and so it Begins - proper technique/breaking bad habits

[PhunkyPhred]

This thread is to show beginning mistakes, there was one on the guitar forum, i think it belongs here as well.

some things that were listed on the guitar forum were ;

don't look at your right hand,
do not keep your head down, as it will stress your neck and back.
push down with your fingertips, straight down. you will mute strings on accident if done improperly.
practice with a metronome if you're having trouble with rhythm.
play the string right next to the Fret, not in the middle of the 2 frets, as it can cause strings to go sharp.


i really can't remember any others off the top of me head. but i think this should be here. if not, the mods can delete it, or ask me to. :)

Fred

[stratcat]

use the pinky..

[PhunkyPhred]

keep your fingertips close to the strings.
whipe your strings/guitar after every use so that the fretboard doesn't become yucky. (it's easier to clean before it turns to gunky crap)
when restringing the guitar, give the tuning pegs extra slack up top( make sure it's wound around more then once. or your strings might snap! i now string it around 3 or 4 times instead of 1 or 2. )

keep 'em comin. :)

[Super Pudge]

Originally posted by PhunkyPhred
keep your fingertips close to the strings.
whipe your strings/guitar after every use so that the fretboard doesn't become yucky. (it's easier to clean before it turns to gunky crap)
when restringing the guitar, give the tuning pegs extra slack up top( make sure it's wound around more then once. or your strings might snap! i now string it around 3 or 4 times instead of 1 or 2. )

keep 'em comin. :)

Good point... I always wash my hands prior to playing. Even if I put my guitar down for a second, I will wash my hands. Your strings last much longer!

[PhunkyPhred]

when i was playing 13 hours a day. i'd realize the strings would cut deep into my fingers, (i still haven't bled.. but my fingertips were ripped to shreds for quite a while... i kept playing though. ) , anyhow.. i noticed the strings collect dead skin, which can lead to your fretboard getting nasty. so even if ya did wash your hands.... gotta watch out for that dead skin. :( .

also... don't play for long periods of time, i did. i was stupid and way to obsessed. i think someone mentioned that you should take a 20 minute break at least if you're playing for 4-5 hours. gotta make sure your wrist is not in a bad position, you can get tendonitis from holding it in a bad way too long, or carpal tunnel syndrome.

that'd be bad, :( .

[Qbert]

Originally posted by stratcat
use the pinky..

word! thats the best advice.
took me three years to figure that out.
hell i took almost a year to use my ring finger

[PSA]

keep yor wrist as straight as possible and don't wear your guitar so damn low. basically, if it hurts somewhere other than your fingertips, take a break. if it keeps hurting, check your technique with someone who knows.

[PSA]

oh yeah, don't become a gear and/or HCGF addict. just say no, kids. that should be our next new forum, the 12 step program and withdrawl support group.

[thamiam]

Relax. Tension is the enemy.

[talljohn]

3 essential pieces of gear IMHO:
1. a good tuner
2. a metronome or drum machine
3. a looper

[ghisino]

do not limit yourself to one kind of music or playing feeling or something else : you really start to understand it only when you can look at it-playing an instrument I mean- from different point of view. Experimenting with musical ideas will also help you build a correct technique : as long as I was only playing twelve bar blues I didn't use my pinky at all.Experimenting with different progressions and scales showed me I NEEDED it in some situations. Having learned to use it , it turned out to be very useful even in the old , familiar blues situation.See my point?

[Alejandro D]

Originally posted by PhunkyPhred
keep your fingertips close to the strings.
whipe your strings/guitar after every use so that the fretboard doesn't become yucky. (it's easier to clean before it turns to gunky crap)
when restringing the guitar, give the tuning pegs extra slack up top( make sure it's wound around more then once. or your strings might snap! i now string it around 3 or 4 times instead of 1 or 2. )

keep 'em comin. :)

I heard that if you wrap your string 'round the post more than 1 or 2 times, it will not stay in tune as well. Myth?

