walkingdecay
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Post by walkingdecay on Oct 25, 2016 14:09:08 GMT
We've all been through the sore finger stage of guitar playing. If you have any tips for newer player, perhaps things you wish you'd known when you got started, please post them here.
My first advice for any new player would be to use your little fourth finger on the first string when making a G chord. This may seem counter-intuitive as the fourth finger is not quite as strong as the oft-employed third, but it not only makes for easier movement to other chords but starts to train it and strengthen it right away. You'll soon find how useful and agile fourth finger can be in all sorts of playing techniques.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Oct 25, 2016 14:22:18 GMT
Don't worry about the F-chord or barre chords. Don't let their 'difficulty' impede your progress. I still can't do either properly after quite a long while, and normally fudge the F while avoiding the barres (except Bm). I still have fun playing everything else
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leoroberts
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My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Oct 25, 2016 14:35:54 GMT
At the very start it's going to hurt - both your ears and your finger tips (especially if playing steel string) but persevere; it gets easier (on both your ears and your fingertips)
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walkingdecay
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My main instrument is: brownish and rather small.
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Post by walkingdecay on Oct 25, 2016 15:44:00 GMT
If you're using a pick (hillbilly for plectrum) try not to grip it too tightly or you'll find the strings resist your strumming motion - and that they produce a metallic clanging sound that doesn't really resemble music. It's surprising how little physical pressure of finger and thumb is needed to keep a pick in place whilst allowing just enough give to enable a nice strumming acton.
If you're worried about the things flying away and you're using plastic picks, try using a paper punch to make a hole in the plastic where the ball of your thumb will rest. It offers a bit of added grip and may help you relax your grip in the short term. You'll soon find that you can use picks without the hole and that they're not the escape artists you originally thought.
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Post by creamburmese on Oct 25, 2016 18:05:32 GMT
Play it perfectly slowly 3x before speeding up. It's taken me 3 years to learn this
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leitrimnick
C.O.G.
Posts: 152
My main instrument is: Fylde Oberon
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Post by leitrimnick on Oct 25, 2016 19:22:53 GMT
Don't rush, don't worry that some players are better than you..that never changes, whatever happens don't give up as learning to play the guitar lasts a lifetime and provides a lifetime's reward. Believe me, you never stop learning and I've been at it for more than 50 years. Oh...and try, if you can, to learn to play by ear.
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Andy P
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Post by Andy P on Oct 25, 2016 19:36:46 GMT
Avoid developing bad habits, which will eventually limit your ability, by learning proper technique from the outset, either using online guides or books (but don't worry too much about always keeping your thumb right under the neck - most of the best players don't bother!).
Subject to the above, try to develop your own style based on as wide a mix of musical influences as possible.
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Oct 25, 2016 21:14:38 GMT
We've all been through the sore finger stage of guitar playing. If you have any tips for newer player, perhaps things you wish you'd known when you got started, please post them here. My first advice for any new player would be to use your little fourth finger on the first string when making a G chord. This may seem counter-intuitive as the fourth finger is not quite as strong as strong as the oft-employed third, but it not only makes for easier movement to other chords but starts to train it and strengthen it right away. You'll soon find how useful and agile fourth finger can be in all sorts of playing techniques. It only took me about 25 years (pre youtube etc) to learn this having been self taught from a book and it was eye opening! Great advice!
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Post by vikingblues on Oct 25, 2016 21:54:55 GMT
Enjoy the journey and don't get too focussed on reaching destinations.
Mark
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Post by martinrowe on Oct 25, 2016 22:45:02 GMT
I heard a good bit of advice from a Stuart Ryan workshop that went something like this:
"When you practice, try playing in a key you never usually play in. You'll finish the practice session feeling like the worst guitar player ever and your confidence will be on the floor - but you'll have improved your playing about 5%".
I'd assume you can substitute 'a key' for a different style, or something you've never attempted before, etc.
Martin
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Post by lavaman on Oct 25, 2016 23:56:04 GMT
Play it perfectly slowly 3x before speeding up. It's taken me 3 years to learn this Best advice ever. If you can play the song properly at very slow speed, its relatively easy to speed up. If you start at normal speed you make mistakes and these are very difficult to eradicate
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Post by vikingblues on Oct 26, 2016 6:28:07 GMT
Yes indeed - the more you make those mistakes at high speed the more muscle memory reinforces those mistakes and makes you repeat them forever.
Crawl before you can walk. Walk before you can run.
Mark
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walkingdecay
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Posts: 1,676
My main instrument is: brownish and rather small.
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Post by walkingdecay on Oct 26, 2016 8:49:50 GMT
You know those exercises and warm-ups you see in tutor books but only try once because you'd rather be playing a tune? Well, many of them are worth learning and playing at least a few times a week. They can help you to move across the strings and around the fretboard more efficiently, teach new and useful techniques and help you to develop rhythm, tone and flow (about which more later).
I didn't bother with such things myself until a couple of musical mentors set me on the path. I noticed improvements in my playing soon after that and still find particular routines helpful. I often find that running through some warm-ups sharpens my playing on days when I start out awkwardly, and have come to recognise that scale and interval exercises have helped me to "hear" where to find particular notes in my head and to play by ear.
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Post by ourmaninthenorth on Oct 26, 2016 14:15:46 GMT
This is what I've learned -
I aim for progress, not perfection. This music dodge is a blessing, not a competition.
Listen, look, ask, have the courage to continue to do all 3..forever.
The only golden rule for me - be yourself, enjoy the music you're making...however unaccomplished other's tell you it is...and there will be those people.
Play from the heart, and play your heart out.
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Post by jonnymosco on Oct 26, 2016 16:06:21 GMT
Good thread!
For all styles: Always relax (physically aim for good posture), avoid stress and tension in all movements and aim to play with as little effort as possible.
For example, barely any pressure is needed if you press directly behind the frets, loads if you press near the centre... actually you'd be amazed at how little pressure is needed to fret a note buzz-free, people tend to grip really hard and also push with the thumb, which isn't necessary.
Also, this tension free way of playing is a great way to increase speed, as is playing really softly with the right hand (playing hard with the right hand automatically tenses up the left hand and makes speed and also legato difficult).
If you find it hard to sound the notes with little effort then unfortunately you'll have to look at your sitting and hand/wrist/finger positions as they may be working against you - we have to encourage the hands to play naturally!!!
Jonny
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