Confessions on the Fretboard: Confession #33 - 16th Note Boot Camp (Part 2)

Last week, we started a series of exercises to help you get comfortable with playing 16th notes (see Confession #32 - 16th Note Boot Camp (Part 1)).

Basic Training - Continued

This week we'll explore some exercises that put two pairs of 16th notes in a measure, the rest of which is filled with steady 8th notes. Below the exercises is an audio only YouTube video which demonstrates each of the exercises, and gives you something to play along with to practice.

Again, the demonstrations are at 60 beats per minute and when practicing the exercises without the video, use a metronome! (see Confession #5 - Use a Metronome!)

Exercise #4

The 4th exercise puts four 16th notes in each beat in the measure, one at a time.

Exercise #4
(Click to Enlarge)

Count and pick this exercise as follows:

Beat 1

1 ee & uh 2 & 3 & 4 &
d u d u d d d d d d

Beat 2

1 & 2 ee & uh 3 & 4 &
d d d u d u d d d d

Beat 3

1 & 2 & 3 ee & uh 4 &
d d d d d u d u d d

Beat 4

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 ee & uh
d d d d d d d u d u

Exercise #5

The 5th exercise puts four 16th notes together, starting on the "and" of one beat and stretching into the next beat.

Exercise #5
(Click to Enlarge)

Count and pick this exercise as follows:

Beat 1 into 2

1 & uh 2 ee & 3 & 4 &
d d u d u d d d d d

Beat 2 into 3

1 & 2 & uh 3 ee & 4 &
d d d d u d u d d d

Beat 3 into Beat 4

1 & 2 & 3 & uh 4 ee &
d d d d d d u d u d

Beat 4 into Beat 1

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & uh 1 ee & 2
d d d d d d d d u d u d d

Video

Next week we'll look at some exercises that use more complicated 16th note patterns and a trick for translating complicated looking patterns into something more familiar.