Thanks for this thread guys, I've only been playing guitar for 9 months or so (bass for over 3 years though), and you guys have helped a lot.

But now, finally there's a forum not just for gear!
I can finally get better at playing instead of just lusting after new gear.

[Dave Regio]

Learn to read music. Too many people rely solely on tab. Tab has its uses, such as determining the best position to play a musical passage.

The majority of available sheet music and method books are written in standard notation only.

[Old Geezer]

If you plan on being in a band, practice playing standing up.

[krisp2150]

Thanks for the great tips!
I was wondering if anyone had advice on how to practice keeping your fingertips (mainly the pinky) close to the fretboard when playing. It seems every time I fret with another finger, especially the ring finger my pinky has a tendency to lift up way off the fretboard.

[evan_02]

don't learn patterns, learn SOUNDS!

[thamiam]

Originally posted by krisp2150
Thanks for the great tips!
I was wondering if anyone had advice on how to practice keeping your fingertips (mainly the pinky) close to the fretboard when playing. It seems every time I fret with another finger, especially the ring finger my pinky has a tendency to lift up way off the fretboard.

Most likely your pinky is flying out because your hand is supporting as well as playing the guitar. This restricts how you can play, and forces your fingers and hands to do things besides playing. One good rule of thumb ;) is that the guitar shouldn't move when you take your hands off of it. This is another good reason to practice standing up, with a strap. I keep a strap even when I'm sitting, and don't allow the guitar to rest on my legs. Your hands and fingers should have completely free movement.

Try playing with your thumb sticking straight out, not touching the neck at all. Get used to the sensation fo just 'dancing' along the frets, not pressing them. Most likely your pinky is flying out because your hand is supporting as well as playing the guitar. This restricts how you can play, and forces your fingers and hands to do things besides playing.

[skunky_funk]

Do a 10-15 minute warm-up before playing. PLAY SLOW! That is the point. Lighting fast licks when played at once can cause serious joint problems when you grow old.

Here are some of my warm-up routines (some of which by John Petrucci)

E---------------10-----------------10--------------------5----
B-----------8------------------7---------------------7---------
G------7------------------8---------------------8--------------
D--5-----------------5--------------------10-------------------
A----------------------------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------------------------

E----------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------10-----------------10--------------------5----
G-----------8------------------7---------------------7---------
D------7------------------8---------------------8--------------
A--5-----------------5--------------------10-------------------
E----------------------------------------------------------------

E---------------------------15----------------------------------
B--------------------14-----------14--------------------------
G--------------12-----------------------12--------------------
D--------14-----------------------------------14--------------
A--12------------------------------------------------15-------
E---------------------------------------------------------------

and do the same pattern, starting on the 13th fret, then next on the 14th fret, then the 15th fret.

[hood]

lets see if any one can pin point my problem, has to so with the pick.. I been playing for 8 years and now i have huge think calluses right on the first joint of all on my finger on my right hand. and my index finger , figer nail is soo thin now from playing, so times that can get jsut plain painful when the finger nail gets soo thin, is this a result of bad tech. or does that happen to a lot of people

[MrSage]

Originally posted by PSA
oh yeah, don't become a gear and/or HCGF addict. just say no, kids. that should be our next new forum, the 12 step program and withdrawl support group.

Dude...there should be an entrance test before anyone is allowed to subscribe to these forums. And a disclaimer stating that they may become addicting. I haven't been around here long, but I'm already getting sucked in...sometimes spending more time reading about guitars and gear than actually using mine....
:(

There should be a forum on how to leave the forums...

[H535]

It seems every time I fret with another finger, especially the ring finger my pinky has a tendency to lift up way off the fretboard.

The 'ole 1234 exercise is good for this. Also called the spider. Play 1234 on every string but leave a finger on a string at all times! The only time a finger should leave the string is when it is moving down (or up) to fret a new note. example:
1--------

1--2----

1--2--3---

1--2---3---4

next

---2--3--4
1----------

then

-------3--4
1--2-------

then

-----------4
1--2--3----

finaly

------------
1--2--3--4

Each time through allways leave your finger on the last note it played until it is needed to play the new note.

