Finger Independence Exercise 1a
Cross-string isolation exercise developing independence between all four fretting fingers. Outer fingers pick on the higher string while inner fingers press silently on the adjacent lower string — then all four fingers move to the same string. Works every adjacent string pair ascending from A/E to e/B.
Tablature
First few measures of the exercise.
How to Practice
- 1Place fingers 1 and 4 on frets 5 and 8 of the higher string. Place fingers 2 and 3 on frets 6 and 7 of the string below — all four fingers stay pressed throughout variation A.
- 2Pick only fret 5 and fret 8. Fingers 2 and 3 are silent — do not lift them between picks.
- 3In variation B (even-numbered measures), move fingers 2 and 3 to the same string and repeat the same picking pattern.
- 4Work through all adjacent string pairs from low to high.
Tips & Techniques
- •The cross-string variant (variation A) is harder — the middle fingers work against a different plane of resistance.
- •Do not let the ghost fingers fly off the string. The entire point is keeping them pressed.
- •Keep your picking wrist loose — all the effort is in the fretting hand.
- •Once clean, try the reverse: pick frets 6 & 7 while 5 & 8 are ghost notes.
Ready to Practice?
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