Exercise For Beginner Guitarists To Build Dexterity (fast)

One of the main problems that new guitarists face is a lack of strength in the fingers. This is understandable because, when playing the guitar, we use muscles that don’t often get used in daily life.

In this article we’re going to look at a simple exercise to help you get used to moving your fingers and help increase strength as well. You will find that performing this simple exercise will quickly improve your finger movement and strength. Keep reading to find out more.

Finger Dexterity Exercise

This simple exercise will help you to get your fingers working correctly. If you practise this exercise regularly, it will help you to get your fingers used to pressing on the right part of the fretboard to play clear notes with no buzz or muffled sounds.

1. Start by placing your index finger on the 1st fret of the 6th (thickest) string. 
2. Then play the 2nd fret on the same string using your middle finger.
3. Then play the 3rd fret of the same string using your ring finger.
4. Then onto the 4th fret of the same string using your pinky finger.

Use a down-up-down-up picking pattern and then move onto the 5th string and do exactly the same thing. Then move onto the 4th string and do the same thing and repeat for every string.

Practise keeping your fingers right over the fret that you’re playing and keep your fingers controlled and not flying all over the place. Don’t worry about the speed that you perform this task at, concentrate on the precise placing of your fingers and the clear sound of the notes played.

Once you can play 1, 2, 3, 4 on each string, without missing any notes or muting any strings, you can move onto playing it backwards. 

1. Start on the 4th fret of the 1st (thinnest) string with your pinky finger
2. The 3rd fret with your ring finger
3. The 2nd fret with your middle finger
4. The 1st fret with your index finger

Then repeat on the 2nd string and so on across all 6 strings. Take it slowly and concentrate on the position of your fingers.  You might have noticed some difficulty playing clear notes or even reaching the frets with your ring and pinky fingers. 

This is quite normal because you’re using them in a way that they’re not used to being used. However, with enough practise, they will soon become stronger and you’ll find it easier to do this exercise. 

Do this every day for 7 days and you will notice a marked improvement in your finger strength and accuracy. Once you’re comfortable with the above exercises, you can move on to learning a few simple tunes to help with your finger dexterity.

Playing We Will Rock You

We’ll be learning the classic riff from the song We will Rock You by Queen. This is quite an easy riff to learn as it is all played on the 6th string. Which means you don’t need to concentrate on which string to play as you’re only using one.

1. Start on the 5th fret of the 6th string and play once.
2. Then play the 4th fret once. 
3. Followed by the 2nd fret once. 
4. Then play the string open once,
5. Followed by the 2nd fret twice. 
6. Then pause for a moment before playing the 2nd fret twice again.

Use your ring finger when playing the 5th fret, your middle finger for the 4th fret and your index finger for the 2nd fret. This gives your fingers a bit of a workout and produces an easily recognisable tune.

Bad To The Bone

This is another riff that only uses one string which makes it a good one to play as a beginner. Once again we’ll be using the 6th string and this one will only sound good if you get the timing right.

1. Play the open string once.
2. Then play the 5th fret once.
3. Followed by the open string once. 
4. Then play the 3rd fret once.
5. Followed by the open string 5 times.

Use your ring finger for the 5th fret and your index finger for the 3rd fret. Keep practising this until you perfect the timing.

Eye Of The Tiger

This is another well known riff that was made popular when it was used in the 3rd Rocky film. Again it’s all played on the 6th string which keeps it nice and simple to play.

1. Start with your ring finger on the 8th fret of the 6th string.
2. Then after a slight pause play that 8th fret again.
3. Then play the 6th fret using your index finger.
4. Then we go back to the 8th fret with our ring finger again.
5. Then pause slightly, then play the 8th fret once again.
6. Then play the 6th fret once.
7. Followed by the 8th fret once.
8. Then after a brief pause, play the 8th fret once with your ring finger
9. Then the 6th fret once using your middle finger
10. And finally play the 4th fret once using your index finger.

The Batman Theme

Now let’s play the Batman theme from the original series. This is also only played on one string which means you don’t need to worry about changing strings when playing it.

However, it’s played on the 4th string and not the 6th. Use downstrokes to play this one;

1. Use your middle finger to hold down the 2nd fret of the 4th string and play twice.
2. Then use your index finger to play the 1st fret of the same string twice.
3. Then play the open string twice.
4. Then use your index finger to play the 1st fret twice again.
5. Repeat steps 1 to 4 another two times.
6. And finally use your middle finger to play the 2nd fret twice.

So that’s all on the 4th string and it’s;  2, 2,1, 1, open, open, 1, 1, 2, 2

Mission Impossible Theme

This is another classic tune that almost everyone will recognise. It’s slightly more complex as it uses 2 strings but it’s all grouped around 3 frets so it’s not that difficult.

1. Play the 3rd fret of the 6th string twice using your ring finger.
2. Then move down a string and play the 1st fret of the 5th string with your index finger. 
3. Then the 3rd fret of that same 5th string using your ring finger.
4. Then play the 3rd fret of the 6th string twice using your ring finger
5. Then play the 1st fret of the same string once using your index finger.
6. Then play the 2nd fret of the same string with your middle finger.

Start slowly and gradually build up to the correct speed.

Come As You Are

Another classic riff, Come As You Are by Nirvana. This one also uses 2 strings and is really simple to learn.

1. Play the open 6th string twice.
2. Then use your index finger to play the 1st fret of the 6th string.
3. Then play the 2nd fret of the 6th string using your middle finger
4. Then play the open 5th string once. 
5. Then play the 2nd fret of the 6th string once using your middle finger.
6. Then play the open 5th string once
7. Then play the 2nd fret of the 6th string twice with your middle finger. 
8. Then play the 1st fret of the 6th string using your index finger once.
9. Then play the open 6th string once.
10. Then play the 2nd fret of the 5th string using your middle finger once.
11. Then the open 6th string once.
12. And finishing on the 2nd fret of the 5th string once.

Smells Like Teen Spirit

Another classic rock track by Nirvana, this one is played on the 6th and 5th strings with only a few changes.

1. Play the 1st fret of the 6th string 3 times using your index finger.
2. Then play the 1st fret of the 5th string twice using your index finger.
3. Then play the open 5th string once.
4. Then play the 4th fret of the 6th string 3 times using your ring finger.
5. Then the 4th fret of the 5th string twice also using your ring finger.

Start slowly and gradually build up to the correct speed once you’re comfortable with the finger positions.

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap 

This classic AC/DC riff also uses 2 strings and is another easy riff to learn.

1. Play the open 6th string once.
2. Then the 3rd fret of the 6th string once.
3. Then the open 6th string once.
4. Then play the open 5th string once.
5. Then the open 6th string once.
6. Then play the 5th fret of the 5th string.
7. Then play the open 6th string to finish.

Playing all of these tunes will help your fingers get stronger, as well as helping with coordinating your left and right hand. If you practise these riffs and exercises regularly you’ll soon be impressing your friends and family with your new skills.

For more detailed instructions on how to play all of these exercises and riffs check out the Beginner’s Guitar Roadmap:

Beginners Guitar Roadmap
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