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No guitarist is exempt from the all-important warmup before a show - not even those as talented as Newton Faulkner.

So in video lesson, Total Guitar shows you Newton's own warm-up exercise (Example 2, tabbed here on page 2), which he describes as "something for the head, as well as the fingers".

Don't worry, this is more than just a picking exercise. Newton's routine features a distinct melody; use your ear to try and pick it out. As a general rule, the highest notes provide the strongest melody, so listen out for those.

TG has also 'Newtonised' this warm-up exercise for you (Example 3, tabbed here on page 3), complete with percussive taps. The first strike is the 'bass drum' effect that Newton gets by tapping the heel of his hand just above the soundhole. Beats 2 and 4 of the bar are a 'snare' effect, created by tapping your fingertips just below the soundhole. If you're feeling adventurous, try experimenting with a combination of Newton's percussive strikes.

For more information, visit Newton Faulkner's official website.

VIDEO: Essential guitar warm-up with Newton Faulker

Next page: high-quality tab for Newton's example