# Learn Guitar — Drills > Interactive page: [`drills.html`](drills.html) Short **practice loops** that wake the hands and name the neck. These are not songs. Evenness beats speed. Use the metronome — start near 60. **Technique path:** Drills · [Exercises](exercises.md) · style pages ([Folk](drills-folk.md) · [Classical](drills-classical.md) · [Rock](drills-rock.md) · [Metal](drills-metal.md) · [Solo](drills-solo.md)) · full picking lessons on [Alternate](alternate.md) · [Economy](economy.md) · [Sweep](sweep.md). Where a drill is a shape or a picking pattern, **TAB** sits next to the explanation (high e on top). How to read it: [Foundations · TAB](foundations.md). The style-specific drills live on their own pages (linked above). For longer technique work that builds those skills into a daily gym, use [Exercises](exercises.md) and the matching style gym ([Folk](exercises-folk.md) · [Classical](exercises-classical.md) · [Rock](exercises-rock.md) · [Metal](exercises-metal.md) · [Solo](exercises-solo.md)). **Ten-minute path** — pick a track. On the HTML page, Play becomes Stop on the same button. - **Beginner** — 2 min chromatic · 2 min open-string names · 4 min Folk boom-chick or downs · 2 min stretch. Stay near 60. - **Intermediate** — 2 min chromatic reverse · 2 min find-every-natural · 4 min Rock power-chords or Classical i–m · 2 min hammer-ons. - **Advanced** — 2 min 16th alternate pick · 2 min first-position notes at tempo · 4 min Metal start/stop or Solo bend control · 2 min independence. Silence between notes counts. **Sources (two-check):** Hal Leonard Guitar Method Book 1 (chromatic, downstrokes, first-position notes) · Berklee guitar-lab practice of locking the right hand to a click · classical left-hand primers / Carcassi–Sor (one finger per fret, i–m alternation) · conventional rock power-chord and minor-pentatonic box-1 shapes. Jazz and high-skill lead stay out. One fret per finger: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. Under each TAB: **LH** finger, **RH** D/U, then the note name. The HTML page has no neck diagram — a moving bar on the TAB follows the sounding note. ## Hands **Chromatic 1-2-3-4** — frets 1-2-3-4 on every string, low E up to high e. Reverse is 4-3-2-1, high e down to low E. Low E → high e: ``` e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1---2---3---4 B|-------------------------------------------------------------------1---2---3---4---------------- G|---------------------------------------------------1---2---3---4-------------------------------- D|-----------------------------------1---2---3---4------------------------------------------------ A|-------------------1---2---3---4---------------------------------------------------------------- E|---1---2---3---4-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LH 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 RH D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U F F# G G# A# B C C# D# E F F# G# A A# B C C# D D# F F# G G# ``` High e → low E: ``` e|---4---3---2---1-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B|-------------------4---3---2---1---------------------------------------------------------------- G|-----------------------------------4---3---2---1------------------------------------------------ D|---------------------------------------------------4---3---2---1-------------------------------- A|-------------------------------------------------------------------4---3---2---1---------------- E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------4---3---2---1 LH 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 RH D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U G# G F# F D# D C# C B A# A G# F# F E D# C# C B A# G# G F# F ``` **Spider** — one finger per fret on four adjacent strings, then reverse (1-2-3-4-4-3-2-1). Walk that shape down the neck: e–B–G–D, then B–G–D–A, then G–D–A–E. ``` e|---1---------------------------1---------------------------------------------------------------- B|-------2-------------------2-------1---------------------------1-------------------------------- G|-----------3-----------3---------------2-------------------2-------1---------------------------1 D|---------------4---4-----------------------3-----------3---------------2-------------------2---- A|-----------------------------------------------4---4-----------------------3-----------3-------- E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------4---4------------ LH 1 2 3 4 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 4 3 2 1 RH D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U F C# A# F# F# A# C# F C A F C# C# F A C G# E C G# G# C E G# ``` **Stretch** — index on fret 1, pinky on fret 4 of the same string, low E to high e. Move it to 5–8 when 1–4 feels honest. ``` e|-------------------------------------------1---4 B|-----------------------------------1---4-------- G|---------------------------1---4---------------- D|-------------------1---4------------------------ A|-----------1---4-------------------------------- E|---1---4---------------------------------------- LH 1 4 1 4 1 4 1 4 1 4 1 4 RH D U D U D U D U D U D U F G# A# C# D# F# G# B C D# F G# ``` **Alternate picking** — open low E, down-up eighths locked to the click. Then **string cross**: low E → D → high e → back. ``` e|-------------------------------- B|-------------------------------- G|-------------------------------- D|-------------------------------- A|-------------------------------- E|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0 