#206 - TECHNIQUE MISTAKES 89% of Guitarists make & how to fix them!
Added 2021-12-21 15:01:02 +0000 UTCToday I'd like to talk about one specific technique habit that unlocked playing fast and fluid legato lines for me - it's something I never thought about that much (and we never talked about it so far), but once I paid attention to it, I started to play so much better!
As always, I made some exercises for you that focus on the thumb movement described in the video, here are your practice files: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1l456ebgKMei9DxpTUQuQ07NNRUFtFsRx?usp=sharing
In addition to these exercises, I can also really recommend revisiting the 30-Day Legato Course over the holidays in case you didn't work on it yet: https://www.patreon.com/posts/184-ultimate-30-54171102
I hope that helps on your journey to 'perfect' guitar technique, happy holidays and see you next week my friends!! :)
P.S.: Here's a Dropbox folder in case Google Drive doesn't work for you: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gekvgi2h6lhbpxu/AABIaT6DxLvkuBWAtjwmw724a?dl=0
Comments
Thank you for this video. It turns out my legato was so greatly hampered by my thumb positioning. With proper technique, I am improving so much.
Mary Blasko
2022-07-24 01:56:37 +0000 UTCNo PDF for this one, Bernth? Tks
Wagner
2022-03-23 17:57:22 +0000 UTCDoing the pull-off snap with my pinky is so uncontrolled and sometimes I even hit the higher string. I guess I'll just have to practice for hours :)
Brett Mathe
2022-01-04 23:18:05 +0000 UTCAwesome! You nailed it with my hand pain! Thanks for solution to monster gripping pains! Now I know how to fix this!
Darkboar
2021-12-29 03:47:06 +0000 UTCThis would be great. I think that posture would play a big part actually. Also sitting and playing is very different from standing and playing. I'm a sitter and find myself hunched over too much - trying to look over the neck onto the fretboard too much. On the rare occasion that I stand, then I find I get 'lost' a bit as it's alot harder to look over the neck. I would love some pointers on standing and getting the right position with the strap and guitar.
Chris Claxton
2021-12-29 00:25:29 +0000 UTCI would say that any pain/discomfort in your hand is not good. If it's something that you feel is holding you back, then Bernth has a FB group you could post a video up to. Also in there's a secret FB group if you're a VIP member as well. A video is much better than trying to explain it and get an answer via text
Chris Claxton
2021-12-29 00:18:31 +0000 UTCHowdy - I did see that too. But if you load up the gp5 files into TuxGuitar or Guitar Pro you can then print them out. Hope this helps!
Chris Claxton
2021-12-29 00:10:06 +0000 UTCVery helpful as allways ! I want to thank you for the mug i use it every day now :)
FlyingIceNeedle :þ
2021-12-28 11:50:34 +0000 UTCNo tabs with the exercises? Checked all of them but I couldn't find any including pdf-tabs.
Erik Goetzinger Nyberg
2021-12-26 14:14:40 +0000 UTCThe legato exercise 1 scale seemed familiar... since i've been practicing it on the Emperor Song "Curse You All Men". I
Rylie Franco
2021-12-25 18:48:15 +0000 UTCGreat video Bernth!!, I would love a string skipping masterclass !! A hug
Alberto Mendez
2021-12-25 18:15:04 +0000 UTCYes definitely guitar to guitar. I have a hagstrom that is more of a “rock n roll” guitar that can’t go too much past day 15-17 with the proper grip but then a Jackson that I can play at the 24th fret with proper grip.
Rick
2021-12-24 02:40:06 +0000 UTCI absolutly think the possible thumb position really differs (a lot) from person to person. I myself am having a real hard time when positioning my thumb behind my middle finger. And yea... this even can hurt when staying in that position for too long even if I am focused and relaxed. So I don't try to do this anymore. One of the first things they are telling you is, stop when it hurts and that's it. Also the more I am moving to the higher fretting positions the harder and more hurting it gets to hold my thumb behind my middlefinger. Around the 17th fred it's also just impossible on my guitar to hold the thumb at that position cause the neck is getting thicker. That may differ from guitar to guitar too of course. Indeed I never payed attention to this on other guitars.
