Weekly Workout: Ascending and Descending Slurs

The hammer-on and pull-off exercises in this lesson will strengthen your hand and increase your finger independence. These can be intense workouts for your hand if you’ve never done anything like them before. By using all combinations of fingers you really work all the muscles in your hand— some of which may not be used to this kind of heavy lifting. Play through some simple music you’re comfortable with before trying them, and only do as many as are comfortable; then try to increase your stamina with each practice session.