A Pentatonic Alternate Picking — Position Drill
Classic alternate picking drill on A minor pentatonic at 5th position. Each fret position is played 4 times before moving to the next — ascending all 6 strings, then descending back. Builds picking consistency and string-change timing.
Tablature
First few measures of the exercise.
How to Practice
- 1Use strict alternate picking throughout — start every string with a downstroke.
- 2On each string, play the lower fret 4 times then the higher fret 4 times before moving to the next string.
- 3Ascend through all 6 strings (E→A→D→G→B→e), then descend back (e→B→G→D→A→E).
- 4Keep each note even in volume and duration — no rushing or dragging between the fret changes.
Tips & Techniques
- •Keep your pick close to the string — small, efficient motions create the cleanest results.
- •Accent the first note of each group of 4 to stay rhythmically anchored.
- •When moving to the next string, let the pick cross cleanly without tension in your forearm.
- •Once you can play it cleanly at the recommended tempo, increase the metronome by 4–5 BPM at a time.
Ready to Practice?
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Ćwicz teraz →Related Exercises
Single String Spider Exercise
Chromatic exercise on a single string developing finger independence and left hand precision.
Chromatic Accent Dynamics
Exercise developing dynamic control through playing chromatic sequences with shifting accents.
Open G String Repetition
Basic exercise focusing on rhythmic consistency by repeating the open G string.
String Skipping — 2 Notes Per String
The simplest possible string skipping pattern: 2 notes on string 6, skip string 5, 2 notes on string 4, skip string 3, 2 notes on string 2 — then reverse back down. All notes are from the A minor pentatonic box 1 (frets 5 and 7). One measure up, one measure down. The skipped string is always in between — your pick must arc cleanly over it every single time.