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Patterns 1–20: the foundations

Read one pattern, prepare its strings and listen for the same balance on both chords.

Practise the first pattern
Reference chords · string 1 = high E, string 6 = low E
ChordStrings 6 → 1: fretsLeft-hand fingers 6 → 1
C major× · 3 · 2 · 0 · 1 · 0× · 3 · 2 · 0 · 1 · 0
G7, position from Werner's PDF3 · 2 · 0 · 0 · 3 · 13 · 2 · 0 · 0 · 4 · 1

0 = open string; × = string not played. Follow the frets for each attack below: the bass and some chord positions change with the pattern.

Parentheses mean simultaneous attacks. String 1 is high E. Each column is one attack; string/fret pairs follow the indicated fingers.

Pattern 1

Simultaneous attacks and moving bass notes.

(p+i+m) → (p+i+m) → (p+i+m) → (p+i+m)

Four quarter notes in 4/4; bass and two treble notes together.

Pattern 1: strings and frets for each attack
Chord1234
C5/3 + 2/1 + 1/04/2 + 2/1 + 1/03/0 + 2/1 + 1/05/3 + 2/1 + 1/0
G75/2 + 2/3 + 1/14/0 + 2/3 + 1/13/0 + 2/3 + 1/15/2 + 2/3 + 1/1

Week 1 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 1

Pattern 2

Ascending arpeggio with a moving thumb.

(p) → (i) → (m) → (p) → (i) → (m) → (p) → (i) → (m) → (p) → (i) → (m)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 2: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C5/32/11/04/22/11/03/02/11/05/32/11/0
G75/22/31/14/02/31/13/02/31/15/22/31/1

Week 1 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 2

Pattern 3

Descending fingers with moving bass notes.

(p) → (m) → (i) → (p) → (m) → (i) → (p) → (m) → (i) → (p) → (m) → (i)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 3: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C5/31/02/14/21/02/13/01/02/15/31/02/1
G75/21/12/34/01/12/33/01/12/35/21/12/3

Week 1 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 3

Pattern 4

Moving the hand across several groups of strings.

(p) → (i) → (m) → (p) → (i) → (m) → (p) → (i) → (m) → (p) → (i) → (m)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 4: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C5/34/23/04/23/02/13/02/11/05/32/11/0
G75/24/03/04/03/02/33/02/31/15/22/31/1

Week 1 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 4

Pattern 5

Thumb at the end of the group and shifting fingers.

(m) → (i) → (p) → (m) → (i) → (p) → (m) → (i) → (p) → (m) → (i) → (p)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 5: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C3/04/25/32/13/04/21/02/13/01/02/15/3
G73/04/05/22/33/04/01/12/33/01/12/35/2

Week 1 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 5

Pattern 6

Descending arpeggio on different groups of strings.

(p) → (m) → (i) → (p) → (m) → (i) → (p) → (m) → (i) → (p) → (m) → (i)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 6: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C5/33/04/24/22/13/03/01/02/15/33/04/2
G75/23/04/04/02/33/03/01/12/35/23/04/0

Week 2 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 6

Pattern 7

Ring/middle alternation and changing basses.

(p) → (i) → (a) → (p) → (i) → (m) → (p) → (i) → (a) → (p) → (i) → (m)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 7: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C5/33/01/04/23/02/15/33/01/05/33/02/1
G75/23/01/14/03/02/36/33/01/15/23/02/3

Week 2 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 7

Pattern 8

Ring finger just after the bass, with returns to the index.

(p) → (a) → (i) → (p) → (m) → (i) → (p) → (a) → (i) → (p) → (m) → (i)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 8: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C5/31/03/04/22/13/05/31/03/05/32/13/0
G75/21/13/04/02/33/06/31/13/05/22/33/0

Week 2 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 8

Pattern 9

Six attacks ascending and descending, then two short groups.

(p) → (i) → (m) → (a) → (m) → (i) → (p) → (i) → (m) → (p) → (i) → (m)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 9: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C5/33/02/11/02/13/04/23/02/15/33/02/1
G75/23/02/31/12/33/04/03/02/35/23/02/3

Week 2 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 9

Pattern 10

String skips and even m-i alternation.

(p) → (m) → (i) → (a) → (m) → (i) → (p) → (m) → (i) → (p) → (m) → (i)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 10: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C5/32/13/01/02/13/04/22/13/05/32/13/0
G75/22/33/01/12/33/04/02/33/05/22/33/0

Week 2 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 10

Pattern 11

Thumb and index together, then two separate fingers.

(p+i) → (m) → (a) → (p+i) → (m) → (a) → (p+i) → (m) → (a) → (p+i) → (m) → (a)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 11: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C5/3 + 3/02/11/04/2 + 3/02/11/05/3 + 3/02/11/04/2 + 3/02/11/0
G75/2 + 3/02/31/14/0 + 3/02/31/16/3 + 3/02/31/15/2 + 3/02/31/1

Week 3 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 11

Pattern 12

Thumb and ring finger together, then m-i descending.

