Advanced Technique Exercises
Basic Technique
Advanced Technique
Alt. Picking
Scales
Rhythm
Position-Shifting
String Skipping
Arpeggios
Contents
Fingering Exercises
These exercises take a common fretting pattern for 2 left hand fingers and repeat across all pairs of strings. Exercises 1-4 use adjacent pairs of strings, while 5-8 use pairs of strings separated by a unused string between them.
This exercise is designed to help the quality of your left-hand fretting, the accuracy of your right hand picking (picking the correct string), and the synchronization between both hands. It should also help to train your left-hand to make more complex inter-finger movements.
As a beginner player, you may want to start these exercises using only down-picking. Once you are more comfortable with left-hand fretting and finding the right string with the right hand, switch to strict alternate picking, even as you cross or jump strings.
Index and Middle
Exercise 1
---2---2- -1---1---
E-----------------------------------2---2-1---1----------------------------------- B---------------------------2---2-1---1-----2---2-1---1--------------------------- G-------------------2---2-1---1---------------------2---2-1---1------------------- D-----------2---2-1---1-------------------------------------2---2-1---1----------- A---2---2-1---1-----------------------------------------------------2---2-1---1--- E-1---1---------------------------------------------------------------------2---2-
Exercise 2
-----1--- -1-2---2-
E-------------------------------------1---1-2---2--------------------------------- B-----------------------------1---1-2---2-----1---1-2---2------------------------- G---------------------1---1-2---2---------------------1---1-2---2----------------- D-------------1---1-2---2-------------------------------------1---1-2---2--------- A-----1---1-2---2-----------------------------------------------------1---1-2---2- E-1-2---2---------------------------------------------------------------------1---
Exercise 3
---2----- -1---1-2-
E-----------------------------------2-----1---1-2--------------------------------- B---------------------------2-----1---1-2---2-----1---1-2------------------------- G-------------------2-----1---1-2-------------------2-----1---1-2----------------- D-----------2-----1---1-2-----------------------------------2-----1---1-2--------- A---2-----1---1-2---------------------------------------------------2-----1---1-2- E-1---1-2-------------------------------------------------------------------2-----
Exercise 4
---2-1--- -1-----2-
E-----------------------------------2-1---1-----2--------------------------------- B---------------------------2-1---1-----2---2-1---1-----2------------------------- G-------------------2-1---1-----2-------------------2-1---1-----2----------------- D-----------2-1---1-----2-----------------------------------2-1---1-----2--------- A---2-1---1-----2---------------------------------------------------2-1---1-----2- E-1-----2-------------------------------------------------------------------2-1---
Exercise 5
---2---2- --------- -1---1---
E---------------------------2---2-1---1--------------------------- B-------------------2---2-----------------1---1------------------- G-----------2---2---------1---1-----2---2---------1---1----------- D---2---2---------1---1---------------------2---2---------1---1--- A---------1---1-------------------------------------2---2--------- E-1---1-----------------------------------------------------2---2-
Exercise 6
-----1--- --------- -1-2---2-
E-----------------------------1---1-2---2------------------------- B---------------------1-------------------1-2---2----------------- G-------------1-----------1-2---2-----1-----------1-2---2--------- D-----1-----------1-2---2---------------------1-----------1-2---2- A---------1-2---2-------------------------------------1----------- E-1-2---2-----------------------------------------------------1---
Exercise 7
---2----- --------- -1---1-2-
E---------------------------2-----1---1-2------------------------- B-------------------2---------------------1---1-2----------------- G-----------2-------------1---1-2---2-------------1---1-2--------- D---2-------------1---1-2-------------------2-------------1---1-2- A---------1---1-2-----------------------------------2------------- E-1---1-2---------------------------------------------------2-----
Exercise 8
---2-1--- --------- -1-----2-
