Classical guitar has been developing its right-hand technique for centuries, and there’s no reason to leave that wealth of knowledge on the shelf. These three exercises take the best of what classical guitarists have refined over generations and put it directly in the hands of a hybrid picker — and as luck would have it, a rare set of long nails made this the perfect moment to film them.
What this course covers: Three hybrid picking exercises drawn from classical guitar methods — alternating finger strokes, factorial PIMA permutations, and the tremolo technique. Each one targets dexterity and control in situations you wouldn’t normally encounter, building the kind of technical range that lets you play anything you want without it feeling awkward.
In the mid to late 2000s, the search for better hybrid picking technique led to a deep dive into traditional classical guitar exercises built around the P-I-M-A right-hand system. Classical guitar has had considerably longer to develop its technical repertoire than rock guitar has, so it’s always been a logical place to go for inspiration and knowledge. The exercises here represent the most effective ones for covering the full range of right-hand demands.
Hybrid picking sits at the intersection of the pick and the fingers, and the classical tradition has already mapped almost every combination those fingers can make. These exercises put your hand in situations you’re not really going to encounter that often in normal playing — and that’s exactly the point. They teach you how to control uncommon movements so that when you do need them in real music, they’re already in your hands. The classical repertoire of arpeggio studies and scale systems translates directly into pick, middle, ring, and pinky territory.
These are awesome, really cool hybrid picking exercises that I stole from classical guitar teachers and methods that really build up dexterity because they put you in situations that you’re not really going to be put into that often, and they teach you how to control it.
If you haven’t already seen the “How I Built My Hybrid Picking” episode, go and check that out first — it gives you the context that makes these exercises make sense. Each lesson in this course covers one exercise in detail. Work through them in order, and share your progress in the Facebook group. Requests and questions are always welcome there.
Taking it further: The three exercises here are a starting point, not a ceiling. There are countless classical arpeggio studies, books, and YouTube channels devoted to the PIMA system, and all of them can be converted into hybrid picking practice. Some further references are included at the end of this course to point you in the right direction.
