More scale exercises

[NormanKliman]

Charles Tauber’s post about the Segovia scale exercises motivated me to upload my latest development of some similar exercises I’ve been playing in recent years. They focus on alternation of index and middle, the use of rest strokes and, in particular, the use of the middle finger when moving to a lower-pitched string.

Here’s the link: http://canteytoque.es/pmiexc.htm#picado

The technique of playing single-note lines with two fingers is called picado. Although some guitarists do this with other fingers (even with three fingers), the vast majority alternate index and middle. It’s really all you need, unless you’ve suffered a tendon injury or something. Once you’re used to alternating the two in rest strokes (Exercises 1 to 3), try using your middle finger to move to a lower-pitched string (Exercises 4 to 9). You’ll find that it’s awkward, and these exercises are designed to develop coordination to overcome that problem. Most of the time, it’s easy enough to avoid leading with the middle finger (by starting with one finger or the other), but the fact is that sometimes there is no alternative, hence these exercises.

In recent years, I’ve been playing Exercise 8 with good results. But a few weeks ago I came up with Exercise 9, which I think is a little better. Please have a look, try them out and let me know what you think.

[Carey]

I will give it a go. Also, thanks for your nice site in general; when my internet service cooperates, I want to dig into 'Manuel Torres and the Major Second'-
it's an interval that is interesting to me.

[Gitfiddlemann]

Hi Norm, thanks for posting these links. It’s always good to diversify the routine and work on some new patterns.
Your site has some very helpful and useful information indeed!

[Wrighty]

Thanks, these look very interesting - when I get to a point in my travails with the Segovia scales where I have some space I will definitely give them a good look.