neck? Or should it point upwards?
Przemek Hendel
2021-02-17 07:19:53 +0000 UTCI feel like I have all these down pretty good, would the next step to continue to increase the bpm while maintaining good technique ?
Cameron Ullmann
2020-12-09 17:52:20 +0000 UTCThanks for your answer, I will try those ones! I think they are slightly different (harder than Nylon-only ones)!
Arnaud Desbordes
2020-10-18 22:25:43 +0000 UTCThanks a lot for asking that Arnaud! This is the exact pick I'm using, hope that helps: https://www.thomann.de/gb/dunlop_nylon_max_grip_jazz_iii_carbon.htm
Bernd Brodträger
2020-10-17 04:28:24 +0000 UTCHi Bernth! Thanks for all the great videos you are posting! I just have a question about your picks : the one you use are the DUNLOP Jazz III 471P3C right ? I got some 471P3N, not sure if they are the same, I think they are Nylon and not Carbon (?), not sure... does it make a lot of difference ?
Arnaud Desbordes
2020-10-16 18:02:27 +0000 UTCExcellent foundation, and something even seasoned players should revisit from time to time!
John H
2020-10-12 13:26:34 +0000 UTCNice... so simple and so powerfull! So many years i had spend time on "playing" without a concept, without a success experience... now i found what i always looking for! ;P Thx!!!! *fette grüße nach niederösterreich*
Steven
2020-10-12 02:27:33 +0000 UTCHi Bernth. I only began to play guitar at the beginning of this year, and as such, appreciate this lesson immensely. To this point I have not utilized a metronome in my daily practice. It was quite illuminating to hear how atrocious my timing was when I finally took your advice and did. Thank you for offering this foundational exercise.
Mary Blasko
2020-10-06 01:38:29 +0000 UTCAwesome bernth we we need more beginner exercise
murad jaymz
2020-09-30 05:05:56 +0000 UTCGood to know, thank you! I'm always trying to find a more comfortable posture during practice. I may try removing the right arm rest anyway :) take care, Bernth!
Daniel
2020-09-30 03:09:52 +0000 UTCGreat question, I did not :) Maybe I was sitting a bit awkwardly so you couldn't see the arm rest - I keep them very low so it works out fine most of the time (but sometimes they don't look good on video, hence the different angle)
Bernd Brodträger
2020-09-30 02:50:42 +0000 UTCAnother great lesson Bernth, Thanks.
Steve Shaw
2020-09-29 16:51:40 +0000 UTCPutting my wrist against the bottom of the guitar is really helpful! I feel a lot more stable and relaxed when I'm picking. Glad I watched this video.
Nam Hee Kim
2020-09-29 16:01:41 +0000 UTCDid you remove the right arm rest on your chair?
Daniel
2020-09-29 15:12:09 +0000 UTC
