The Best Left Hand Warm-up Exercises for Shredding Lead Guitar - Kragen Lum (Exodus / Heathen)

The guitar lesson video series continues! Here are the best left hand warm-up exercises I have found for playing shredding lead guitar. These are the exact same exercises that I use before recording or playing shows. I have used these exercises for years on tour with Heathen and Exodus. The exercise in this lesson video is great for all types of rock and metal guitar. Try them out and see if you can get the muscles in your left hand and fingers feeling loose and ready to shred!
Watch the right hand warm-up exercise lesson video here: • The Best Right Hand Wa...
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[@KainzMusic]

Thanks much! When the guy with some of the sickest/slickest legato runs in the industry tells me how to polish my left hand techniques, I'm gonna listen!

[@protokragen]

Thank you, brother! 🙏

[@shannonjones3714]

Thank you for sharing this with us! As simple as it seems, it’s very helpful! I would be great to see more videos from you! Thanks again!

[@protokragen]

Thanks Shannon! I’m on tour for most of the next 3 months but I hope to have some more videos soon! Cheers!

[@karolybendeguzbok4119]

This is so cool! I’m going to incorporate this in my warm-up routine for sure!

[@protokragen]

Awesome! Glad you found it useful!

[@jswazz9264]

Wow i love that guitar! ❤️

[@protokragen]

Thanks!

[@TheMathPipe]

Thank you for the awesome lessons and tips, super useful for me.

[@protokragen]

That’s great! Glad you found the info useful!

[@juan69mendez]

I can't wait to get back home and plug in to give this warm up a ride, brotha!!! Thank you so much for the instruction and tips!!! You rock!!!🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@protokragen]

No problem at all Juan! Cheers, man! Enjoy the shred!!! 🤘🏻

[@filipemecenas]

Cool ! Thanks again

[@protokragen]

No problem at all! Glad you’re enjoying the videos!

[@ezequiellopez9762]

Thank you so much for the video! I'll wait for the next

[@protokragen]

My pleasure, Ezequiel!

[@marchlowe]

Very nice!

[@protokragen]

Thanks, March!

[@stevebastel7732]

Thank you Mr. Kragen!!! I'm going to be doing this!!! I've been trying to figure out funeral Hymn?!?!. In future vids. Can you please help 🆘 LoL 😆 God bless 🙏

[@protokragen]

Awesome! I have played Funeral Hymn many times on tour. I just need to relearn it and tab it out! 🤘🏻😁🎸

[@stevebastel7732]

No hurry,!!! 🙏and thanks again 😚

[@protokragen]

@@stevebastel7732 no worries! I’m working on Pleasures of the Frets Volume 2 so Funeral Hymn might be in there. 😁

[@DegobaSystem-ox1ig]

Awesome video dude! =)

[@protokragen]

Thanks, man!

[@D4n13L76]

Thanks for the video Kragen, would you have any tips for picking 4 notes per string and starting with a down stroke to the next string below as i struggle when playing a 4 note per string riff/solo thats fast then starts again on the string below it with a down stroke but if i start the passage with an upstroke i find it easier to move to the next string below with an upstroke, i hope this makes sense

[@phantomlord5707]

lol Kargen

[@D4n13L76]

@@phantomlord5707 dont know what your talking about? ;)

[@protokragen]

@@phantomlord5707 😆

[@protokragen]

@@D4n13L76 I never saw it. 🤘🏻😁

[@protokragen]

I think your talking about a descending pattern where you do an upstroke and then a downstroke on the string below, right? That can be one of the more difficult things to get used to doing. You’re picking outside the strings at that point. The reason why it’s difficult when switching strings is because of the jump you have to make. You find it easier when you start with an upstroke because you’re in between the strings and don’t have to do the jump. My suggestion would be to practice the outside picking (starting with a downstroke), play slowly and get used to doing the jump over the strings while staying on time. Use a metronome if possible. Then slowly build up your speed. Your muscles will learn to compensate for the jump and anticipate it when switching strings. I hope that helps a bit. I’ll try to put together a future video on this.

[@hangman960]

Any chance of a tab for that please? will you do a tapping cideo aswell sometime please? thank you

[@protokragen]

I’ll put together some tabs for these exercises for sure!

[@hangman960]

@@protokragen thank you

[@protokragen]

@@hangman960 no problem!

[@keithrideau]

Cool, Kragen! I'm curious about something. You mention that you do this before recording and gigs, so how long does it normally take you to go from "point of failure" to "ready to play"?

[@protokragen]

Hey Keith! Well, if it’s early in the tour it will take me longer to warm up than after a few shows. I would probably spend 10 to 15 minutes on the left hand exercises and the same for the right hand exercises on a normal day or in the beginning of the tour. By the middle or end of the tour I would probably need about half the time as the muscles are conditioned at that point.

[@keithrideau]

@@protokragen Thanks, that all makes sense, but what I mean is, once you get to the point where you cannot continue the exercise, there is some recovery time before you're able to then play at full capacity. I'm guessing you wouldn't do this RIGHT before taking the stage, but maybe... what? 5 minutes? 10 minutes? Longer? How close to the start of the gig would you do these exercises?

[@protokragen]

Ah, ok. Sorry, I misunderstood your question. Definitely give yourself a few minutes after the "point of failure". I think this would vary for everyone in terms of how long it takes for your muscles to recover from that point. I would say try 5 minutes and see if it's enough time. If not, go up in increments of 5 minutes until you find the amount of time that's right for you. Also, I would stop as soon as the muscles fail. You don't want to hurt yourself by trying to extend it too much or go back to playing too quickly without enough recovery time. In terms of how long before a show, I would say about 30 minutes before the show starts is when I would begin warming up. Later in a tour it might just be 10 minutes before playing. It depends on how conditioned my playing muscles are at that point in the tour. I hope that info helps!

[@keithrideau]

@@protokragen Cool, thanks. Metal players especially have to consider the athletic component of it like you're doing here. Sounds good. Later!

[@protokragen]

That's exactly right. You have to build up your endurance with the muscle use. And if you don't play for a while the muscles atrophy and you have to build up the endurance again. Just like anything athletic. Cheers, man!

[@jashinacolyte4277]

Will prototype ever make a new album?

[@protokragen]

Yes! We already have some new material written. Hopefully we will have enough for a new album soon and can start recording next year.

[@freedomfighter5845]

Right on man..

[@protokragen]

Cheers, man! 🤘🏻

[@northnick3317]

Im no masochist, but that felt good :v

[@protokragen]

Haha! Cheers, man!