2378170368 Guitar Exercise Programs

[czardas]

Having had hardly any time to work any of my ongoing major projects in the last several months, this is the first code I've written in ages. It's really for my own personal use, but thought it might interest some guitarists (there is nothing fancy in the code). Please be careful.

Instructions For Use

If you are a beginner then this program may not be for you.

Only focus on the three and four note linear patterns and get a teacher.

Do not attempt to practise any of these exercises if you experience any discomfort or pain.

This is an advanced (weekly) exercise program and not a guitar lesson.

I am not responsible for any injuries caused by bad technique.

The linear patterns and alternating shapes are relevant to all guitarists.

The arpeggios are relevant to classical flamenco and finger-style guitarists.

Only the first eight notes are given to each sequence.

It is necessary that the sequences be repeated on every string and at every fret position.

It is best to shift one fret or string at a time.

The three note linear patterns are useful in that they present a challenge to the right hand.

You must alternate index and middle finger rest strokes (or use alternating up and down pick strokes).

First practice this without the left hand (it's tricky).

The three note patterns will always neglect one left hand finger.

This neglect is counter-balanced in the five note linear patterns.

The same equal overall distribution is also applied to the right hand arpeggio fingerings.

Before attempting any of the arpeggios in the program, first study four note arpeggios.

Spend a few months practising the six standard patterns Pima, Pami, Pmia, Piam Pmai, Paim

The arpeggios are to be repeated with a variety of bass note sequences (you can invent your own).

It is best to keep the left hand as simple as possible when practising arpeggios.

I use a diminished chord shape and slide up or down one fret after each full rendition.

Run this program once every 7 to 10 days and spend 10 to 20 minutes per day repeating the generated exercises.

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#include <Array.au3>
#include <String.au3>

Dim $sGuitarProgram = _GuitarProgram()
ConsoleWrite(@CRLF & $sGuitarProgram)

Func _GuitarProgram()
    ; Three notes per string - linear patterns
    Local $aThreeSeq[2][4] = [ _
    ["231","241","341","342"], _
    ["312","412","413","423"]]

    ; Four notes per string - linear patterns
    Local $aFourSeq[9] =  [ _
    "1243","1324","1342", _
    "1423","2413","2134", _
    "2143","2314","3124"]

    ; Five notes per string - linear patterns
    Local $aFiveSeq[8][4] =  [[7,4,4,7], _
    ["14342","13243","12423","12413"], _
    ["14243","13423","21324","13412"], _
    ["24314","23143","21423","14312"], _
    ["24134","23134","23124","14213"], _
    ["24143",    "",     "","21314"], _
    ["34124",    "",     "","21413"], _
    ["34214",    "",     "","31214"]]

    ; Alternating Shapes - effective combinations
    Local $aAltShape[48] = [ _
    "12342143","13423214","21341243","24314213", _
    "12342413","13423124","21341423","24314123", _
    "12343142","13424213","21431234","24131234", _
    "12343412","13424123","21431324","24131324", _
    "12432134","14323214","23141243","32412134", _
    "12432314","14323124","23141423","32412314", _
    "12434312","14324213","23413214","31421234", _
    "12434132","14324123","23413124","31421324", _
    "13242143","14232134","23414213","34121234", _
    "13242413","14232314","23414123","34121324", _
    "13243142","14234312","24313214","34212134", _
    "13243412","14234132","24313124","34212314"]

    ; Five stroke arpeggios
    Local $aFiveArp[5][3] = [[4,2,4], _
    ["Pimia","Pmiam","Piama"], _
    ["Piaim","Pmaim","Pmaia"], _
    ["Pmiai",    "","Pamai"], _
    ["Paimi",    "","Paiam"]]

    ; Six stroke arpeggios
    Local $aSixArp[4][3] = [[3,2,3], _
    ["Pmiama","Piamai","Pimiam"], _
    ["Pmaiam","Paimia","Pmiaim"], _
    ["Pamaim",    "","Pmaimi"]]

    ; Seven stroke arpeggios
    Local $aSevenArp[6] = ["Pimiama","Piamaim","Pmiamai","Pmaimia","Pamaimi","Paimiam"]

    ; With each exercise program, no finger will be neglected.
    Local $aExercise[7] ; Random selection of exercises
    $iTemp = Random(0,3,1)
    $aExercise[0] = $aThreeSeq[Random(0, 1, 1)][$iTemp]
    $aExercise[1] = $aFourSeq[Random(0, 8, 1)]
    $aExercise[2] = $aFiveSeq[Random(1, $aFiveSeq[0][$iTemp], 1)][$iTemp]
    $aExercise[3] = $aAltShape[Random(0, 47, 1)]
    $iTemp = Random(0,2,1)
    $aExercise[4] = $aFiveArp[Random(1, $aFiveArp[0][$iTemp], 1)][$iTemp]
    $aExercise[5] = $aSixArp[Random(1, $aSixArp[0][$iTemp], 1)][$iTemp]
    $aExercise[6] = $aSevenArp[Random(0, 5, 1)]

