Finger Stretch

Tab Notation

15(14) Hammer off ... Very subtle... Adds a nice sound to the first tune. Just release a finger.
/---\ Above the staff.. means to bend up a whole note, hold, then release.
/-- Above the staff.. Bend up a whole note
/ or \ whithin the staff. Slide up or down
/\ Hammer off

When I originally wrote this, I separated it into measures. I found that for computer generation, since there is a limited amount of notes than can fit on one line, it was becoming a bit of a hassle. I only put in measure lines where I thought there was some kind of interesting change in the music.

This first riff has its base from a Phish tune called David Bowie. The solo has been modified. I find this to be an excellent riff to combine picking speed with left-hand coordination. The subtle switches in chord forms make for a real nice sound, as well as provide a good exercise in dexterity. You should try placing your fingers on the fretboard as follows:

------ During the riff. you will raise your second finger to make a
||||11 nice change.
||||2|
||||||
------
|||||3
||||||

[Repeat Once]
         /\               /\          /\          /\
|--17--17--14-------17--17--14------17--14------17--14------|        
|--------------15---------------15----------15----------15--|        
|.----------------------------------------------------------|        
|.----------------------------------------------------------|        
|-----------------------------------------------------------|        
|-----------------------------------------------------------|

    /\                  /\              /\          /\
|-17--14------|---17--17--14------17--17--14------17--14----|
|---------15--(14)------------14--------------14----------14|
|-------------|---------------------------------------------|
|-------------|---------------------------------------------|
|-------------|---------------------------------------------|
|-------------|---------------------------------------------|

     /\          /\                /\              /\ 
|--17--14------17--14------|19--19--16------19--19--16------|
|----------14----------14--|------------17--------------17--|
|--------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------|--------------------------------|


        /\          /\                    /\             
|-----19--16------19--16-----|------19--19--16------19----|
|-------------17----------17-|-(16)-------------16--------|
|----------------------------|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|----------------------------|

        /\          /\          /\          /\       
|-----19--16------19--16------19--16------19--16----------|
|-------------16----------16----------16----------16------|
|--------------------------------------------------------.|
|--------------------------------------------------------.|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
                                                            

[Repeat Once]
          /\                      /\            
|---15--15--12------15--15-/17--17--14------17--17------|
|---------------13----------------------15--------------|
|.------------------------------------------------------|
|.------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
                                                            

    /\          /\          /\          /\
|-19--16------19--16------19--16------19--16---------------|
|---------17----------17----------17----------17-----------|
|---------------------------------------------------------.|
|---------------------------------------------------------.|
|----------------------------------------------------------|          
|----------------------------------------------------------|
[Repeat Entire thing]

This popular riff is one that you may recognize as "Every Breath You Take" by The Police. I'm not sure if it follows exactly the same pattern of changes as the song, as I have not heard it for a while, but you can always change the pattern of changes to your taste, as I often do. This riff is one that will build up strength in your fingers. It has some tough reaches and can be agonizing for the beginner. If this is the case, then this riff is perfect for you. The first few times playing the riff, you may only be able to hammer out a few measures before your fingers begin to hurt. Improvement will come dramatically as your fingers strengthen. Within little time this riff will come easy. A little digital delay gives this riff the perfect sound.

|----------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|.-------------2-----------------------2-------------------|
|.-------6--------6-----6--------6--------6-----6----------|
|-----4-----4--------4--------4-----4--------4-------------|
|--2-----------------------2-------------------------------|
                                                           
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------6-----------------------6-------------------|
|--------9--------9-----9--------9--------9-----9----------|
|-----7-----5--------7--------7-----5--------7-------------|
|--5-----------------------5-------------------------------|

|----------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|--------9-----7-----------------11------9-----------------|
|-----7-----7-----7-----7-----9-------9------9-----9-------|
|--5-----------------5-----7--------------------7----------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
                                                             
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------7--------------------------7--------------|
|---------11--------11-----11--------11--------11-----11---|
|------9------9---------9---------9------9---------9-------|
|---7--------------------------7---------------------------|
                                                               
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------2-----------------------2------------------|
|---------6--------6-----6--------6--------6-----6---------|
|------4-----4--------4--------4-----4--------4------------|
|---2-----------------------2------------------------------|
                                                               
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------6-----------------------6-------------------|
|--------9--------9-----7--------5--------9-----7----------|
|-----7-----7--------5--------7-----7--------5-------------|
|--5-----------------------5-------------------------------|
                                                               

|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|--------9-----7-----------------11-----9------------------.|
|-----7-----7-----7-----7-----9------9-----9-----9---------.|
|--5-----------------5-----7------------------7-------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------|

Comments

[gREENrAVEN22]

this is very helpfull thanx

[Dismay]

great thanks!

[kiedo]

Geez, my hand hurts like hell but i think it's helping

[Iboseth]

Thanks

[fenderg2113]

hey thanx this helped alot.dont listen to those dumbasses writing all that crap, we can all see that theyre both imature, Thanx

spam deleted

Attempting to get the title fixed?

[mumbotumbo1121]

hey this stuff is helpful but i want to know how to streach my fingers and work on my pinkey

[Aaron120]

hey great lesson, ppl using this should think about trying exercises like this with an acoustic guitar. it's harder and will strengthen your fingers much faster

[Eddy_metallica]

um actually you should never really play through pain as this could cause lasting damage and in the worst case stop you from playing guitar. not what you want.
you could play in pain very slightly if it doesnt actually hurt that much, but if you find it "aganizing" then you really should not be playing it yet.

[Discouraged]

If you can find a video of John Petrucci's Rock discipline, it has a whole section on finger stretching exercises, that allow you to gradually build up your flexibility. Its more sensible than trying to reach something that is likely to dislocate your fingers.

[iamthelaw867]

thanx, great lesson. keep it up

[MarkingTheRadio]

Excuse my ignorance, but is there a specific fingering for these exercises?

Great lesson btw