I bought a gently used LEFT-HANDED Jackson Dinky. I have never tried to learn to play guitar left-handed. I am an absolute beginner. I am working through my Basic Sequential Exercises (right hand for fretting, left hand for plectrum) using the methods described in my book and, in addition, my new plan for tracking progress at the BPM Level (This is a MUST-READ article for all PATH2FAST members). I’ll share my results when I complete my experiment in 26 weeks, and you can be the judge.

Watch my blog for more on my 26-week Challenge. I will keep you updated on my progress and what I have learned about the challenges absolute beginners face when learning to play a new instrument. Working through my Rehearsals and Exercises method in 26 weeks will give absolute beginners (and me, left-handed) the picking speed and right-hand skills (independence, strength, and dexterity) needed to play the chords and riffs of intermediate songs. I am going to prove this to you! Granted, I am not a perfect control group for this experiment because I have 24/7 access to an accomplished guitar player, me! However, if I can learn to play guitar LEFT-HANDED using ONLY my Rehearsals and Exercises method, you can learn to play guitar, too (again, see my DISCLAIMER below).

Playing left-handed for the first time, I quickly learned why many absolute beginners (and advanced players, too) ignore their fourth finger (the little pinky that couldn’t), choosing to use only their first, second, and third fingers (index, middle, and ring respectively). Holy crap! The pinky on my right hand is useless!

However, all (and I mean all!) neoclassical shredders use all four fingers to play advanced riffs at blazing speeds. Virtuoso Eric Johnson has impeccable control of the fourth digit on his fretting hand, demonstrated by his insane fretboard acrobatics, including chords and riffs. If you want to play like Malmsteen and Johnson, you must master your pinky.

My Rehearsals and Exercises method is the answer if you are an absolute beginner or an advanced player who has ignored the ole’ pinky on your fretting hand. On day one of my Basic Sequential Exercises, you must use your pinky to complete Exercises 4. Your pinky is necessary to complete the three-note-per-string exercises 10-14. You will consistently meet up with this troublesome fretting hand fourth digit throughout my Basic Sequential Exercises for Two, Four, and Six strings. My exercises will compel you to train your pinky (and you will thank me).

I get it! As an absolute beginner, exercises requiring my right-hand pinky are frustrating. But, let’s promise we will NOT ignore our pinkies.

With the help of the twin daughters, Patience and Persistence, we will achieve pinky power (independence, strength, and dexterity) that will enable us to play the advanced riffs of Malmsteen and Johnson. Using my Speed Seesaw and Two-Up and One-Down methods, we will master this often neglected finger in our quest to master our musical instrument. See you soon on the path to fast!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT recommend that absolute beginners learn ONLY with my Rehearsal and Exercises methods. My recommendation is to hire a guitar teacher. Though useful for intermediate and advanced guitar players, YouTube is NOT a substitute for weekly 30-minute face-to-face beginner guitar lessons. In addition to what your guitar teacher requires, I recommend you practice my Basic Sequential Exercises, spending 20 minutes practicing four exercises daily using the methods I teach in my book. I am using ONLY my methods with my Basic Sequential Exercises to prove that my methods will work for absolute beginners. My experiment is underway, so watch for updates, and in 26 weeks, you can be the judge.