Chicken Pickin Exercises Pdf May 2026

Basic Open-String Snap (Key of E)
Play each note slowly, exaggerating the finger pluck:

E –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
B ––––––––––––0–(m)––––––––––––
G ––––––1–(p)––––––––––––––––––
D ––2–(a)––––––––––––––––––––––  
A –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
E ––0–(p)––––––––––––––––––––––

Repeat on each string set, then speed up.

One of the most confusing things for intermediate players reading a Chicken Pickin’ PDF is the notation of Ghost Notes. chicken pickin exercises pdf

In written music, a ghost note is usually a note in parentheses. Beginners often think this means "play it quietly." In Country guitar, it actually means "mute it percussively."

The Exercise: Take a standard open-string lick from your PDF, for example, a pull-off on the G string. Basic Open-String Snap (Key of E) Play each

Immediately after picking the open string, lay your fretting hand lightly across the neck to dampen the vibration. It shouldn't ring like a bell; it should sound like a "thwack." This percussive rattle mimics the snare drum of a country band.

Pro Tip: A great PDF exercise is useless if every note rings perfectly. Country music requires a "sloppy precision." You want the accuracy of the fretting hand, but the rhythmic, muted percussiveness of a drummer. Repeat on each string set, then speed up

While you can build the above into a document, professional PDFs include backing tracks, slow-motion breakdowns, and 20+ licks. Here are the top three sources:

Pro Tip: Go to Google and search this exact phrase: "chicken pickin exercises" filetype:pdf. This forces Google to show you only direct PDF links from university websites or guitar lesson blogs.