[Smokey]

Use strap/cable locks.

[WattsUrizen]

Originally posted by talljohn
3 essential pieces of gear IMHO:
1. a good tuner
2. a metronome or drum machine
3. a looper

Just thought I'd mention that the best tuner is your ear. Music is a hearing art, so learning how to tune your guitar by ear is a good way to begin your hearing skills.

[HughGRection]

Grow a mullet.
:D

[Glenn Page]

Don't be afraid to step outside of your normal personality when playing guitar. Once you get comfortable enough with moving around the fretboard, bending, scales, etc. take it to the next level by loosening up your grip and letting it flow. For example, I'm a white, 19 yr old guy but when I'm playing some blues licks, I convince myself that I'm a 50 yr old black man in the Frech Quarter. Really put feeling into everything. It's easy to hear!

[Groovy Mucker]

Originally posted by PhunkyPhred
practice with a metronome if you're having trouble with rhythm


practice with a metronome/drum machine even if you're not having trouble with rhythm!

[BoyToy]

Originally posted by PSA
keep yor wrist as straight as possible and don't wear your guitar so damn low. basically, if it hurts somewhere other than your fingertips, take a break. if it keeps hurting, check your technique with someone who knows.

You said keep my wrist straight. To do that my arm stick out in a weird way. Is my left arm supposed to point strait down to my foot or is okay if my elbow points to my back? I dont think I can play with my elbow pointing strait at the floor. The reason I ask is becuase my hand is getting realy sore and it hurts alot. My fingers dont hurt but my thumb muscle is cramping and sore all the time. Is this because I have bad teknique or because I am playing to much? I dont know if I can change so easy. Thanks if you can help me.

ps I have to play tonight in a band before an audience. I am very nervus about my hand cramping up on stage. I dont want to look stupid.

[ralphster007]

BOYTOY -

It sounds like you're wearing your guitar really low... am I right?

Try hanging it so that the headstock is at eye-level.

[BoyToy]

Originally posted by ralphster007
BOYTOY -

It sounds like you're wearing your guitar really low... am I right?

Try hanging it so that the headstock is at eye-level.

I will do that now. When you say keep it at my eye level, do you mean when I am playing the head should be normaly at my eyes level all the time? Will this make my wrists strait? When he says keep wrists strait, what does that mean? Strait to what? It has to bend to play then strings!
btw, Thanks

[thamiam]

Originally posted by BoyToy


I will do that now. When you say keep it at my eye level, do you mean when I am playing the head should be normaly at my eyes level all the time? Will this make my wrists strait? When he says keep wrists strait, what does that mean? Strait to what? It has to bend to play then strings!
btw, Thanks

Just for starters, hang the guitar on your neck and just stand there. Now raise the strap until when you look to the side, your eyes are level with the top of the headstock.

Now stick your arms straight out in front of you (like the zombie pose). Bend your elbow and your fingers, but don't move your wrist. Put your thumb on the back of the neck, and just slide it up and down the neck with your fingers hovering over the strings. There should be no reason to flex your wrist.

This will at least get you close, and you can adjust to suit from there.

[ralphster007]

Originally posted by BoyToy
I will do that now. When you say keep it at my eye level, do you mean when I am playing the head should be normaly at my eyes level all the time? Will this make my wrists strait? When he says keep wrists strait, what does that mean? Strait to what? It has to bend to play then strings!
btw, Thanks

Ok... you don't have to go the eye-level route if you don't want to.
But you should try holding your guitar at a 45-degree angle. Here's a picture of Bob... see how his left wrist is straight?

http://users.rcn.com/bob-ingram/Bob2.JPG

[BoyToy]

thank you all very much.
I will try to do things this way from now on. The wrist may need to bend to get my little finger to the A and E strings. My hands to small to reach and so I move my wrist over the bottom edge on my guitar. I still cant do that 12 bar blues people do with there little fingers. You know that shuffle thing blues guys do easily. For me it is hard or impossible to do. It seems like that back and forth blues shuffle I hear alot is wicked hard to do. What is that called when you play in Emin and you hits the A and D strings on the 5 fret wth your pinky in a blues song? It hurts to do this thing.

again, thank you all very much.

