Technique

Exercises for Cuatro

In this week’s lessons we will focus on technique exercises.

o Exercise #1
• We will focus on articulation for this exercise. Make sure your
notes sound long and connected. Sound should never stop
when switching notes.
• Picking patterns we will use will change; first we will pick
using only down strokes while playing this exercise.
• Next we will practice using only up strokes.
• Make sure your left hand thumb rests at the center of the neck
and is in line with your index finger always.
• Left hand fingers should stay as close to the fret board as
possible.
o Exercise #2
• Same basics as exercise #1, now we play each note twice,
always think of articulation.
• Now our picking patter will change, we will always alternate
our picking using one down stroke and one up stroke and
repeat this pattern.
• Make sure both your down and upstrokes have the same
amount of volume and that you play both strings.
o Exercise #3
• Now we work on shifting, first bar starts like exercise #1, but
as we go up the fret board, after the 4th finger we return to our
1st finger. When we go back down the scale, we shift from 1st
finger to 4th finger.
• Make sure to always be articulating and not let the sound cut
off as you shift.
• We can practice all 3 picking techniques now while down this
(all down stroke, all up stroke, alternating).
• Every time we shift, our thumb should always be aligned with
our 1st finger.
• Practice on every string
• Have fun!!!

All of these exercises should be practiced with a metronome at
50 bpm (beats per minute) and played faster as you get better
and speed up to 100 bpm.

https://www.musicca.com/metronome