From: gwmorris@wam.umd.edu (Gary Morris)
Subject: GREAT FINGERBUILDING TECNQES TAB HERE
Throughout reading this newsgroup,Ive heard people asking about tapes and books
to improve finger speed and strength. I feel that all these do is offer some
good riffs to develop speed and strength. Through my eleven or so years of
playing, I have noticed many riffs that I felt improved my technique. I think
they can help you as well. Here are just a couple. There are many more I can
add in the future. I am very confident you will like these.
Tab Notation
15(14) Hammer off ... Very subtle... Adds a nice sound to the first tune. Just release a finger.
/---\ Above the staff.. means to bend up a whole note, hold, then
release.
/-- Above the staff.. Bend up a whole note
/ or \ whithin the staff. Slide up or down
/\ Hammer off
When I originally wrote this, I separated it into measures. I found that for
computer generation, since there is a limited amount of notes than can fit on
one line, it was becoming a bit of a hassle. I only put in measure lines
where I thought there was some kind of interesting change in the music.
This first riff has its base from a Phish tune called David Bowie. The solo
has been modified. I find this to be an excellent riff to combine picking
speed with left-hand coordination. The subtle switches in chord forms make for
a real nice sound, as well as provide a good exercise in dexterity.
You should try placing your fingers on the fretboard as follows:
------ During the riff. you will raise your second finger to make a
||||11 nice change.
||||2|
||||||
------
|||||3
||||||
[Repeat Once]
/\ /\ /\ /\
|--17--17--14-------17--17--14------17--14------17--14------|
|--------------15---------------15----------15----------15--|
|.----------------------------------------------------------|
|.----------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
/\ /\ /\ /\
|-17--14------|---17--17--14------17--17--14------17--14----|
|---------15--(14)------------14--------------14----------14|
|-------------|---------------------------------------------|
|-------------|---------------------------------------------|
|-------------|---------------------------------------------|
|-------------|---------------------------------------------|
/\ /\ /\ /\
|--17--14------17--14------|19--19--16------19--19--16------|
|----------14----------14--|------------17--------------17--|
|--------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------|--------------------------------|
/\ /\ /\
|-----19--16------19--16-----|------19--19--16------19----|
|-------------17----------17-|-(16)-------------16--------|
|----------------------------|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|----------------------------|
/\ /\ /\ /\
|-----19--16------19--16------19--16------19--16----------|
|-------------16----------16----------16----------16------|
|--------------------------------------------------------.|
|--------------------------------------------------------.|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
[Repeat Once]
/\ /\
|---15--15--12------15--15-/17--17--14------17--17------|
|---------------13----------------------15--------------|
|.------------------------------------------------------|
|.------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
/\ /\ /\ /\
|-19--16------19--16------19--16------19--16---------------|
|---------17----------17----------17----------17-----------|
|---------------------------------------------------------.|
|---------------------------------------------------------.|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
[Repeat Entire thing]
This popular riff is one that you may recognize as "Every Breath You Take" by
The Police. I'm not sure if it follows exactly the same pattern of changes
as the song, as I have not heard it for a while, but you can always change the
pattern of changes to your taste, as I often do. This riff is one that will
build up strength in your fingers. It has some tough reaches and can be
agonizing for the beginner. If this is the case, then this riff is perfect
for you. The first few times playing the riff, you may only be able to hammer
out a few measures before your fingers begin to hurt. Improvement will come
dramatically as your fingers strengthen. Within little time this riff will
come easy. A little digital delay gives this riff the perfect sound.
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|.-------------2-----------------------2-------------------|
|.-------6--------6-----6--------6--------6-----6----------|
|-----4-----4--------4--------4-----4--------4-------------|
|--2-----------------------2-------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------6-----------------------6-------------------|
|--------9--------9-----9--------9--------9-----9----------|
|-----7-----5--------7--------7-----5--------7-------------|
|--5-----------------------5-------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|--------9-----7-----------------11------9-----------------|
|-----7-----7-----7-----7-----9-------9------9-----9-------|
|--5-----------------5-----7--------------------7----------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------7--------------------------7--------------|
|---------11--------11-----11--------11--------11-----11---|
|------9------9---------9---------9------9---------9-------|
|---7--------------------------7---------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------2-----------------------2------------------|
|---------6--------6-----6--------6--------6-----6---------|
|------4-----4--------4--------4-----4--------4------------|
|---2-----------------------2------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------6-----------------------6-------------------|
|--------9--------9-----7--------5--------9-----7----------|
|-----7-----7--------5--------7-----7--------5-------------|
|--5-----------------------5-------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|--------9-----7-----------------11-----9------------------.|
|-----7-----7-----7-----7-----9------9-----9-----9---------.|
|--5-----------------5-----7------------------7-------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Please pring these out, take them to your guitar and try them out. I'd be
interested in knowing whether these riffs have been helpful. If there is
enough demand, I will print up some more finger-building riffs.
Gary Morris
gwmorris@wam.umd.edu