[klubjunk]

pinky control...

my hand is kinda big and long.
my pinky tends to point inward and its next to impossilbe for me to stretch it out , cuz it just curls inward..

any suggestions on that?

| | | /

my fingers look like that

:)

[The*Ataris]

Originally posted by klubjunk
pinky control...

my hand is kinda big and long.
my pinky tends to point inward and its next to impossilbe for me to stretch it out , cuz it just curls inward..

any suggestions on that?

| | | /

my fingers look like that

:)

Just cut them all off at the first knuckle :) I swear the stubs are easy to play with!!!

[babybatter]

I found my left pinky a bit crooked.

I straightened it out by keeping proper form and using it extensively.

But mine wasnt as crooked as THAT. :eek:

You may want to look towards better overall posture. I found the outside of my wrist was hurting, and I alleviated this by lifting my left shoulder a bit. I was letting the weight of my guitar pull my left shoulder down.

This also freed up dexterity in my other fingers.

Hope this at least gives you somewhere to start.

[PSA]

I'm no expert, at all. not even remotely. so I shouldn't be talking about this because I don't want to tell people wrong things or something. I said as straight as possible because it's not always possible, sometimes never, depending on the person, I think. it's a lot of different things to keep in mind, this posture business. But I think the 2 most important things are:

1: Listen carefully to your body. If it feels like it's injuring you, it probably is.

2: Relax. Somebody told me this thing to help me get to sleep, but it's good for guitar playing and really all the time. It's to consciously and systematically relax all your muscles (well not like you your anus muscle that's named after some german guy, or things like that.) I always start with my shoulders because I keep the most tension there. But don't forget your face (the jaw is a big one.)

Also wear your guitar how it's most comfortable and try not to worry how it looks.

one other thing to note. Bob's wrist is completely straight in that picture only because his thumb is hanging way out there. I've read several places that you're supposed to keep your thumb on the crest of the neck, like right in the middle. I have really long thumbs and I can never manage this without messing up other things, but the point is to grip with your thumb instead of the webbing or your muis (what is this word in English? that muscley part of your palm, by your thumb?).

okay, experts, please fix my mistakes...

QUESTIONS

I have that same thing with my pinky, where it rolls out. are there any excersizes or anything for that?

a couple questions about guitar placement. Is the guitar supposed to angle away from your body? Is that okay or not?

also, the fretboard angles back toward my face a bit. if anything, I would like it to angle out toward my feet. this would be much more comfortable. I think the problem is that my guitar is too bick for me. there is no forearm cut and the lower bout extends on forever. so I have all these angle problems because otherwise I can't get my right arm to the strings. what can I do? move the strap button farther up the left edge of the guitar? that would also give neck more of an upwards angle, which is cool. is there anything else I should try?

[edeltorus]

Originally posted by evan_02
don't learn patterns, learn SOUNDS!

Evan-02, could you please explain this?

:)

Nils

[PhunkyPhred]

He means Practice your ears, get it so you know every scale by notes and you can tell the notes by ear. :)

I also have the problem with long fingers/thumbs, i find sometimes if i hold my guitar like Mr. ingram is in that picture (bwahaha... mister ingram ;) :p j/k with ya bobinator.) that my wrist is straighter, so even if it's not the "correct" way it is the "safe" way for my hands. I Twist my entire forearm slightly to reach with my fingers, therefor keeping my wrist straight, but retaining stretch. I can't tell you if this is proper or not, but it works for me without bending my wrist. (i've been really into Technique lately.)

