Left hand
- Maintaining an appropriate free left-hand shape which facilitates accurate placement of the fingers
- recognising and playing with secure intonation
- developing speed, strength and flexibility of finger action
- beginning elementary position work, including simple shifts
- beginning to develop various tone colours through hammer-ons and pull-offs on open strings, slides and string bends
Teach learners to play exercises, scales and arpeggios that include left-hand positional changes.
By ear, and from notation, teach learners some pieces that incorporate positional changes.
Demonstrate how a bass line can be played using several positions.
Teach some hammer-on and pull-off exercises for the left hand on open strings. Ask learners to experiment with these techniques in familiar tunes, aiming for a steady rhythm and a clear tone.
Introduce bass lines that require use of all four fingers in the fretting hand.
Use scales and modes of increasing complexity to increase finger strength and dexterity.
Learn walking bass lines to increase left hand strength and dexterity.
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