String-skip zigzag riff — A minor
A riff built on wide string skips (non-adjacent strings) within the A minor pentatonic, to train picking-hand accuracy beyond a simple string-by-string run.
Tips
Once the riff feels stable, add a slow metronome and increase it in steps of 5 to 10 BPM, without ever sacrificing steadiness.
Understanding this type of exercise
What this riff trains
Pushing picking-hand accuracy beyond the string-by-string run: the pick has to find a non-adjacent string without hesitating, inside position 1 of the pentatonic.
Practical tips and common mistakes
- Anchor the hand lightly (pinky or side of the palm) to keep a fixed reference during the skips.
- Minimal forearm motion: it's mostly the wrist that rotates to change strings.
- Mute the skipped-over strings — flat fretting hand, or palm — or a missed skip is heard twice.
- Play the skeleton without rhythm first (pitches only), add the rhythm once the skips are secure.
Tablature
Fretboard position
root note other scale note
The same exercise in other keys
- String-skip zigzag riff — E minor
- String-skip zigzag riff — C minor
- String-skip zigzag riff — G minor
- String-skip zigzag riff — D minor
- String-skip zigzag riff — B minor
- String-skip zigzag riff — F minor
- String-skip zigzag riff — F# minor
- String-skip zigzag riff — C# minor
- String-skip zigzag riff — G# minor
- String-skip zigzag riff — D# minor
- String-skip zigzag riff — A# minor
Related sheets
- Blues in A (12 bars) — alternating bass fingerstyle (Level 5)
- Warm-up — wide-stretch chromatic run (Level 5)
- Blues in E — alternating bass fingerstyle (Level 5)