This lesson will help you to further hone your skills with the flatpick. If you haven’t done the basic exercise previously, go back and learn it before starting the following patterns, which are variations on that exercise. Remember to practice each exercise both with downstrokes only (/) and with alternating down-up strokes ( / V). (The double bar with the two dots at the beginning and end of each line is a repeat sign, so you should play these patterns over and over, without a pause.)
1. II: 6 -1; 5 – 2; 4 – 3; 5 – 2; 6 – 1 :II
2. II: 6 – 3; 5 – 2; 4 – 1; 5 – 2; 6 – 3 :II
3. II: 6 – 1; 5 – 1; 6 – 2; 5 – 2; 6 – 3; 5 – 3 :II
4. II: 6 – 1; 5 – 1; 4 – 1; 6 – 2; 5 – 2; 4 – 2; 6 – 3; 5 – 3; 4 – 3 :II
If you are ready for another variation and would like to get a little more speed into the exercise, try repeating the second note of each combination two times (which will be a total of three times). It will sound like eighth notes (two notes per beat), and should be played with a strict alternation of the pick. Pattern #1 would become this:
II: 6 – 1- 1- 1; 5 – 2 – 2 – 2; 4 – 3 – 3 – 3; 5 – 2 – 2 – 2; 6 – 1 – 1 – 1 :II
( / v / v / v / v, etc.)
When you feel ready for another challenge, try this, playing the notes as eighth notes:
II: 6 – 1- 2 – 1; 5 – 1 – 2 – 1; 4 – 1 – 2 – 1; 5 – 1 – 2 – 1; 6 – 1 – 2 – 1 :II
( / v / v / v / v, etc.)
As you can see, there are countless combinations that you can practice, all of which will help you in playing arpeggios, riffs, melodies and leads. Have some fun making up your own exercises and using them with familiar chord progressions – and don’t forget to use your metronome!