Guitar String Skipping Exercise
Play the patterns that jump between non-adjacent strings, for example from string 6 to string 4. Use strict alternate picking and mute the strings you skip. Start slowly with a metronome and play every pattern until the jumps sound as smooth as notes on adjacent strings.
Octave string skipping
Pentatonic string skipping
Goal
Improve picking-hand accuracy and muting, so that wide intervals, arpeggios and melodic jumps sound clean instead of hitting the wrong string.
How to practise
- Alternate pick strictly, even when skipping. This forces the picking hand to travel accurately.
- Mute unused strings: the fretting-hand fingers lightly touch higher strings, the picking-hand palm rests on lower strings.
- Metronome at 60 BPM, eighth notes. Raise by 5 BPM after four clean repetitions.
- Look at the target string only at the beginning; aim to play the pattern by feel.
- Try the scale-based patterns at the end of the sheet: play a scale in octaves or tenths using skips.
Self-check
Listen for unwanted ringing strings and missed notes. If you hear noise between notes, focus on muting at a slower tempo.
Next steps
Combine this with alternate picking and guitar arpeggios. Use the metronome and see the practice method lesson for a tempo-tracking routine.