E---------------------------2-1---1-----2------------------------- B-------------------2-1-------------------1-----2----------------- G-----------2-1-----------1-----2---2-1-----------1-----2--------- D---2-1-----------1-----2-------------------2-1-----------1-----2- A---------1-----2-----------------------------------2-1----------- E-1-----2---------------------------------------------------2-1---
Index and Ring
Exercise 1
---3---3- -1---1---
E-----------------------------------3---3-1---1----------------------------------- B---------------------------3---3-1---1-----3---3-1---1--------------------------- G-------------------3---3-1---1---------------------3---3-1---1------------------- D-----------3---3-1---1-------------------------------------3---3-1---1----------- A---3---3-1---1-----------------------------------------------------3---3-1---1--- E-1---1---------------------------------------------------------------------3---3-
Exercise 2
-----1--- -1-3---3-
E-------------------------------------1---1-3---3--------------------------------- B-----------------------------1---1-3---3-----1---1-3---3------------------------- G---------------------1---1-3---3---------------------1---1-3---3----------------- D-------------1---1-3---3-------------------------------------1---1-3---3--------- A-----1---1-3---3-----------------------------------------------------1---1-3---3- E-1-3---3---------------------------------------------------------------------1---
Exercise 3
---3----- -1---1-3-
E-----------------------------------3-----1---1-3--------------------------------- B---------------------------3-----1---1-3---3-----1---1-3------------------------- G-------------------3-----1---1-3-------------------3-----1---1-3----------------- D-----------3-----1---1-3-----------------------------------3-----1---1-3--------- A---3-----1---1-3---------------------------------------------------3-----1---1-3- E-1---1-3-------------------------------------------------------------------3-----
Exercise 4
---3-1--- -1-----3-
E-----------------------------------3-1---1-----3--------------------------------- B---------------------------3-1---1-----3---3-1---1-----3------------------------- G-------------------3-1---1-----3-------------------3-1---1-----3----------------- D-----------3-1---1-----3-----------------------------------3-1---1-----3--------- A---3-1---1-----3---------------------------------------------------3-1---1-----3- E-1-----3-------------------------------------------------------------------3-1---
Exercise 5
---3---3- --------- -1---1---
E---------------------------3---3-1---1--------------------------- B-------------------3---3-----------------1---1------------------- G-----------3---3---------1---1-----3---3---------1---1----------- D---3---3---------1---1---------------------3---3---------1---1--- A---------1---1-------------------------------------3---3--------- E-1---1-----------------------------------------------------3---3-
Exercise 6
-----1--- --------- -1-3---3-
E-----------------------------1---1-3---3------------------------- B---------------------1-------------------1-3---3----------------- G-------------1-----------1-3---3-----1-----------1-3---3--------- D-----1-----------1-3---3---------------------1-----------1-3---3- A---------1-3---3-------------------------------------1----------- E-1-3---3-----------------------------------------------------1---
Exercise 7
---3----- --------- -1---1-3-
E---------------------------3-----1---1-3------------------------- B-------------------3---------------------1---1-3----------------- G-----------3-------------1---1-3---3-------------1---1-3--------- D---3-------------1---1-3-------------------3-------------1---1-3- A---------1---1-3-----------------------------------3------------- E-1---1-3---------------------------------------------------3-----
Exercise 8
---3-1--- --------- -1-----3-
E---------------------------3-1---1-----3------------------------- B-------------------3-1-------------------1-----3----------------- G-----------3-1-----------1-----3---3-1-----------1-----3--------- D---3-1-----------1-----3-------------------3-1-----------1-----3- A---------1-----3-----------------------------------3-1----------- E-1-----3---------------------------------------------------3-1---
Index and Pinky
Exercise 1
---4---4- -1---1---
E-----------------------------------4---4-1---1----------------------------------- B---------------------------4---4-1---1-----4---4-1---1--------------------------- G-------------------4---4-1---1---------------------4---4-1---1------------------- D-----------4---4-1---1-------------------------------------4---4-1---1----------- A---4---4-1---1-----------------------------------------------------4---4-1---1--- E-1---1---------------------------------------------------------------------4---4-