Sephiroth
2021-12-23 18:59:35 +0000 UTCMy thumb is actually quite vertical and not pointed toward the headstock. There is also no pain whatsoever I can just feel tension in my hand and forewarn and I position the thumb behind the middle finger where I don’t have any behind the index
Rick
2021-12-22 23:43:06 +0000 UTChi Bernth! Did you block me on your youtube channel? Have I written something bad?(( I`m sorry if so
PhitoMan
2021-12-22 20:34:02 +0000 UTCThe biggest downside with my current thumb style is that my finger has too much friction against the neck, making it "difficult" to move it and staying relaxed. So I know what I'm doing wrong, just need to make it second nature. Regarding your pain; Are you using your pinky a lot or mostly the first three fingers? Also - do you anchor your index finger? I found that while doing wider spreads and lifting the index finger it kind of makes more sense to center the thumb behind the hand, otherwise the pressure is uneven and the pinky has to work harder (with possible flying pinky finger to boot) :)
Robert Bjärmyr
2021-12-22 20:23:41 +0000 UTCDo you perhaps point the thumb slighly sideways normally? I notice that I more often than not end up with my thumb pointing towards the head of the guitar, with most of the thumb flat against the neck, unless actively thinking about it. I think this feels the most normal for me at the moment, just like playing "weirdly" with the pick did earlier too. I then swapped picking style and now my old playing style feels really odd, and I suspect the same will occur with the thumb once I get used to it as well. :)
Robert Bjärmyr
2021-12-22 20:22:01 +0000 UTCI don’t know how much this varies person to person but I can feel tension in my hand if my thumb is behind my middle finger. There’s no pain or a lot of tension but an easily noticeable amount. When my thumb is behind my index finger there is zero tension……should I get used to the middle finger slight tension? Or go with behind the index while still retaining proper grip?
Rick
2021-12-22 15:52:57 +0000 UTCAnother great lesson with more invaluable tips, Merry Christmas to you Bernth, looking forward to more surprises in 2022. Thanks for all the lessons in 2021.
Steve Shaw
2021-12-22 14:11:15 +0000 UTCI'd love to, I can put it on the next wishlist/voting for January! :)
Bernd Brodträger
2021-12-22 06:49:52 +0000 UTCthanks
培培 方
2021-12-22 03:20:25 +0000 UTCwithout a doubt, it's not the finger, but the thumb! I've been working the 30 day legato, this will be a great transition for me I think!
John H
2021-12-22 02:30:14 +0000 UTCTHUMB CAM! 🥳🥳🤟🏻
Eric Bailey
2021-12-21 23:08:40 +0000 UTCBernth is a "schlimmer Finger" xD
Hans Seestaller
2021-12-21 19:19:00 +0000 UTCHi Bernth, funnily that's exactly what I have issues with in the Legato Workout (currently am on Day 21), but because of my playing position. While standing up, I have to hold my guitars weight with my left hand to prevent it from "sinking" into a horizontal position. And that effectively makes it impossible to have such a light grip. Is there any trick or can you simply not do this while standing, if your guitar is not perfectly balanced? Have you maybe done a video on playing position (standing/sitting) or could you talk about this in the future? :-)
Fhynix
2021-12-21 17:27:15 +0000 UTCYou are the best, thx🤘
Daniel
2021-12-21 16:28:22 +0000 UTCThanks so much for the input Daniel, I just added a file with all exercises in the video to both Dropbox and Google Drive 🤘
Bernd Brodträger
2021-12-21 15:44:57 +0000 UTCAs always an excellent lesson Bernth💪Could you please upload a guitarpro file for the exercises🙏Merry Christmas🎄🎁
Daniel
2021-12-21 15:39:59 +0000 UTCThis lesson is nearly tailor made for me! So grateful for this one; christmas came early! :D
Edwin van Slingerlandt
2021-12-21 15:25:25 +0000 UTCWish you, your family and friends all the best for Christmas and the new year
Paul Dugdale
2021-12-21 15:21:37 +0000 UTC89%. So how do you come up with those numbers?
Sebastian Burgstaller
2021-12-21 15:03:10 +0000 UTC
