Simple Guitar Scale Exercises for Speed and Precision

Years ago, I was introduced to the book “The Art of Practicing” by Alice Artzt. In it, she lays out many different ideas about developing guitar practice. One of the most interesting things about the book is how she begins to build up a student’s technique. Oddly, she begins with four-note chromatic scales. In doing so, she begins to develop the many combinations of finger movements and coordination needed to play the guitar. These work with both fingerstyle and pick players. I have based this post on the ideas she presents in order to help those struggling to develop a superior technique through the basic movement in these guitar scale exercises.

The Basic Patterns

The basis of the exercises below is to build up every possible combination of left-hand fingerings that one might encounter when playing the guitar. Regardless of piece or style, there truly is a finite number of movements the fingers can make. This is also the idea presented in Kitharologus by Ricardo Iznaola. However, he deals with more techniques and creates practice regimens to follow depending on a player’s current level. 

The first patterns are as follows (there are a total of 24):

1234, 1243, 1324, 1342, 1423, 1432

2134, 2143, 2314, 2341, 2413, 2431

3124, 3142, 3214, 3241, 3412, 3421

4123, 4132, 4213, 4231, 4312, 4321

How to Play the Patterns

To use these patterns as practice, begin on the first string, play the pattern, move down to the second string, and continue. After playing the pattern on string six, move up one fret and return as before to string one. No matter how you begin, you must begin slowly with perfect technique. This article is not about the technique and will differ depending on whether you play as a fingerstyle or pick player. I suggest beginning at a tempo as slow as 50 bpm. Below is an example of how to approach the first pattern before ascending up the fretboard.

I like to set a fret number to play through and then return to the first fret. In other words, continue the above exercise as written until reaching fret seven with finger 1, then complete the exercise in reverse until reaching the first fret again. Many, at the beginning, find it difficult to play these on the lower fifth and sixth strings due to the stretching. If it is uncomfortable, then only play down to the fourth string and proceed to the next fret. When your technique has improved and strengthened, move down to the fifth and finally the sixth string. Doing the complete exercise with a faulty technique will only delay progress in the long run.

The Right Hand in Guitar Scale Exercises

The easiest patterns for a fingerstyle guitarist to follow are: i/m, i/a, m/a, m/i, a/i, and a/m. You might think that i/m and m/i are the same but they are different in terms of string crossing and accents. It is important to realize you are trying to build up every possible combination for the left hand and this will apply to the right hand as well.

As for a pick player, repeated down strokes are the beginning. Follow this with alternating up and down strokes. As with a fingerstyle player, begin with an upstroke throughout the exercise and then begin with a downstroke throughout the exercise. This will build up the same multiplicity of combinations possible on the instrument.

How to Practice the Guitar Scale Exercises

It might be tempting to attempt to practice every left-hand pattern with every right-hand pattern every time you practice. However, that would be very impractical. At first, choose a number of patterns to practice and play them until they feel automatic in both the right and left hands. As you continue, you will find some are easier for you than others. Leave the easy ones and focus on the difficult ones. Make every effort to play with the correct technique in both hands. Stick with the difficult ones until they become second nature. You can always add a metronome goal to build speed throughout and to keep track of progress for each pattern.

When the simple four-note combinations feel mastered, move on to six-note patterns (listed below). These will challenge your right and left hands in different ways. Keeping track of the ones you struggle with will allow you to work on the combinations that need the most work. As I have heard Manuel Barrueco say, “I don’t practice what I can play.”

Two 1s, two 2s, and two 3s.

123123, 123213, 123132, 

321231, 321312, 321321,

231231, 231321, 231213, 

132123, 132312, 132132,

312312, 312321, 312132,

213123, 213231, 213213, .

Two 1s, two 2s and two 4s. 

124124, 124214, 124142, 

421241,421412, 421421,

241241, 241421, 241214,

142124, 142412, 142142, 

412412, 412421, 412142, 

214124, 214241, 214214, 

Two 1s, two 3s and two 4s.

134134, 134314, 134143,

431341, 431413, 431431,

341341, 341431, 341341,

143134, 143413, 143143,

413413, 413431, 413143,

314134, 314341, 314314,

2, 3, and 4 only, two of each per pattern.