Exercise 2
-----1--- -1-4---4-
E-------------------------------------1---1-4---4--------------------------------- B-----------------------------1---1-4---4-----1---1-4---4------------------------- G---------------------1---1-4---4---------------------1---1-4---4----------------- D-------------1---1-4---4-------------------------------------1---1-4---4--------- A-----1---1-4---4-----------------------------------------------------1---1-4---4- E-1-4---4---------------------------------------------------------------------1---
Exercise 3
---4----- -1---1-4-
E-----------------------------------4-----1---1-4--------------------------------- B---------------------------4-----1---1-4---4-----1---1-4------------------------- G-------------------4-----1---1-4-------------------4-----1---1-4----------------- D-----------4-----1---1-4-----------------------------------4-----1---1-4--------- A---4-----1---1-4---------------------------------------------------4-----1---1-4- E-1---1-4-------------------------------------------------------------------4-----
Exercise 4
---4-1--- -1-----4-
E-----------------------------------4-1---1-----4--------------------------------- B---------------------------4-1---1-----4---4-1---1-----4------------------------- G-------------------4-1---1-----4-------------------4-1---1-----4----------------- D-----------4-1---1-----4-----------------------------------4-1---1-----4--------- A---4-1---1-----4---------------------------------------------------4-1---1-----4- E-1-----4-------------------------------------------------------------------4-1---
Exercise 5
---4---4- --------- -1---1---
E---------------------------4---4-1---1--------------------------- B-------------------4---4-----------------1---1------------------- G-----------4---4---------1---1-----4---4---------1---1----------- D---4---4---------1---1---------------------4---4---------1---1--- A---------1---1-------------------------------------4---4--------- E-1---1-----------------------------------------------------4---4-
Exercise 6
-----1--- --------- -1-4---4-
E-----------------------------1---1-4---4------------------------- B---------------------1-------------------1-4---4----------------- G-------------1-----------1-4---4-----1-----------1-4---4--------- D-----1-----------1-4---4---------------------1-----------1-4---4- A---------1-4---4-------------------------------------1----------- E-1-4---4-----------------------------------------------------1---
Exercise 7
---4----- --------- -1---1-4-
E---------------------------4-----1---1-4------------------------- B-------------------4---------------------1---1-4----------------- G-----------4-------------1---1-4---4-------------1---1-4--------- D---4-------------1---1-4-------------------4-------------1---1-4- A---------1---1-4-----------------------------------4------------- E-1---1-4---------------------------------------------------4-----
Exercise 8
---4-1--- --------- -1-----4-
E---------------------------4-1---1-----4------------------------- B-------------------4-1-------------------1-----4----------------- G-----------4-1-----------1-----4---4-1-----------1-----4--------- D---4-1-----------1-----4-------------------4-1-----------1-----4- A---------1-----4-----------------------------------4-1----------- E-1-----4---------------------------------------------------4-1---
Middle and Ring
Exercise 1
---3---3- -2---2---
E-----------------------------------3---3-2---2----------------------------------- B---------------------------3---3-2---2-----3---3-2---2--------------------------- G-------------------3---3-2---2---------------------3---3-2---2------------------- D-----------3---3-2---2-------------------------------------3---3-2---2----------- A---3---3-2---2-----------------------------------------------------3---3-2---2--- E-2---2---------------------------------------------------------------------3---3-
Exercise 2
-----2--- -2-3---3-
E-------------------------------------2---2-3---3--------------------------------- B-----------------------------2---2-3---3-----2---2-3---3------------------------- G---------------------2---2-3---3---------------------2---2-3---3----------------- D-------------2---2-3---3-------------------------------------2---2-3---3--------- A-----2---2-3---3-----------------------------------------------------2---2-3---3- E-2-3---3---------------------------------------------------------------------2---
Exercise 3
---3----- -2---2-3-