    ; The selection of finger patterns are based on the most effective combinations
    For $i = 0 To 3
        If Random(0,1,1) Then $aExercise[$i] = _StringReverse($aExercise[$i])
    Next

    ; Tablature code
    Local $aFormat[7] = ["11122233","11112222","11111222","43214321","","",""]
    $aFormat[4] = "6" & StringRight($aExercise[4], 4) & "5" & StringMid($aExercise[4], 2, 2)
    $aFormat[5] = "6" & StringRight($aExercise[5], 5) & "5" & StringMid($aExercise[5], 2, 1)
    $aFormat[6] = "6" & StringRight($aExercise[6], 6) & "5"

    ; Associate RH fingering with strings
    For $i = 4 To 6
        $aFormat[$i] = StringReplace($aFormat[$i], "i", "3")
        $aFormat[$i] = StringReplace($aFormat[$i], "m", "2")
        $aFormat[$i] = StringReplace($aFormat[$i], "a", "1")
    Next

    ; Only the first eight notes of each sequence are given
    For $i = 0 To 6
        $aExercise[$i] = _StringModalSelect($aExercise[$i], 0, 8)
    Next

    ; Headings
    Local $aDescription[7] = _
    ["   Three Note Sequence", _
    "    Four Note Sequence", _
    "    Five Note Sequence", _
    "   Alternating Chord Shapes", _
    "    Five Stroke Arpeggio", _
    "    Six Stroke Arpeggio", _
    "    Seven Stroke Arpeggio"]

    Local $sRet = "" ; Return string

    For $i = 0 To 6 ; For each exercise
        $sRet &= $aDescription[$i] & @CRLF
        For $j = 1 To 6 ; For each string
            $sRet &= "  " ; Add padding
            For $k = 1 To 8 ; For each format instruction
                If StringMid($aFormat[$i], $k, 1) = $j Then
                    $sRet &= Chr(151) & Chr(151) & StringMid($aExercise[$i], $k, 1) ; Place fingering
                Else
                    $sRet &= Chr(151) & Chr(151) & Chr(151) ; Leave empty
                EndIf
            Next
            $sRet &= Chr(151) & Chr(151) & @CRLF ; Next string
        Next
        $sRet &= @CRLF
    Next

    Return $sRet
EndFunc


Func _StringModalSelect($sString, $iShift = 0, $iChars = 1) ; Taken from Modal UDF
    If $sString = "" Or (Not IsString($sString)) Then Return SetError(1, 0, "")
    If Not IsInt($iShift) Then Return SetError(2, 0, "")
    If (Not IsInt($iChars)) Or $iChars <= 0 Then Return SetError(3, 0, "")

    ; Get the current position of the first character for the new string
    Local $iStringLen = StringLen($sString)
    $iShift = Mod($iShift, $iStringLen)
    If $iShift >= 0 Then
        $iStart = $iShift +1
    Else
        $iStart = $iStringLen +$iShift +1
    EndIf

    Local $iEnd = $iStart +$iChars -1 ; Get the projected end character position
    If $iEnd <= $iStringLen Then
        Return StringMid($sString, $iStart, $iChars) ; The return string is contained within the original string
    Else
        $sTemp = $sString
        For $i = 1 To Int($iEnd/$iStringLen) -1
            $sTemp &= $sString ; repeat the modal string loop as required
        Next
        $sTemp = StringTrimLeft($sTemp, $iStart -1) ; remove surplus leading chars
        Return $sTemp & StringLeft($sString, Mod($iEnd, $iStringLen)) ; Add the final character sequence
    EndIf
EndFunc ;==> _StringModalSelect

Edited November 9, 2012 by czardas

[guinness]

Very nice. Nothing more to add.

[czardas]

Thanks guiness. I'm not sure if anyone will use it besides myself, but someone might want to use the idea and maybe adapt it to suit their own technical requirements. There was small a mistake in the code, which I have now fixed.

Anyone trying this must realise that the patterns are not based on music, but rather they are geared towards finger dexterity, independance, muscle memory and stamina; It is also important to realise that progress takes place slowly and over long periods of regular practice.

Edited November 14, 2012 by czardas

[JohnOne]

Not much to say right now except it's a great idea and one of my grandchildren is into

strings, so will be checking this out.

Thanks for share.

[czardas]

Thanks John. Make sure they get a local teacher - seriously. The exercises are not progressive and some are quite difficult. For younger players, the first three exercises (linear patterns played along one string) are best to practise first. With good professional advice about technique, these exercises should speed up development. With bad technique, they won't be as effective and may possibly cause muscle damage. I can't overemphasize the importance of this.

