Music Exercises

These exercises were created in the interest of creating guided practice that my students can do on their own. Some exercises might be too hard towards the middle or end, so don’t be afraid to lower the speed or invest some practice time on a particular part.

This way of practicing promotes wholistic musical progression. When playing these exercises, you can focus on any or all of the following critical musical concepts:

  • Learning the building blocks of music: scales, chords, arpeggios, music notation, harmony, etc.

  • Consistent, slow, practice. By playing along with the playback on the top left of each exercise, you can develop good habits and muscle memory.

  • Ear Training: singing along to internalize these concepts to further connect your inner musical voice to your instrument.

Experiment with the Score View and Parts settings to optimize it for your use. For example, guitarists can choose to hide/show the tab part if you are trying to learn how to read music. You can also decrease or increase the tempo underneath the Play button (after hitting “Play”).

I’ll add more as time allows!

Guitar

Beginner Exercises

Major Scale Play-Along Practice

These are a good introduction to the major scales and keys:

Intro to C Major Scale

Intro to G Major Scale

Intro to D Major Scale

Intro to A Major Scale

Intro to E Major Intro

C Major Scale Practice

G Major Scale Practice

D Major Scale Practice

A Major Scale Practice

E Major Scale Practice

Beginner Reading Exercises

Rhythm/Reading Intro (open pos.)

Melodies/Repertoire

Psalms 100 (Doxology)

Beginner Chord Lessons

Chords: Intro to G Triad Inversions

Beginner Melody Ear Training

Melodies in C Major (1-5 in mel.)

Intermediate Exercises

Positional Major Scale Play-Along Practice

C Major (1st pos.)

C Major (2nd pos.)

C Major (3rd/4th pos.)

G Major (2nd pos.)

G Major (3rd pos.)

G Major (3rd/4th pos.)

Scales: D Major (2nd/5th pos.)

Scales: D Major (4th/5th pos.)

Scales: A Major (2nd pos.)

(other positions coming soon)

Scales: E Major Extended

(other positions coming soon)

Scales: All Major Keys Quick Warmup

Minor Scale Play-Along Practice

Scales: Harmonic Minor (12 Keys)

Intervals, Chords, Arpeggios

Intro to C 3rds (open pos.)

G Major Arpeggio (open pos.)

Melodies/Repertoire

Bach’s Minuet in G (2 parts w/ tab)

Simple Gifts (3 parts w/ tab)

Advanced Exercises

Dividing Into 8: C Major (scale/rhythm warmup)

8 Bar Major Progression: All 12 Keys

Jazz Guitar Lessons

Chords: Intro to C Major 2/5/1

8 Bar Jazz Progression: All 12 Keys (Diatonic 7th chords)

5/4/3/2: All 12 Keys (Barry Harris Melody Exercise)