The Almighty 1 2 3 4 Combinations Workout

September 7, 2013 By Klaus Crow 13 Comments

The 1 2 3 4 exercise is a notorious warmup exercise that many skilled and famous guitar players have adopted
in their regular workout.

It’s the perfect exercise to develop dexterity and increase your speed.

In the beginning, it tends to be a little bit boring because of the monotonous movements, but after a while your
fingers get accustomed to the stretch and finger placement and you’ll start feeling the rush of getting up to
speed. You’ll notice your fingers become more flexible and capable and eventually you’ll get hooked on the
exercise.

Also playing chords, fill ins, licks, arpeggios and everything else on the guitar becomes a lot easier, even
effortless, depending on how much you practice.

This is the Almighty 1 2 3 4 Combinations Workout:

START OFF…
with putting your index finger on the low E-string 1st fret (and down stroke with the pick), then your middle
finger on the 2nd fret (upstroke with the pick), your ring finger on the 3rd fret (downstroke) and pinky on the
4th fret (upstroke).

Then index finger on the A-string 1st fret (down stroke), middle finger 2nd fret (upstroke), ring finger 3rd fret
(downstroke) and pinky 4th fret (upstroke). Continue like this all the way up to the high E-string.

Then move your finger position (1,2,3,4) up a half step (2,3,4,5) and play the same pattern from the high E-
string back to the Low E-string. So this time index finger on the high E-string 2nd fret (down stroke), middle
finger 3rd fret (upstroke), ring finger 4th fret (downstroke), pinky 5th fret (upstroke). And continue all the way
down to the Low E-string.

When finished, again move finger position up a half step (3,4,5,6) and take off. Continue this process until your
finger position has reached the 12th fret (12,13,14,15) and then go all the way back again (11,12,13,14)
(10,11,12,13) (9,10,11,12) (8,9,10,11) … until you reached (1,2,3,4). See example below.

TIPS:

– For great results practice the exercises for a total of 30 minutes a day.
– If you can’t spend 30 minutes, 5 to 15 minutes a day will also pay off.
– Left hand: Press the fingers as close to the fret as possible (but not on the top of the fret).
– Left hand: Keep your fingertips as close to the strings as possible while playing the exercise.
– Left hand: Start slow and make sure each note sounds perfectly clear before you increase your speed.
– Right hand: Use alternate picking. (down stroke, up stroke, down stroke, up stroke, etc.)
– Right hand: Experiment with how you hold your pick, change the angle of your pick to increase speed.
– Practice as many of the different combinations below to achieve ultimate dexterity.

Stick with it and you’ll find it rewarding!

Have fun!
4 NOTES PER STRING COMBINATIONS

Go all the way up to the 12th fret and then back down again.

Try all these 4 notes per strings combinations over a period of time,
and you will definitely feel the excitement of dexterity and speed improvement:
1234, 1243, 1324, 1342, 1423, 1432
2134, 2143, 2314, 2341, 2413, 2431
3124, 3142, 3214, 3241, 3412, 3421
4123, 4132, 4213, 4231, 4312, 4321
3 NOTES PER STRING COMBINATIONS

Go all the way up to the 12th fret and back down again.
Here are some 3 notes per string combinations:

134, 143, 314, 341, 413, 431

124, 142, 214, 241, 412, 421
123, 132, 213, 231, 312, 321
For the combinations below use middle finger for the 2nd fret, ring finger for 3rd fr. and pinky for 4th fr.:

234, 243, 324, 342, 423, 432

2 NOTES PER STRING COMBINATIONS

Go all the way up to the 12th fret and back down again.
Here are some more 2 notes per string combinations:

(i=index, m=middle finger, r=ring

finger, p=pinky)

14, 41, 13, 31, 12, 21

ip, pi, ir, ri, im, mi

24, 42, 23, 32, 34, 43

mp, pm, mr, rm, rp, pr

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