Edited November 9, 2012 by czardas

[czardas]

This has been driving me barmy all day. Missing from the exercises above are ligados (hammer ons and pull offs). The criteria for generating these patterns turns out to be more complicated.

There are 12 possible finger pair combinations selecting from four fingers 1-2, 1-3, 4-2 etc... The ligados are split into sets of two or three fingers, and wherever possible each subsequent set must begin (sequentially) with the final finger of the previous set. (1-4) (4-3). The first finger of the fisrt set must always be different from the final finger of the last set: to accomodate a smooth transtion between strings when you repeat the exercise.

I decided to spread the 12 finger combinations over four exercise patterns each containing 3 different combinations. At each random selection, the number of remaining patterns varies due to the complicated rules. Finally the last three finger combination pairs can not generally be arranged sequentially as described above, although certain selections will allow this. The code is rough and ready.

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#include <Array.au3>
#include <String.au3>

_Ligados()

Func _Ligados()
    Local $aPatterns = _GetLigados()
    _ArraySwap($aPatterns[2], $aPatterns[0])
    _ArraySwap($aPatterns[2], $aPatterns[1])

    For $i = 0 To 3 Step 3
        $aPatterns[$i] = Chr(151) & $aPatterns[$i] & _StringRepeat(Chr(151), 7) & @CRLF & _
        "  " & _StringRepeat(Chr(151), 19) & StringLeft($aPatterns[$i], 6) & Chr(151)
    Next

    For $i = 1 To 2
        $aPatterns[$i] = Chr(151) & $aPatterns[$i] & _StringRepeat(Chr(151), 10) & @CRLF & _
        "  " & _StringRepeat(Chr(151), 16) & StringLeft($aPatterns[$i], 9) & Chr(151)
    Next

    Local $aDescription[4] = _
    ["  Sequential Ligados", _
    "  Double + Single Ligados", _
    "  Single + Double Ligados", _
    "  Random Ligado Sequence"]

    Local $s3To6 = ""
    For $i = 3 To 6
        $s3To6 &= "  " & _StringRepeat(Chr(151), 26) & @CRLF
    Next

    Local $ret = ""
    For $i = 0 To 3
        $ret &= $aDescription[$i] & @CRLF
        $ret &= "  " & $aPatterns[$i] & @CRLF & $s3To6 & @CRLF
    Next
    ConsoleWrite($ret)
EndFunc ;==> _Ligados

Func _GetLigados()
    Local $aLig3[72][2] = _
    [["1213",11],["1214",13],["1232",145],["1234",273],["1242",1057],["1243",2081], _
    ["1312",67],["1314",70],["1323",146],["1324",162],["1342",1282],["1343",2306], _
    ["1412",517],["1413",518],["1423",1044],["1424",1060],["1432",2180],["1434",2308], _
    ["2123",25],["2124",41],["2131",74],["2134",266],["2141",524],["2143",2060], _
    ["2321",152],["2324",176],["2313",82],["2314",84],["2341",784],["2343",2320], _
    ["2421",1064],["2423",1072],["2413",546],["2414",548],["2431",2144],["2434",2336], _
    ["3231",208],["3234",400],["3212",137],["3214",140],["3242",1184],["3241",672], _
    ["3132",194],["3134",322],["3121",73],["3124",97],["3142",1092],["3141",580], _
    ["3432",2432],["3431",2368],["3421",1288],["3424",1312],["3412",769],["3414",772], _
    ["4243",3104],["4241",1568],["4232",1168],["4231",1104],["4212",1033],["4213",1034], _
    ["4342",3328],["4341",2816],["4323",2192],["4321",2184],["4312",2113],["4313",2114], _
    ["4142",1540],["4143",2564],["4123",529],["4121",521],["4132",642],["4131",578]]

    Local $aPatterns[4]
    $iTemp = Random(0, 71, 1)
    $aPatterns[0] = $aLig3[$iTemp][0]
    $iLigFlag = $aLig3[$iTemp][1]

    $idx = 27
    For $i = 1 To 4
        If StringInStr($aLig3[$iTemp][0], $i, 0, 2) Then $idx += 4
    Next

    Local $aTemp[$idx][2]
    _GetRemainingPatterns($aTemp, $idx, $aLig3, $iLigFlag)

    $aLig3 = $aTemp
    $iTemp = Random(0, UBound($aLig3) -1, 1)
    $aPatterns[1] = $aLig3[$iTemp][0]
    $iLigFlag = $aLig3[$iTemp][1]

    _GetRemainingPatterns($aTemp, $idx, $aLig3, $iLigFlag)

    ReDim $aTemp [$idx][2]
    $aPatterns[2] = $aTemp[Random(0, $idx -1, 1)][0]

    Local $aSelect[12] = ["12","13","14","21","23","24","31","32","34","41","42","43"]

