【Guitar Lesson】Picking & Fingering Exercises to Improve Your Speed Playing/World Unified Music Certification

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2026/02/03

To increase your guitar picking speed, it is important to adopt proper form, efficient movements, and suitable practice methods. Here, we will explain in detail the theory and practical exercises for improving picking speed, fingering exercises, and common mistakes beginners make along with ways to correct them.

Click here to take the certification exam.

1. Basic Concepts of Picking Speed

Relationship Between Speed and Accuracy
In fast guitar playing, playing accurately is more important than playing fast. Beginners often focus too much on speed, but the fast guitarists you admire are not trying to play faster—they simply can play accurately at a speed faster than you.
For example, even if you think, “I’m not good at fast playing,” someone less experienced than you may feel, “That person can play faster than me.”
Before starting speed practice, keep in mind this fundamental idea: don’t try to play fast first; focus on increasing the speed at which you can play accurately.

Incorrect form or unnecessary tension in your picking hand makes it difficult to reach higher speeds. Start slowly with accurate picking, then gradually increase speed.

Factors That Limit Speed
Improving picking speed depends on the following factors:

  1. How you hold and angle the pick

  2. Use of the wrist and fingers

  3. Relaxation of the elbow and arm

  4. Sense of rhythm and metronome practice

  5. Strength and endurance

Even one mistake in any of these areas can cause bad habits to solidify, preventing improvement. Focus first on learning the correct form and practice method slowly and steadily.

Basics of Form and Picking
How you hold the pick greatly affects speed and control. The following is generally recommended:

Basic Pick Holding

  1. Use your thumb and index finger

    • Press the pick with the pad of your thumb, support it with the side of your index finger.

    • Hold the pick at a slight angle rather than completely parallel to the strings.

  2. Adjust how much the pick sticks out

    • Holding it too deep makes it catch the strings easily.

    • Holding it too shallow reduces control.

Pick Angle

  • Tilt the pick 30°–45° to the strings.

  • A pick held completely parallel tends to catch the strings, while too much angle makes the sound thin.

Picking Motion
There are three main motions in picking. Generally, it’s best to use the wrist as the main source of movement, with fingers as support.

Eliminate Tension

Exercises to Improve Picking Speed

Metronome Practice

Gradually Increase BPM

  1. Set a metronome to 60 BPM and play alternate picking slowly.

  2. Increase BPM by 5 increments, checking for smoothness.

  3. If you make mistakes, reduce BPM to correct them.

Single-Note Practice

Single-String Alternate Picking

  • Pick only one string on an open string or at the 5th fret.

  • Mute strings properly to reduce noise.

  • Start at 100 BPM and check if you can play 16th notes.

Chromatic Exercise

  • Play frets 1–4 in order: 1-2-3-4.

  • Move across strings from 6th to 1st and back.

  • Avoid tension when moving between strings.

Rhythm-Focused Speed Practice
Maintaining rhythm is crucial—speed alone isn’t enough. Try changing rhythms with a metronome:

  1. Quarter notes

  2. Eighth notes

  3. Triplets

  4. Sixteenth notes

Smoothly switching between rhythms improves stability in actual performance.

Common Mistakes & Solutions

  • Incorrect pick angle or string contact → Use a mirror to check your picking.

  • Excessive tension → Practice slowly with relaxed picking.

  • Rhythm inconsistencies → Use a metronome and practice slowly with accuracy.

Summary

  • Prioritize accuracy and minimize unnecessary movement.

  • Adjust pick grip and angle for smooth picking.

  • Gradually increase BPM with a metronome.

  • Focus on wrist-driven picking.

  • Relax and build endurance.

Remember, picking speed cannot be improved overnight. Consistent daily practice is the most effective way to progress.

Click here to take the certification exam.

2. Basic Concepts of Fingering

Next, we focus on the hand that presses the strings (for left-handed guitars, this would be the right hand). Improving finger speed requires the following exercises and awareness:

1. Maintain Correct Form

  • Release unnecessary tension for smooth movement.

  • Thumb position: lightly on the back of the neck, not too tight. For fast playing, thumb in the middle or lower part of the neck helps fingers spread easily.

  • Finger angle: approach the frets as vertically as possible.

  • Wrist: stay flexible and find a comfortable position.

2. Basic Fingering Exercises

1-2-3-4 Chromatic Exercise

  • Play frets 1 → 2 → 3 → 4 on each string.

  • Move each finger evenly (index, middle, ring, pinky).

  • Use a metronome, start slow, gradually increase tempo.

Advanced variations:

  • Reverse 4-3-2-1

  • Move across strings while practicing

  • Random patterns like 1-3-2-4 or 1-4-2-3

Hammer-ons & Pull-offs

  • Hammer from fret 1 → 2, pull-off from 2 → 1.

  • Apply to other fret combinations for finger fluidity.

Minimize finger lift

  • Keep fingers close to strings to reduce unnecessary movement.

Improve finger independence

  • Practice moving fingers individually: index + ring, middle + pinky, etc.

Practical Phrase Practice

  • Play scales (major, minor, pentatonic) at faster tempos.

  • Slow down difficult fast passages from songs, then gradually speed up.

Use a Metronome

  • Start slow and accurate (e.g., 60 BPM) and increase gradually (5 BPM increments).

Play Relaxed

  • Tension slows you down; aim for smooth movement without extra strain.

Summary

  1. Learn correct form

  2. Strengthen fingering with chromatic and scale practice

  3. Increase finger independence

  4. Apply practice to real phrases

  5. Use a metronome to gradually increase speed

  6. Relax for smooth fingering

Daily consistent practice ensures improvement in finger speed.

Click here to take the certification exam.

3. Speed Practice Without a Guitar

Even without a guitar, you can train finger speed and independence:

1. Finger Independence Training (using a table or thigh)

  • Treat the table or thigh as strings.

  • Practice different finger orders: 1-2-3-4, 1-3-2-4, 4-3-2-1, 1-4-2-3.

  • Focus on smooth movement without tension.

2. Hammer-on & Pull-off Finger Training (using a pen or straw)

  • Hold lightly and move fingers to simulate hammer-ons and pull-offs.

  • Tap quickly for hammer-ons, lift smoothly for pull-offs.

  • Repeat in rhythm.

3. Air Picking

  • Practice picking motion in the air, focusing on wrist movement and relaxation.

  • Alternate picking (down → up), economy picking (smooth string changes), sweep picking (smooth vertical motion).

  • Use a metronome for rhythm.

4. Tapping Practice (on a table or knee)

  • Tap with one hand while tapping fingers with the other.

  • Example: tap with middle finger while alternating index and ring fingers.

  • Develop finger independence.

5. Grip & Finger Endurance Training

  • Squeeze a stress ball or hand grip.

  • Stretch fingers with a rubber band to strengthen opening/closing.

  • Practice moving fingers individually.

6. Finger Rhythm Training with a Metronome

  • Set metronome to ~60 BPM. Tap fingers on a surface.

  • Practice eighth notes, sixteenth notes, and triplets.

  • Develop rhythm sense and picking stability.

Even when you can’t hold a guitar, these exercises help ensure noticeable improvement when you return to the instrument.

Click here to take the certification exam.