This is not a speed exercise, but an exercise to help you out with finger strength and flexibility, two skills you need to play fast! :) This exercise also helps you develop the muscles in your hand, which will help later on when learning how to play barre chords!

If you've got short fingers - my pinky is real short, so I know - you'll really benefit from this exercise. It'll improve your playing down the road, but you might see some benefits right away.

Let's get started!

Step-by-Step Finger Stretching Exercise

We'll use only down-picks for this exercise. If it helps, use your pinky finger to anchor down your picking hand. Here's what you have to do.

Starting on the 5th fret, place your 1st finger down on the thickest string and pick.
Next, leave your 1st finger down and place your 2nd finger one fret higher and pick.
Then, add Finger 3 and pick the string. You have to keep Fingers 1 and 2 in position.
Lastly, add Finger 4 while keeping all the fingers in position.

Now it's time to check if all your fingers are in the right position. The palm of your hand should be more or less parallel to the guitar fretboard. Let's continue:

Hold the fingers in position for a second and make sure you feel a bit of a stretch, but no pain!
If this feels too much of a stretch, you could try moving it up the fretboard to start on Fret 8.
Repeat the process on the next string down, and continue.
When you’re comfortable doing this whole exercise at Fret 5, start moving it down the fretboard until you’re able to do it starting from the 1st fret.

Make The Most Out of This Exercise

This is an important exercise that will help you develop finger dexterity, finger flexibility, finger independence, and much more. You'll be developing the muscles in your fretting hand, and that will be handy later on in your guitar journey. Here are a few extra tips to make the most out of this stretching exercise for beginners:

1 - This is NOT a Speed Exercise

Take your time and do this exercise slowly. Think of it as yoga for your fingers. Your movements should be steady and deliberate. Focus on doing it properly rather than quickly.

2 - Keep Your Fingers Parallel to One Another As Best As You Can

The natural tendency will be for the fingers to start slanting in one direction or another. This is totally normal, so don’t get too frustrated if you find yourself doing this at first. It will get easier the more they do the exercise.

3 - Keep Your Fingers Roughly Where They Should Be

That means to have your fingers sort of lined up and ready to place on the string as you work through the exercise. No flailing fingers!

4 - This Is A Finger Stretch Exercise, Not A Finger Pain Exercise

Yes, you should feel a good stretch while doing it, but if it gets to be too painful, either take it more slowly or stop and rest for a bit. It really shouldn’t hurt very much.

5 - Be Forgiving :)

This finger stretching exercise can be really easy or difficult, depending a lot on your anatomy! We’ve all got different hands and fingers, so even if you have to work a bit harder at this than some others might, remember – you’re doing just fine!

Now let's put that stretchy fingers to good use and learn how to play the Dm Chord!