E-----------------------------------3-----2---2-3--------------------------------- B---------------------------3-----2---2-3---3-----2---2-3------------------------- G-------------------3-----2---2-3-------------------3-----2---2-3----------------- D-----------3-----2---2-3-----------------------------------3-----2---2-3--------- A---3-----2---2-3---------------------------------------------------3-----2---2-3- E-2---2-3-------------------------------------------------------------------3-----
Exercise 4
---3-2--- -2-----3-
E-----------------------------------3-2---2-----3--------------------------------- B---------------------------3-2---2-----3---3-2---2-----3------------------------- G-------------------3-2---2-----3-------------------3-2---2-----3----------------- D-----------3-2---2-----3-----------------------------------3-2---2-----3--------- A---3-2---2-----3---------------------------------------------------3-2---2-----3- E-2-----3-------------------------------------------------------------------3-2---
Exercise 5
---3---3- --------- -2---2---
E---------------------------3---3-2---2--------------------------- B-------------------3---3-----------------2---2------------------- G-----------3---3---------2---2-----3---3---------2---2----------- D---3---3---------2---2---------------------3---3---------2---2--- A---------2---2-------------------------------------3---3--------- E-2---2-----------------------------------------------------3---3-
Exercise 6
-----2--- --------- -2-3---3-
E-----------------------------2---2-3---3------------------------- B---------------------2-------------------2-3---3----------------- G-------------2-----------2-3---3-----2-----------2-3---3--------- D-----2-----------2-3---3---------------------2-----------2-3---3- A---------2-3---3-------------------------------------2----------- E-2-3---3-----------------------------------------------------2---
Exercise 7
---3----- --------- -2---2-3-
E---------------------------3-----2---2-3------------------------- B-------------------3---------------------2---2-3----------------- G-----------3-------------2---2-3---3-------------2---2-3--------- D---3-------------2---2-3-------------------3-------------2---2-3- A---------2---2-3-----------------------------------3------------- E-2---2-3---------------------------------------------------3-----
Exercise 8
---3-2--- --------- -2-----3-
E---------------------------3-2---2-----3------------------------- B-------------------3-2-------------------2-----3----------------- G-----------3-2-----------2-----3---3-2-----------2-----3--------- D---3-2-----------2-----3-------------------3-2-----------2-----3- A---------2-----3-----------------------------------3-2----------- E-2-----3---------------------------------------------------3-2---
Middle and Pinky
Exercise 1
---4---4- -2---2---
E-----------------------------------4---4-2---2----------------------------------- B---------------------------4---4-2---2-----4---4-2---2--------------------------- G-------------------4---4-2---2---------------------4---4-2---2------------------- D-----------4---4-2---2-------------------------------------4---4-2---2----------- A---4---4-2---2-----------------------------------------------------4---4-2---2--- E-2---2---------------------------------------------------------------------4---4-
Exercise 2
-----2--- -2-4---4-
E-------------------------------------2---2-4---4--------------------------------- B-----------------------------2---2-4---4-----2---2-4---4------------------------- G---------------------2---2-4---4---------------------2---2-4---4----------------- D-------------2---2-4---4-------------------------------------2---2-4---4--------- A-----2---2-4---4-----------------------------------------------------2---2-4---4- E-2-4---4---------------------------------------------------------------------2---
Exercise 3
---4----- -2---2-4-
E-----------------------------------4-----2---2-4--------------------------------- B---------------------------4-----2---2-4---4-----2---2-4------------------------- G-------------------4-----2---2-4-------------------4-----2---2-4----------------- D-----------4-----2---2-4-----------------------------------4-----2---2-4--------- A---4-----2---2-4---------------------------------------------------4-----2---2-4- E-2---2-4-------------------------------------------------------------------4-----
Exercise 4
---4-2--- -2-----4-
