Challenge!

If ever there was a day of the week when motivation simply does not exist, Hump Day would be it. It’s still a wee bit too early to get excited about the weekend, it’s never a paycheck day and, as much as you really want to sit around and do nothing, you know you can’t. To make things worse, the summer is just about over, the vacation days are pretty much all used up, and now begins the push for the holiday marketing and 2012 business strategy sessions are starting to take hold.

Good times… good times.

I mean, a guy would have to be some kind of nut job to think that people would be motivated to actually sit down and practice guitar on a day like this, right? I mean, the sheer gall to ask someone to do more work when they are already mentally spent with two more work days to go!

Who would be so much of a jerk that they would issue a challenge on a Wednesday to try and see who has the moxy — the balls — to challenge you to get off your ass and show what you’re really made of?

I would.

That’s right, slackers. Today is the Hump Day Challenge. There are no excuses, no reasons why you can’t, no if’s, and’s, or but’s. Today is going to make you a better guitar player. If for nothing else because you got off your butt and put in the work. I am a firm believer that you make the most progress when you are the least motivated but show up and put in the time anyway. The gains may not show up immediately, but they have been made and you know you feel better having done the work when it’s over.

So, today I am giving you three things to work on. Do all three and good manna from heaven and all that other stuff will happen. (It’s true; I’ve seen it and stuff.)

1. Chord Inversions

Using the 1346 string group (low ‘E’, D, G and high ‘E’ strings), play all of the chord inversions for the following chords: EMaj7, Em7, E7, Em7b5. If you need help with the fundamentals, read about them here and here.

I specifically chose this string group because it’s uncommon. What kind of challenge-maker would I be if I gave you easy stuff? There will be some odd stretches. Too bad; work ‘em out. You might find some very interesting chord voicings that you like.

2. Learn Eight Bars of a Solo

You’re probably thinking, “This isn’t too bad.” I didn’t tell you what kind of solo or in what musical genre to learn a solo from. It doesn’t even have to be a guitar solo. But here’s the kicker:

You’re not allowed to use your index finger.

That’s right. No 1st finger allowed! You have to learn the entire eight bar solo using only your middle, ring, and pinky fingers. And no, you can’t show me how strong your middle finger is if you know what I’m sayin’…

A solo with bends in it or a fast bebop solo would be ideal, but your choice of solos is ultimately up to you. Just remember, there is no quiz for this challenge, so the less work you put in the more your flaws will show up later.

3. Ten Minutes of Rhythm

Using your metronome, pick a comfortable tempo. Find a fretted note on your guitar — it really doesn’t matter which one — and for ten minutes straight (no stopping!) I want you to play the following one right after the other:

• 4 quarter notes
• 8 eighth notes
• 12 triplets
• 16 sixteenth notes

The quarter notes fall on the metronome beats. Immediately follow that with eighth notes (two per beat) and then divide the beat into triplets. Then on to 16th notes (4 per beat). Continuously repeat this pattern for the full ten minute time period. Concentrate on:

• Consistent timing
• Hand/pick coordination
• Dynamics

This is not easy. It’s boring, repetitive, and will get on your nerves.

That’s a good thing.

If you can go the full ten then you are a maverick among slackers.

I urge you all to take today’s Hump Day Challenge. It’s good for your playing, good for your brain, and good for the environment. Al Gore personally sponsors this exercise to help prevent climate change. (It’s true, just ask him.)

Good luck, Fretheads!