Now the dirty finger for those of you who haven't guessed already is the 2nd finger of your pick hand. All of the following examples are in the key of C and use both the Pentatonic and Blues scales. As ever, it is vital that you learn to practice these examples in more than one key. All of the notes with a downstroke are played with your plectrum (pick) and all the notes using upstrokes are played with your 2nd finger on the pick hand. Whenever going to a new string, and there are no pick strokes indicated, you must use fret hand hammer-ons.

For the first 5 examples we will be using a technique known as hybrid picking. This technique is used to deadly effect by the great Shawn Lane, and Greg Howe.

Example 4 we introduce another well known dirty finger technique, tapping.

Alan Lennon is 24 years old, from Bagenalstown, Ireland, and has been playing guitar for 8 years. His main influences are Greg Howe, Shawn Lane, Jeff Beck, Marty Friedman, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Jason Becker.

He is currently recording his first album "Heavens Call" which he hopes to have finished by the end of summer 2002.

He was featured in the "Guitar9 Undiscovered" in February 2001. Be sure to visit Alan's website @ www.altheripper.moonfruit.com.