E-----------------------------------4-2---2-----4--------------------------------- B---------------------------4-2---2-----4---4-2---2-----4------------------------- G-------------------4-2---2-----4-------------------4-2---2-----4----------------- D-----------4-2---2-----4-----------------------------------4-2---2-----4--------- A---4-2---2-----4---------------------------------------------------4-2---2-----4- E-2-----4-------------------------------------------------------------------4-2---
Exercise 5
---4---4- --------- -2---2---
E---------------------------4---4-2---2--------------------------- B-------------------4---4-----------------2---2------------------- G-----------4---4---------2---2-----4---4---------2---2----------- D---4---4---------2---2---------------------4---4---------2---2--- A---------2---2-------------------------------------4---4--------- E-2---2-----------------------------------------------------4---4-
Exercise 6
-----2--- --------- -2-4---4-
E-----------------------------2---2-4---4------------------------- B---------------------2-------------------2-4---4----------------- G-------------2-----------2-4---4-----2-----------2-4---4--------- D-----2-----------2-4---4---------------------2-----------2-4---4- A---------2-4---4-------------------------------------2----------- E-2-4---4-----------------------------------------------------2---
Exercise 7
---4----- --------- -2---2-4-
E---------------------------4-----2---2-4------------------------- B-------------------4---------------------2---2-4----------------- G-----------4-------------2---2-4---4-------------2---2-4--------- D---4-------------2---2-4-------------------4-------------2---2-4- A---------2---2-4-----------------------------------4------------- E-2---2-4---------------------------------------------------4-----
Exercise 8
---4-2--- --------- -2-----4-
E---------------------------4-2---2-----4------------------------- B-------------------4-2-------------------2-----4----------------- G-----------4-2-----------2-----4---4-2-----------2-----4--------- D---4-2-----------2-----4-------------------4-2-----------2-----4- A---------2-----4-----------------------------------4-2----------- E-2-----4---------------------------------------------------4-2---
Ring and Pinky
Exercise 1
---4---4- -3---3---
E-----------------------------------4---4-3---3----------------------------------- B---------------------------4---4-3---3-----4---4-3---3--------------------------- G-------------------4---4-3---3---------------------4---4-3---3------------------- D-----------4---4-3---3-------------------------------------4---4-3---3----------- A---4---4-3---3-----------------------------------------------------4---4-3---3--- E-3---3---------------------------------------------------------------------4---4-
Exercise 2
-----3--- -3-4---4-
E-------------------------------------3---3-4---4--------------------------------- B-----------------------------3---3-4---4-----3---3-4---4------------------------- G---------------------3---3-4---4---------------------3---3-4---4----------------- D-------------3---3-4---4-------------------------------------3---3-4---4--------- A-----3---3-4---4-----------------------------------------------------3---3-4---4- E-3-4---4---------------------------------------------------------------------3---
Exercise 3
---4----- -3---3-4-
E-----------------------------------4-----3---3-4--------------------------------- B---------------------------4-----3---3-4---4-----3---3-4------------------------- G-------------------4-----3---3-4-------------------4-----3---3-4----------------- D-----------4-----3---3-4-----------------------------------4-----3---3-4--------- A---4-----3---3-4---------------------------------------------------4-----3---3-4- E-3---3-4-------------------------------------------------------------------4-----
Exercise 4
---4-3--- -3-----4-
E-----------------------------------4-3---3-----4--------------------------------- B---------------------------4-3---3-----4---4-3---3-----4------------------------- G-------------------4-3---3-----4-------------------4-3---3-----4----------------- D-----------4-3---3-----4-----------------------------------4-3---3-----4--------- A---4-3---3-----4---------------------------------------------------4-3---3-----4- E-3-----4-------------------------------------------------------------------4-3---
Exercise 5
---4---4- --------- -3---3--- E---------------------------4---4-3---3--------------------------- B-------------------4---4-----------------3---3------------------- G-----------4---4---------3---3-----4---4---------3---3----------- D---4---4---------3---3---------------------4---4---------3---3--- A---------3---3-------------------------------------4---4--------- E-3---3-----------------------------------------------------4---4-