    For $i = 11 To 0 Step -1
        For $j = 0 To 2
            If StringInStr($aPatterns[$j], $aSelect[$i]) Then
                _ArrayDelete($aSelect, $i)
                ExitLoop
            EndIf
        Next
    Next

    $aSelect = _ArrayPermute($aSelect)
    For $i = 6 To 1 Step -1
        If StringLeft($aSelect[$i], 1) = StringRight($aSelect[$i], 1) Then
            _ArrayDelete($aSelect, $i)
            $aSelect[0] -= 1
        EndIf
    Next

    $aPatterns[3] = $aSelect[Random(1, $aSelect[0], 1)]
    $aPatterns[0] = "(" & StringLeft($aPatterns[0], 3) & ")(" & StringRight($aPatterns[0], 2) & ")"
    $aPatterns[1] = "(" & StringLeft($aPatterns[1], 2) & ")(" & StringRight($aPatterns[1], 3) & ")"
    $aPatterns[2] = "(" & StringLeft($aPatterns[2], 2) & ")(" & StringMid($aPatterns[2], 2, 2) & ")(" & StringRight($aPatterns[2], 2) & ")"
    $aPatterns[3] = "(" & StringLeft($aPatterns[3], 2) & ")(" & StringMid($aPatterns[3], 3, 2) & ")(" & StringRight($aPatterns[3], 2) & ")"

    For $i = 0 To 3
        $aPatterns[$i] = StringRegExpReplace($aPatterns[$i], "[1|2|3|4]", "$0" & Chr(151) & Chr(151))
        $aPatterns[$i] = StringReplace($aPatterns[$i], Chr(151) & Chr(151) & ")", ")")
    Next

    Return $aPatterns
EndFunc ;==> _GetLigados

Func _GetRemainingPatterns(ByRef $aTemp, ByRef $idx, $aLig3, $iLigFlag)
    $idx = 0
    For $i = 0 To UBound($aLig3) -1
        If Not BitAND($aLig3[$i][1], $iLigFlag) Then
            $aTemp[$idx][0] = $aLig3[$i][0]
            $aTemp[$idx][1] = $aLig3[$i][1]
            $idx += 1
        EndIf
    Next
EndFunc ;==> _GetRemainingPatterns

Edited November 12, 2012 by czardas

[czardas]

I started this training today. I thought I'd post the generated set so you can see what it produces. This is the first set of exercises ever printed (possibly ever created using this method).

Week 1

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Exercise Program - Tue 13 Nov 2012

  Three Note Sequence                 Four Note Sequence
  ——4——2——3—————————————————          ——3——1——2——4——————————————
  ———————————4——2——3————————          ——————————————3——1——2——4——
  ————————————————————4——2——          ——————————————————————————
  ——————————————————————————          ——————————————————————————
  ——————————————————————————          ——————————————————————————
  ——————————————————————————          ——————————————————————————

  Five Note Sequence                  Alternating Chord Shapes
  ——3——1——4——1——2———————————          ———————————3———————————1——
  —————————————————3——1——4——          ————————1———————————3—————
  ——————————————————————————          —————2———————————4————————
  ——————————————————————————          ——4———————————2———————————
  ——————————————————————————          ——————————————————————————
  ——————————————————————————          ——————————————————————————

  Five Stroke Arpeggio                Six Stroke Arpeggio
  ——————————————a———————————          ———————————a—————a————————
  ————————m——————————————m——          —————m————————m————————m——
  —————i—————i————————i—————          ————————i—————————————————
  ——————————————————————————          ——————————————————————————
  —————————————————P————————          ————————————————————P—————
  ——P———————————————————————          ——P———————————————————————

  Seven Stroke Arpeggio               Sequential Ligados
  ———————————a—————a————————          —(3——1)(1——4)(4——2)———————
  —————m————————m———————————          ———————————————————(3——1)—
  ————————i———————————i—————          ——————————————————————————
  ——————————————————————————          ——————————————————————————
  ———————————————————————P——          ——————————————————————————
  ——P———————————————————————          ——————————————————————————

  Double + Single Ligados             Single + Double Ligados
  —(3——4——3)(3——2)——————————          —(2——1)(1——2——4)——————————
  ————————————————(3——4——3)—          ————————————————(2——1)(1——
  ——————————————————————————          ——————————————————————————
  ——————————————————————————          ——————————————————————————
  ——————————————————————————          ——————————————————————————
  ——————————————————————————          ——————————————————————————

  Random Ligado Sequence
  —(2——3)(1——3)(4——1)———————
  ———————————————————(2——3)—
  ——————————————————————————
  ——————————————————————————
  ——————————————————————————
  ——————————————————————————

Edited November 13, 2012 by czardas

[Chimaera]

It looks mad but interesting

Well done for something new and different

Edited November 13, 2012 by Chimaera