Classical exercises
Thumb (p), index (i), middle (m), ring (a). Plant before you play. These are gym-length pima cards; the full method lives on Classical drills.
Technique path: Drills · Exercises · this page
Each card has pedagogy, TAB (A string on top — see Foundations · TAB), and Play. One model at a time; Play becomes Stop. Tempo follows the metronome.
Suggested order
Beginner
i–m on open A. Then plant p–i–m–a once, slowly.
Intermediate
p–i–m–i over Em. Walking thumb on open G–C–E.
Advanced
Independence seed. Then deepen on Classical drills.
Classical · pima
Plant before you play. Full method: Classical drills. Travis seed (folk door into fingers): Folk exercises.
i–m on open A
Index and middle take turns on the open A string (top line). Never the same finger twice. This pair does most scale work for the rest of your life.
A|-0---0---0---0-| i m i m E|----------------- C|----------------- G|-----------------
Deeper: Classical drills · i–m.
Plant p–i–m–a
Set each finger on the string, then play open Em seats p–i–m–a. Planting kills the buzz; later plant the next finger as the current one plays.
A|-----------2----- a E|--------3-------- m C|-----4----------- i G|-0--------------- p
Carcassi and Sor studies assume this habit.
p–i–m–i over Em
Thumb on G, i and m on C and E; i returns. Hold Em ([0,4,3,2]). a stays out. Same family as Giuliani’s patterns.
A|----------------- E|--------3-----3-- m / i C|-----4-----4----- i G|-0--------------- p
Deeper: Classical drills · pattern library.
Walking thumb on basses
Thumb walks open G–C–E–C. Fingers stay planted lightly on A. Thumb does not wander onto the A string.
A|----------------- E|-------0-------0- C|----0-------0---- G|-0--------------- p
Deeper: Classical drills · walking thumb.
Independence seed
Thumb plays a bass note on every click while i and m alternate on the off-beats. Two rhythms, one hand. Start absurdly slow — this is coordination, not speed.
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & A|----0-------0--- m E|--0-------0----- i C|-0---0---0---0- p G|-----------------
Deeper: Classical drills · independence. Hands-together version: Exercises · thumb bass + i–m.
Practice note
How long: 8–10 minutes. Two on i–m, four on one arpeggio pattern, two on independence at half tempo.
Listen for: even volume between fingers, and no buzz after planting.
Then deepen: Classical drills (pattern library, rest-stroke, first pieces). Pair with method-book doors (Sor / Carcassi / Giuliani).