Exercise 6
-----3--- --------- -3-4---4-
E-----------------------------3---3-4---4------------------------- B---------------------3-------------------3-4---4----------------- G-------------3-----------3-4---4-----3-----------3-4---4--------- D-----3-----------3-4---4---------------------3-----------3-4---4- A---------3-4---4-------------------------------------3----------- E-3-4---4-----------------------------------------------------3---
Exercise 7
---4----- --------- -3---3-4-
E---------------------------4-----3---3-4------------------------- B-------------------4---------------------3---3-4----------------- G-----------4-------------3---3-4---4-------------3---3-4--------- D---4-------------3---3-4-------------------4-------------3---3-4- A---------3---3-4-----------------------------------4------------- E-3---3-4---------------------------------------------------4-----
Exercise 8
---4-3--- --------- -3-----4-
E---------------------------4-3---3-----4------------------------- B-------------------4-3-------------------3-----4----------------- G-----------4-3-----------3-----4---4-3-----------3-----4--------- D---4-3-----------3-----4-------------------4-3-----------3-----4- A---------3-----4-----------------------------------4-3----------- E-3-----4---------------------------------------------------4-3---
Petrucci Chords
The goal here is to make chord shapes that involve each of the four fingers on each of 4 adjacent frets, like you are playing a chromatic scale on a single string:
-3-4-5-6- i m r p
So each finger is assigned a fret, and will always be on that fret throughout the exercise; however, each finger frets different strings, making a chord. Then alternate between that chord and the mirror of that chord, where the fingers that were on low strings are now on the high strings and vice versa. For example:
-4--1---...---3--2- -3--2---...---1--4- -2--3---...---4--1- -1--4---...---2--3-
Here's the complete list or chords and mirrors:
| Index as Root |
|-|-|-|p| |-|-|r|-| |-|m|-|-| |i|-|-|-| |
|-|-|r|-| |-|-|-|p| |-|m|-|-| |i|-|-|-| |
|-|-|-|p| |-|m|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |i|-|-|-| |
|-|m|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |-|-|r|-| |i|-|-|-| |
|-|m|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |-|-|-|p| |i|-|-|-| |
|-|-|r|-| |-|m|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |i|-|-|-| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirror w pinky as root |
|p|-|-|-| |-|m|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |-|-|-|p| |
|-|r|-|-| |p|-|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |-|-|-|p| |
|p|-|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |-|m|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |
|-|-|r|-| |i|-|-|-| |-|m|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |
|-|-|r|-| |-|m|-|-| |i|-|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |
|-|m|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |i|-|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |
| Middle as root |
|-|-|-|p| |-|-|r|-| |i|-|-|-| |-|m|-|-| |
|-|-|r|-| |-|-|-|p| |i|-|-|-| |-|m|-|-| |
|-|-|-|p| |i|-|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |-|m|-|-| |
|i|-|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |-|-|r|-| |-|m|-|-| |
|-|-|r|-| |i|-|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |-|m|-|-| |
|i|-|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |-|-|-|p| |-|m|-|-| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirror w ring as root |
|i|-|-|-| |-|m|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |-|-|r|-| |
|-|m|-|-| |i|-|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |-|-|r|-| |
|i|-|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |-|m|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |
|-|-|-|p| |i|-|-|-| |-|m|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |
|-|m|-|-| |-|-|-|p| |i|-|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |
|-|-|-|p| |-|m|-|-| |i|-|-|-| |-|-|r|-| |
Many of these are NOT easy to finger. And alternating between a chord and its mirror will be difficult at first. That's kind of the point of this exercise. It forces the muscles in your hands to make not only difficult shapes but also difficult transitions. You shouldn't have any real focus on speed - the point is to get your hand comfortable in making the shapes and being able to make the transitions clean. If you want John Petrucci do it, you'll want to give up playing guitar altogether. But we don't get to see his early years, where this was (probably) difficult even for him.
