In my first article on fretboard exercises, I spoke about the benefits of fretboard exercises. In this second article I will present some additional, a few of which expand on the previous ones.

As I stated in my first article, I highly recommend that you use a metronome when you go through these exercises.  This is extremely important, as it will help you to synchronize the timing between your left and right hands.  Start with a slow tempo, like say 80bpm, and then gradually increase it as you master each exercise.

Exercise Five — Simple Warm Up (Variation A)

This exercise is a variation of the “simple warm up” exercise from my first article.  The only difference is that each of the four left hand notes are played on a different string.

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Repeat the same pattern, this time starting at fret 2.

Again, repeat the same pattern, but this time start at the third fret.  Continue this all the way up the fretboard.

Exercise Six — Simple Warm Up (Variation B)

This is another warm up on the “simple warm up” exercise.  Figure 6B is where it gets interesting.  The downward movement and string changes will help improve your muscle memory of the fretboard.

Exercise Seven — String Skipping

This exercise will help with string skipping.  You could also use this to practice your economy picking by ignoring the picking notation.  Figures 7B and 7C show the pattern as it repeats one fret higher.

Figure 7D is an inverse version of the pattern.

After bar 24, repeat the entire exercise starting one fret higher.  Continue this all the way up the fretboard.