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Stretching Exercises
Finger
Stretching Exercises for Guitar
Before you even lay a finger on the fretboard, it's beneficial (and
important) to spend 5 or so minutes doing some simple finger stretching
exercises. Just as you would warm up and stretch before working out at
the gym or playing sport, the same applies for using your fingers.
A lot of guitarists neglect the warm up and then can't believe how much
better they play once they start adding these exercises to their
routine. They really do loosen up your fingers and allow you to make
more awkward, quicker movements on the fretboard.
Finger
stretching exercises without the guitar
 Before
you pick up the guitar find a wall and place your fret hand flat
against it at arms length. Spread your
fingers out as wide as you can but try to keep them relaxed. Don't
strain!
Slowly
lift your
palm off the wall but leave your fingers flat against the wall, from
the base to the tip. You'll feel the finger joints stretching. Don't
overdo it. If you stretch too hard too soon you risk injuring your
fingers.
When you're at the point where you can feel your
fingers stretching, but you're still comfortable, apply very slight
pressure to the wall as though
you're pressing into it with the top
pads of your fingers (just below
the tips). If you're doing it right, you should feel the base joints of
your fingers stretching, almost a slight burning sensation. If your
fingers are on fire at this point, stop immediately.
Flex your fingers in this position about 10 times (about 10 seconds)
and then slowly
release and pull your hand away from the wall.
Now, slowly clench that same hand into a fist, tighter and tighter.
Make sure it's a gradual tightening. No sudden movements.
You'll
probably feel a weird burning sensation because your fingers will still
be in their stretched position from the wall exercise. Unclench your
fist and then clench again. The sensation will soon disappear.
Again, slowly clench and unclench (your fist) about 10 times and then
repeat the
wall and fist exercises a couple more times.
Do
the same for the other hand. Might as well, even if you're only going
to be holding a pick with that hand. It'll warm it up and give it some
internal dexterity.
Wiggle your fingers around a little.
All that should only take you 3 minutes max.
Ok, now it's time to pick up the guitar for some more finger stretching
exercises.
Finger
stretching exercises using the guitar
 Before
we actually use our fingers on the fretboard to warm up, we can use the
neck of the guitar for one final stretching exercise.
Simply create a V shape between two fingers at a time and lodge the
neck between them, pushing them apart.
Push gently
against the neck to stretch out your fingers. Do this for each finger
pairing for a total of 2 minutes.
Again, wiggle your fingers.
Your
fingers should now be loose and ready to play and it should only have
taken you about 5 minutes in total! It's now time for the fretboard
warmup exercises.
Play fingerstyle guitar? You might find the below video useful for warming up...
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