[555]

Mostly good advice all around, but since we're built differently, here's what I found to be the best way to find the hand position that's just right for you. You'll need help from a friend or family member to hold your guitar for you in the playing position, with you standing up. Let your left arm hang loose from the shoulder. Without changing your wrist position or fingers, bend your arm at the elbow till your hand is abour eye level, in the playing position. Have your helper place the neck into your hand. Don't move your hand, move the guitar. Use your first finger to play the sixth string (low E) on the first fret. Leave your first finger there as you play the note on the second fret with your second finger. Leave them both there as you play the third fret, same string, with your third finger. Leave them all there as you play the fourth fret, same string, with your fourth finger. Your thumb tip will be somewhere near the middle of the neck, and the base of your thumb should not be touching the neck. Have your helper reposition the guitar so that IT fits into YOUR HAND. Your left hand should be in the same position as when you bent your elbow. If you can't play the fourth note without moving your other fingers, have your helper make small adjustments until you can. When you get it right, you hold your guitar in that exact position while your helper adjusts your strap. That's YOUR playing position, sorry that it's not hanging down around your nuts, but thats life.
Now to get that fourth finger to behave, do that exact same fingering you just used, only do it on every string, VERY SLOWLY. By slowly, I mean hold each note until it stops ringing on its own. While it's ringing, position the idle fingers so they are "just above the notes they will play'', as close to the string as you can get them without touching. Play the next note and correct the idle finger positions. Make the move to play the new note SLOWLY, paying particular attention to your fourth finger EVERY TIME YOU PLAY EVERY NOTE. Remember to try to keep your hand as relaxed as you can. There' more to this, but this is a good start. It's very tedious, but the gain is worth the pain.

[IamBurnout]

If you are causing damage to your right hand, you need to practice picking more precisely, and lifting your strumming hand away from the strings after picking. Or, to make an analogy: Chickens are better at picking up seeds than bears are.:)

If your guitar is too big for you, trade it in for a smaller one.(Explorers and V's are for big boys:D)

Use wide leather straps on heavy/ top heavy guitars. The wide profile distributes weight more evenly, and the suade backing makes the guitar keep it's position.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, use more mids!

[azzzy]

Originally posted by hood
lets see if any one can pin point my problem, has to so with the pick.. I been playing for 8 years and now i have huge think calluses right on the first joint of all on my finger on my right hand. and my index finger , figer nail is soo thin now from playing, so times that can get jsut plain painful when the finger nail gets soo thin, is this a result of bad tech. or does that happen to a lot of people

I seem to have a similar problem. Not as severe but still... I don't have callusses on my right hand fingers (except for the outside of the thumb) but the tip of my index fingernail gets kinda flaky. I am forced to clip my fingernails quite often now because of my thinning right hand index fingernail. I don't know if that's the result of bad technique. It started happening when I began to play at least a couple of hours a day at speeds over 150 bpm.

[IamOne]

:o

[Eddie]

Originally posted by Alejandro D

I heard that if you wrap your string 'round the post more than 1 or 2 times, it will not stay in tune as well. Myth?


That's no myth, it's true. The reason behind this is that the more turns the string has, the more likely it is to have some slack. Even if it is a tiny (barely noticeable) bit of slack with each turn, it adds up, and once you play the guitar the strings "adjust" and go out of tune.

Originally posted by Anomandaris

Just thought I'd mention that the best tuner is your ear. Music is a hearing art, so learning how to tune your guitar by ear is a good way to begin your hearing skills.

I have to disagree. IMO the best tuner is a good tuner. Ever since I began using the Peterson VS-1 my ears have gotten more "picky."
I would suggest using a good tuner for tuning the guitar, for practicing bends, and maybe even for some ear training. Once a person's hearing has developed, then they can rely more on tuning by ear. And even when tuning by ear, a reliable reference pitch is needed. Also, we should keep in mind that people with perfect pitch are not as accurate as a good tuner.