234234, 234324, 234243, 

432342, 432423, 432432,

342342, 342432, 342324, 

324234,324342, 324324,

423423, 423432, 423243,

243234, 243423, 243243,

Two 2s, two 3s and two 4s.

123124, 123412, 123214, 123142,

321241, 321412, 321421, 321214,

231241, 231421, 231214,

132124, 132412, 132142,

312124, 312412, 312421, 312142,

213124, 213241, 213421, 213214,

124123, 124312, 124213, 124132,

421231, 421312, 421321, 421213,

241231, 241321, 241213,

142123, 142312, 142132,

412123, 412312, 412321, 412132,

214123, 214231, 214321, 214213,

Two Is, two 3s, one 2, and one 4.

123134, 123413, 123143,

321341, 321431, 321314,

231341, 231413, 231431, 231314,

132134, 132413, 132314, 132143,

312134, 312341, 312431, 312314,

213134, 213413, 213431, 213143,

134123, 134312, 134213, 134132,

431231, 431312, 431321, 431213,

341231, 341312, 341321,

143123, 143213, 143132,

413123, 413231, 413213, 413132,

314231, 314312, 314321, 314132,

Two Is, two 4s, one 2, and one 3.

124134, 124314, 124143,

421341, 421413, 421431,

241341, 241413, 241431, 241314,

142134, 142413, 142314, 142143,

412341, 412413, 412431, 412341,

214134, 214341, 214314, 214143,

134124, 134214, 134142,

431241, 431412, 431421,

341241, 341412, 341421, 341214,

143124, 143412, 143214, 143142,

413241, 413412, 413421, 413142,

314124, 314241, 314214, 314142,

One 1, two 2s, two 3s, and one 4.

123234, 123423, 123432, 123243,

321234, 321342, 321432, 321324, 

231234, 231423, 231324, 231243,

132342, 132423, 132432, 132324,

312342, 312432, 312324,

213234, 213423, 213243,

234123, 234231, 234321, 234213,

432123, 432312, 432321, 432132, 

342312, 342321, 342132,

243123, 243231, 243213,

423123, 423231, 423213, 423132,

324231, 324312, 324321, 324132,

One 1, two 2s, two 3s, and one 4.

124234, 124342, 124324, 124243,

421342, 421423, 421432, 421243,

241234, 241423, 241324, 241243,

142342, 142423, 142432, 142324

412342, 412423, 412432,

214234, 214324, 214243,

234124, 234241, 234214,

432412, 432421, 432142,

342124, 342414, 342421, 342142,

243124, 243241, 243421, 243214, 

423241, 423412, 423421, 423142,

324124, 324241, 324214, 324142,

One 1, one 2, two 3s, and two 4s.

234134, 234341, 234314, 234143,

432341, 432413, 432431, 432143,

342134, 342341, 342431, 342314,

243134, 243413, 243431, 243143,

423413, 423431, 423143,

324134, 324341, 324314,

134234, 134342, 134324, 134243,

431342, 431423, 431432, 431243,

341234, 341342, 341432, 341423,

143234, 143423, 143432, 143243.

413423, 413432, 413243,

314234, 314342, 314324,

Conclusion

The enormity of these combinations of these guitar scale exercises can be overwhelming. However, the idea is to work through them logically and gradually. Make notes on which combinations are the most difficult for you. Then, practice them until they become fluent. This also includes multiple right-hand finger combinations. Some will be easier than others. Also, remember, the metronome is a great way to have an objective view of your progress. Keep records of beats per minute and set a speed goal for when you decide to move on to master a new pattern. This type of practice may seem boring or bland. However, the benefits from developing these patterns to fluency will reveal itself as you begin to play harder and more difficult repertoire.

Also, check out our other useful articles:

• How to Become an Audiophile: A Journey into the World of High-Fidelity Audio
• How to Store A Guitar Safely: Tips for When It’s Not in Use
• The Basics of Music Theory – Part 3 (Key Signatures)
• Top Essential Acoustic Guitar Accessories Every Player Needs
• Unveiling the Hi-Fi Signal Path: Best Practices for Audiophiles

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