LH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 RH D U D U D U D U E E E E E E E E ``` ``` e|-----------0-------- B|-------------------- G|-------------------- D|-------0-------0---- A|-------------------- E|---0---------------0 LH 0 0 0 0 0 RH D U D U D E D E D E ``` ## Notes and the neck Say the name before the pick lands. Note names sit under each TAB. Game version: [Quest · fretboard ID](quest.md). **Open strings** — E A D G B e, low to high and back. ``` e|-----------------------0-------------------- B|-------------------0-------0---------------- G|---------------0---------------0------------ D|-----------0-----------------------0-------- A|-------0-------------------------------0---- E|---0---------------------------------------0 LH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 RH D U D U D U D U D U D E A D G B E B G D A E ``` **Natural notes on every string** — each string shows frets 0–12 beside 13–24. Whole steps sit two frets apart; B–C and E–F are one fret. Across the strings, the same notes sit in the ten vertical CAGED figures below. ``` Low E E|---0---1---3---5---7---8--10--12 E|--13--15--17--19--20--22--24 E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E A A|---0---2---3---5---7---8--10--12 A|--14--15--17--19--20--22--24 A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A D D|---0---2---3---5---7---9--10--12 D|--14--15--17--19--21--22--24 D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D G G|---0---2---4---5---7---9--10--12 G|--14--16--17--19--21--22--24 G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G B B|---0---1---3---5---6---8--10--12 B|--13--15--17--18--20--22--24 B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B high e e|---0---1---3---5---7---8--10--12 e|--13--15--17--19--20--22--24 E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E ``` **Vertical naturals · CAGED** — the walks above stay on one string (horizontal). These ten figures are the same natural notes across the strings (vertical) — C, A, G, E, D, then the same five from the 12th fret up — covering frets 0–24. Figure 1 is first-position C, filled out. The tonic-to-tonic reading ladder stays on [Classical drills](drills-classical.md); chord-shape depth on [CAGED](caged.md). **Figure 1 · C shape · first position · frets 0–3** ``` e|-----------------------------------------------------------0---1---3 B|-----------------------------------------------0---1---3------------ G|---------------------------------------0---2------------------------ D|---------------------------0---2---3-------------------------------- A|---------------0---2---3-------------------------------------------- E|---0---1---3-------------------------------------------------------- LH 0 1 3 0 2 3 0 2 3 0 2 0 1 3 0 1 3 RH D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G ``` **Figure 2 · A shape · frets 2–6** ``` e|-----------------------------------------------------------3---5 B|-----------------------------------------------3---5---6-------- G|-----------------------------------2---4---5-------------------- D|-----------------------2---3---5-------------------------------- A|-----------2---3---5-------------------------------------------- E|---3---5-------------------------------------------------------- LH 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 2 4 4 2 4 RH D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A ``` **Figure 3 · G shape · frets 4–8** ``` e|-----------------------------------------------------------5---7---8 B|-----------------------------------------------5---6---8------------ G|-----------------------------------4---5---7------------------------ D|---------------------------5---7------------------------------------ A|---------------5---7---8-------------------------------------------- E|---5---7---8-------------------------------------------------------- LH 2 4 4 2 4 4 2 4 1 2 4 2 3 4 2 4 4 RH D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C ``` **Figure 4 · E shape · frets 8–12** ``` e|---------------------------------------------------------------8--10--12 B|---------------------------------------------------8--10--12------------ G|---------------------------------------9--10--12------------------------ D|---------------------------9--10--12------------------------------------ A|---------------8--10--12------------------------------------------------ E|---8--10--12------------------------------------------------------------ LH 1 3 4 1 3 4 2 3 4 2 3 4 1 3 4 1 3 4 RH D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U C D E F G A B C D E F G G A B C D E ``` **Figure 5 · D shape · frets 9–13** ``` e|----------------------------------------------------------10--12--13 B|----------------------------------------------10--12--13------------ G|-----------------------------------9--10--12------------------------ D|-----------------------9--10--12------------------------------------ A|--------------10--12------------------------------------------------ E|--10--12--13-------------------------------------------------------- LH 2 4 4 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 2 4 4 2 4 4 RH D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F ``` **Figure 6 · C shape · octave up · frets 12–15** ``` e|----------------------------------------------------------12--13--15 B|----------------------------------------------12--13--15------------ G|--------------------------------------12--14------------------------ D|--------------------------12--14--15-------------------------------- A|--------------12--14--15-------------------------------------------- E|--12--13--15-------------------------------------------------------- LH 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4 1 3 1 2 4 1 2 4 RH D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G ``` **Figure 7 · A shape · octave up · frets 14–18** ``` e|----------------------------------------------------------15--17 B|----------------------------------------------15--17--18-------- G|----------------------------------14--16--17-------------------- D|----------------------14--15--17-------------------------------- A|----------14--15--17-------------------------------------------- E|--15--17-------------------------------------------------------- LH 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 2 4 4 2 4 RH D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A ``` **Figure 8 · G shape · octave up · frets 16–20** ``` e|----------------------------------------------------------17--19--20 B|----------------------------------------------17--18--20------------ G|----------------------------------16--17--19------------------------ D|--------------------------17--19------------------------------------ A|--------------17--19--20-------------------------------------------- E|--17--19--20-------------------------------------------------------- LH 2 4 4 2 4 4 2 4 1 2 4 2 3 4 2 4 4 RH D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C ``` **Figure 9 · E shape · octave up · frets 20–24** ``` e|--------------------------------------------------------------20--22--24 B|--------------------------------------------------20--22--24------------ G|--------------------------------------21--22--24------------------------ D|--------------------------21--22--24------------------------------------ A|--------------20--22--24------------------------------------------------ E|--20--22--24------------------------------------------------------------ LH 1 3 4 1 3 4 2 3 4 2 3 4 1 3 4 1 3 4 RH D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U C D E F G A B C D E F G G A B C D E ``` **Figure 10 · D shape · octave up · frets 21–24** ``` e|--------------------------------------------------22--24 B|------------------------------------------22--24-------- G|------------------------------21--22--24---------------- D|------------------21--22--24---------------------------- A|----------22--24---------------------------------------- E|--22--24------------------------------------------------ LH 2 4 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 2 4 2 4 RH D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D E G A B C D E F G A B D E ``` **Find every natural** — the maps are the answer key. Learn a few **home seats**, then jump. Justin-style octave shapes after the E and A strings are solid · Hal Leonard / first-position reading for the first five frets · inlay dots (3, 5, 7, 12) as landmarks. One letter a day beats a tour of all seven. **Day’s order:** G (open + dots) · E and A (open strings) · C (first-position home) · then D, F, B. High e is free — same letters as low E, same frets. **If you blank:** nearest landmark, then count. B–C and E–F are one fret; every other natural step is two. Landmarks on the two master strings: ``` Low E E|---3---5---7--12 G A B E A A|---3---5---7--12 C D E A ``` Octave jump — two strings toward the floor and **two frets** toward the body, or **three frets** if the jump crosses G→B. High e matches low E at the same fret. ``` E → D · 2+2 A → G · 2+2 D → B · 2+3 G → e · 2+3 E|-3---- A|-3---- D|-5---- G|-0---- D|----5- G|----5- B|----8- e|----3- G G C C G G G G ``` **G** — home: open G, E/3 (dot), e/3 (twin). 0–12: E/3 A/10 D/5 G/0 G/12 B/8 e/3 · 13–24: E/15 A/22 D/17 G/24 B/20 e/15 **E** — home: both open E strings; same letters at fret 12. 0–12: E/0 E/12 A/7 D/2 G/9 B/5 e/0 e/12 · 13–24: E/24 A/19 D/14 G/21 B/17 e/24 **A** — home: open A, E/5 (dot). 0–12: E/5 A/0 A/12 D/7 G/2 B/10 e/5 · 13–24: E/17 A/24 D/19 G/14 B/22 e/17 **C** — home: A/3 (dot), B/1 (first-position C). 0–12: E/8 A/3 D/10 G/5 B/1 e/8 · 13–24: E/20 A/15 D/22 G/17 B/13 e/20 **D** — home: open D, A/5 (dot). 0–12: E/10 A/5 D/0 D/12 G/7 B/3 e/10 · 13–24: E/22 A/17 D/24 G/19 B/15 e/22 **F** — home: one fret above E — E/1 and e/1. 0–12: E/1 A/8 D/3 G/10 B/6 e/1 · 13–24: E/13 A/20 D/15 G/22 B/18 e/13 **B** — home: open B, E/7 (dot). 0–12: E/7 A/2 D/9 G/4 B/0 B/12 e/7 · 13–24: E/19 A/14 D/21 G/16 B/24 e/19 **Name this note** — listen, then pick the pitch. ## By style Pick *one* per session — four focused minutes beats a tour of all five. Old links like `drills.html#rock` land on this list. | Page | What is on it | |------|---------------| | [Folk](drills-folk.md) | Boom-chick through Travis, walk-downs, lok with a change, first-pieces map (PD folk, Nepali lok, chords only) | | [Classical](drills-classical.md) | Full *pima* method plus first pieces and concert-hall names (Vivaldi to Wagner — IMSLP, no printed notes) | | [Rock](drills-rock.md) | Powers through 12-bar and syncopated mute, first-pieces map (I–IV–V / four-chord — no copied riffs) | | [Metal](drills-metal.md) | Chug through gallop-with-a-change, first-pieces map — an 8-bar rhythm you write, no transcribed riffs | | [Solo](drills-solo.md) | Box 1 through picking families, triad arpeggios, tapping, first pieces over a loop | Continue: [Exercises](exercises.md) · [Break rut](break-rut.md) · [Play along](songs.md) · [Quest](quest.md)