(p+a) → (m) → (i) → (p+a) → (m) → (i) → (p+a) → (m) → (i) → (p+a) → (m) → (i)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 12: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C5/3 + 1/02/13/04/2 + 1/02/13/05/3 + 1/02/13/04/2 + 1/02/13/0
G75/2 + 1/12/33/04/0 + 1/12/33/06/3 + 1/12/33/05/2 + 1/12/33/0

Week 3 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 12

Pattern 13

Two consecutive a attacks on string 1, with simultaneous bass on the second.

(p+i) → (m) → (a) → (p+a) → (m) → (i) → (p+i) → (m) → (a) → (p+a) → (m) → (i)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 13: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C5/3 + 3/02/11/04/2 + 1/02/13/05/3 + 3/02/11/04/2 + 1/02/13/0
G75/2 + 3/02/31/14/0 + 1/12/33/06/3 + 3/02/31/15/2 + 1/12/33/0

Week 3 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 13

Pattern 14

Thumb and middle finger together, then an index-to-ring-finger skip.

(p+m) → (i) → (a) → (p+m) → (i) → (a) → (p+m) → (i) → (a) → (p+m) → (i) → (a)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 14: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C5/3 + 2/13/01/04/2 + 2/13/01/05/3 + 2/13/01/04/2 + 2/13/01/0
G75/2 + 2/33/01/14/0 + 2/33/01/16/3 + 2/33/01/15/2 + 2/33/01/1

Week 3 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 14

Pattern 15

Thumb and ring finger together, then i-m ascending.

(p+a) → (i) → (m) → (p+a) → (i) → (m) → (p+a) → (i) → (m) → (p+a) → (i) → (m)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 15: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C5/3 + 1/03/02/14/2 + 1/03/02/15/3 + 1/03/02/14/2 + 1/03/02/1
G75/2 + 1/13/02/34/0 + 1/13/02/36/3 + 1/13/02/35/2 + 1/13/02/3

Week 3 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 15

Pattern 16

Index on string 4, middle on 3, ring finger on 2 then 1.

(p) → (m) → (i) → (a) → (m) → (i) → (p) → (m) → (i) → (a) → (m) → (i)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 16: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C5/33/04/22/13/04/25/33/04/21/03/04/2
G75/23/04/02/33/04/05/23/04/01/13/04/0

Week 4 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 16

Pattern 17

p-i alternation across five strings.

(p) → (i) → (p) → (i) → (p) → (i) → (p) → (i) → (p) → (i) → (p) → (i)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 17: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C5/33/04/22/13/01/04/22/15/33/04/22/1
G75/23/04/02/33/01/14/02/35/23/04/02/0

Week 4 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 17

Pattern 18

Simultaneous p-m-a chord, followed by a second bass, then the index finger.

(p+m+a) → (p) → (i) → (p+m+a) → (p) → (i) → (p+m+a) → (p) → (i) → (p+m+a) → (p) → (i)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 18: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C5/3 + 2/1 + 1/04/23/05/3 + 2/1 + 1/04/23/05/3 + 2/1 + 1/04/23/05/3 + 2/1 + 1/04/23/0
G75/2 + 2/3 + 1/14/03/05/2 + 2/3 + 1/14/03/05/2 + 2/3 + 1/14/03/05/2 + 2/3 + 1/14/03/0

Week 4 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 18

Pattern 19

Two successive bass notes, with m-a on the second.

(p) → (p+m+a) → (i) → (p) → (p+m+a) → (i) → (p) → (p+m+a) → (i) → (p) → (p+m+a) → (i)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 19: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C5/34/2 + 2/1 + 1/03/05/34/2 + 2/1 + 1/03/05/34/2 + 2/1 + 1/03/05/34/2 + 2/1 + 1/03/0
G75/24/0 + 2/3 + 1/13/05/24/0 + 2/3 + 1/13/05/24/0 + 2/3 + 1/13/05/24/0 + 2/3 + 1/13/0

Week 4 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 19

Pattern 20

Two bass notes followed by a treble chord.

(p) → (p) → (i+m+a) → (p) → (p) → (i+m+a) → (p) → (p) → (i+m+a) → (p) → (p) → (i+m+a)

Twelve eighth notes grouped in threes within a 4/4 bar: implied triplets, without a printed 3. Bass notes with separate stems sustain as written in the score.

Pattern 20: strings and frets for each attack
Chord123456789101112
C5/34/23/0 + 2/1 + 1/05/34/23/0 + 2/1 + 1/05/34/23/0 + 2/1 + 1/05/34/23/0 + 2/1 + 1/0
G75/24/03/0 + 2/3 + 1/15/24/03/0 + 2/3 + 1/15/24/03/0 + 2/3 + 1/15/24/03/0 + 2/3 + 1/1

Week 4 in the practice schedule.

Practise pattern 20