If your looking for great exercises to help your picking, one of the best places to look is in classical music. Some of the greatest composers have written pieces that have some amazing technique building passages in them. Listen to non-guitar music and try to adapt the ideas that you hear in it to guitar. Its probably easiest to start with a somewhat similar instrument, like the violin, as I have done today. I have given you a few to help get you started. The first three are violin parts and the fourth is for organ. For more alternate picking help check out my John Petrucci Alternate Picking Lesson.
DIES IRAE- Mozart
This one is from Mozart’s Requiem. It is a violin part that uses some arpeggios. It would been pretty much impossible to sweep these so use alternate picking. Be sure to observe the repeat in measure two. Great Exercise!
BWV 779 Two Part Invention- J.S. Bach
This is only the beginning to this piece, and it is obviously only one part to the two part invention. Nevertheless, it is a good alternate picking workout to practice.
Caprice no.5- Paganini
Many guitarist have done a version of this one. Jason Becker has a good one. Steve Vai famous solo from Crossroads is based on this song. This is the beginning of Paganini’s original version.
Toccata and Fugue in D minor- J.S. Bach
This is from the toccata part of the toccata and fugue.
If you have any question or comments please email me at mdguitarteacher@gmail.com
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These are great! Thank you for sharing!