Master 10 lead guitar techniques with this 10-point challenge

WORLD GUITAR DAY 2017: Take the less is more approach to guitar practice and repeat a selection of easy lead lines designed to focus your muscle memory and improve your soloing skills.

10-point lead guitar challenge tab (fullscreen)

1. Basic bend

Use three fingers for strength. Keep your fingers rigid and turn your wrist to bend the string.

2. Unison bend

Two notes should sound at the same time here: the string bend and the second note on the second string.

3. Pre-bend and release

Start by bending the string up from the 8th fret to the 10th fret. Then pick the string and release your bend.

4. Hammer-ons

Play the 5th fret with your first finger and pick the string. Hammer on with your remaining fingers.

5. Pull-offs

Start with your fourth finger on the 8th fret and pick the string. Pull off to sound notes at lower frets.

6. Legato

Keep your fingers squarely in line with the frets for this mixture of hammer-ons and pull-offs.

7. Fast vibrato

Make those short, rapid string bends as fast as you can for a bluesy BB King-style vibrato sound.

8. Wide vibrato

Grip the strings firmly and turn your wrist in a wide motion for a slow but dramatic rock style vibrato.

9. Alternate picking

Pick each string down-up, before moving to the next string. You’ll need even, steady timing in both hands.

10. Pinched harmonics

Play a downstroke and brush your thumb on the string 24 frets above the fretted note.

Join us in celebrating World Guitar Day 2017! Get playing, and share your best guitar videos, pictures, tips and stories with hashtags #WGD17 #worldguitarday

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