The Spider Exercise

Martin Guitar
Move like a spider!
Imagine how a spider moves, a leg comes down and another is lifted. A spider always has a leg firmly planted and so should you!
Your first finger (spider leg) doesn't come up until the next finger is down.

$# %# # $# %# #
Exercise 1

# #
Ŋ ""

Ø ""
5 6 7 8 5 6 7 8

Practise SLOWLY! These exercises are about developing technique, slow and steady wins the race.

# $# %# # #
Exercise 2

# # &#
Ŋ

Ø
5 6 7 8
5 6 7 8

Exercise 3 Focus on curling and using the tip of your fingers.

# # $# # # # $# #
Ŋ

Ø
8 7 6 5 8 7 6 5
 Exercise 4 Feeling comfortable? Relax that hand.

# # $# # # &# %# #
Ŋ

Ø
8 7 6 5
8 7 6 5

#
Exercise 5

$# %#
Once you feel really comfortable and relaxed it is time to move on to the other strings.

# # # &# # $#
# $# %#
Ŋ

Ø
5 6 7 8
5 6 7 8
5 6 7 8

Ŋ # $# %# $# #
# $# %# $# %# #
#

Ø 5 6 7 8
5 6 7 8
5 6 7 8

Exercise 6 Still moving like a spider? The notes are connected and the fingers are curled?

# # $# # # &# %# # $# # $# #
Ŋ

Ø
8 7 6 5
8 7 6 5
8 7 6 5

Ŋ $# # $# # # # $# # # # $# #

Ø 8 7 6 5
8 7 6 5
8 7 6 5

2
 Martin Guitar
Online Guitar Lessons

The Spider Exercise

Whether you are new to guitar or have been playing for years this is a great exercise to
develop your left hand technique. Developing speed, accuracy, and tone quality has a lot to
do with the manner you move your hand. Notice I
say your hand, not your fingers although they
obviously do most of the moving. The focus here
is to get the hand to move dynamically, as a unit
rather than as five separate limbs. A good
visualisation of good left hand movement is to
think of a spider moving. It moves a leg or two
while the other legs are still and planted to the
ground.

When playing this exercise you want to always

have at least one finger making solid contact with
the fretboard at all times. The first finger does not
come off the fretboard until the second finger has
come down. You may need to exaggerate this
movement in the beginning until it becomes natural but don’t leave non-playing fingers on
the fretboard too long as this causes tension. The non-playing fingers should rest up in the
air just off the strings, ready for action but totally relaxed. It is also important to curl your
finger and to use the tip of your finger to play the note (this is a theme I will come back to
constantly to remind you). Having trouble relaxing? Don’t worry, developing this movement
takes some time. Practise slowly and deliberately, using the tip of your finger. Try to work
this exercise in to your practise routine for 5 minutes once or twice a week. Before long it
will start to creep into your other playing and become part of the improvement goals your
subconscious is constantly working on as you play.

Have fun and good luck!

Martin