The best way to start on this isn't to try to go through each shape (and its mirror), but pick a shape and alternate between it and the mirror several times, even moving across strings. For example if we pick the first shape, we'd play like this:
E--------------7--4--------------------7--4-- B--------7--4--6--5--7--4--------7--4--6--5-- G--7--4--6--5--5--6--6--5--7--4--6--5--5--6-- D--6--5--5--6--4--7--5--6--6--5--5--6--4--7-- A--5--6--4--7--------4--7--5--6--4--7-------- E--4--7--------------------4--7--------------
Then move onto the next easiest shape for you and repeat. At first, this is its own technique exercise. Once you're more comfortable and can make advanced chord shapes, this becomes a warm up; but it doesn't mean you'll play through all 12 examples (w/ their 12 mirrors). You may only play through 2-4 of them at first. Only a very advanced player that's going to be playing an intense gig would want to do the complete set.
If you play the example tab for all 12 sets of chords and mirrors, you'd be playing 12 sets of 14 chords = 168 chords. That's one hell of a warm up!
Chromatic Scale
Finger-Stretching
Similar to the #Petrucci Chords exercise above, we make a chord shape with each finger on adjacent frets. Each time you strum the chord, you move one of the fingers down one fret.
--12-\11--11--11--11-\10--10--10--10--...--2-\1--1--1--1-- --13--13-\12--12--12--12-\11--11--11--...--3--3-\2--2--2-- --14--14--14-\13--13--13--13-\12--12--...--4--4--4-\3--3-- --15--15--15--15-\14--14--14--14-\13--...--5--5--5--5-\4--
This exercise is great, because as you descend down each fret at a time, the exercise gets more and more difficult. It forces you to stretch between each pair of adjacent fingers, which really helps limber up your hands to make complex chord shapes and work through exotic scales all over the fretboard.
This will get insanely difficult quickly. Don't push yourself into injury - if you feel intense pain, stop immediately. Don't try to get through it quickly either. Hold each chord and let your fingers muscles accept the stretch.
Here's another one focusing on the index finger and pinky. Be sure to keep the index finger fretted at all times forcing you to stretch rather than bouncing back and forth.
-17-12--16-11--15-10-...-10-5---9--4---8--3-- p i p i p i p i p i p i
This follows the same premise of getting more and more difficult as you descend, but is focused on more traditional stretches. The same guidelines apply as above.
It can also be done using ring and index, middle and index, pinky and middle, and ring and middle, but you'll have to use a smaller stretch to be able to do it.
Friedman Fingering Torture
I got this one from Marty Friedman - to get incredible finger dexterity, you play sets of 4 notes - 1 for each finger, in every possible combination. Then you repeat it adding a stretch between the index and middle finger. If you want to really torture yourself, then stretch the 2nd and 3rd fingers, and then 3rd and 4th.
You can do this exercise by playing each pattern once on all the strings before moving onto the next, or you can run through the entire set on each string before moving to the next.
--1-2-3-4-- |
--2-1-3-4-- |
--3-1-2-4-- |
--4-1-2-3-- |
--1-2-4-3-- |
--2-1-4-3-- |
--3-1-4-2-- |
--4-1-3-2-- |
--1-3-2-4-- |
--2-3-1-4-- |
--3-2-1-4-- |
--4-2-1-3-- |
--1-3-4-2-- |
--2-3-4-1-- |
--3-2-4-1-- |
--4-2-3-1-- |
--1-4-2-3-- |
--2-4-1-3-- |
--3-4-1-2-- |
--4-3-1-2-- |
--1-4-3-2-- |
--2-4-3-1-- |
--3-4-2-1-- |
--4-3-2-1-- |