[nagukush]

Hi all

I'm here posting another of my problem, which may seem a bit awkward and unneccesary to some of you, but never mind, what are friends and family for ??? I'm rite ?

When ever i learn a new fingerstyle arrangment, i first memorize, then i start to polish it a little and when i'm confident enough and play, i usually feel that i'm always concious about getting the notes right, rather than enjoying the song that i'm playing. As a result of this , i tend to hold tightly on to the fret-board, with my fretting hand and this kind of restricts me of the freedom of playing smoothly. I hope i'm explaining clearly. This also makes me lose the feeling of the song and in worse condition, my mind just strolls away on other things and i dont even know what i'm playing.

Is it because i've just started finger-picking and i need to develope more physical control over the guitar??
Am i lacking concentration and confidence ?

What should i do to avoid my left-hand grasping hardly against the finger-board?

Kindly advice Friends...

[allthumbs]

Learn to relax. Tension has no place in your body when playing guitar. It makes for mistakes and slows you down. Just relax and enjoy playing the tune. Don't worry about wrong notes,they are bound to disapear with time. Enjoy your playing. IMHO it is better to play a tune with wrong notes with feeling and enjoy it then play it perfectly in a mechanical way.

[Rockerbob]

I find that a lighter touch is very hard when you are still learning. It seems to help me if I also think about a lighter picking hand touch as well. It's certainly something I have to think about or I play way to hard.

[PickNGrin]

If you know the problem, sounds like you're on your way to the solution, I mean...your aware of it, so you'll deal with it.

[nagukush]

Thanks pick , thats true

[Lcjones]

nagukush,

When learning a new chord progression or finger pick sequence it takes loads of concentration. I really wouldn't worry too much about this. Once your brain and hand are on the same page it will be natural. As if it was meant to be. This is what makes a great guitatist. When you transfer the "work" out of music and migrate the music into the music, it will flow smoothly. I've mentioned it before, and not to be too zennish, but when you are one with the song its like breathing. It just happens. You don't even think about.

Keep plugin' and pickin'.

Les

[gravitas]

Sounds like someone is ready for the Robert Fripp guitar aphorisms! And will soon tire of them! And grow to wish you could go back and time to kill Rob's parents before he could be conceived if only to rid yourself of his smartassedness!

But he's oh so right.

Here are a few that might relate to your problem:

Tension is unneccessary tension. -RF

Moving forward feels like moving forward;
It also feels like moving backwards, and standing still. -RF

Gradual transitions take place suddenly. - RF

I'd suggest that, each time you play , stretch your whole body. Not just your fingers, but your spine, your feet, your pecs, glutes, calves, and any other bit of your body that you hadn't otherwise thought to stretch (except your genitals, which might make your significant other either very happy or very sad). Not only will you feel more relaxed by the time you pick up your guitar, you'll feel better afterwards as well.

As for building physical strength, the general rule is to play something gradually faster until you feel tension in the appendage that the action requires (fingers on the fretboard, fingers on the strings, pick on the strings, tendon in the arm, etc.). Once you reach this point, slow down slightly and build (ie, speed up). Repeat step one and step two. As far as I know, this is the best way to build chops on the guitar, drums, sport, or weightlifting. The only problem with this is that it's difficult to tell when you're making any progress. You'll only know when you step back and think of how you were playing before and how you're playing now.

I'll leave you with another Guitar Aphorism, one applicable to me and to Bob.

Helpful people are a nuisance. - RF

[mcknett]

What an excellent post for your "member" status! I enjoyed reading it!

[aarona36]

I think that the fact that you are aware enough to recongize things like this is really a solution in itself, stay aware and keep praticing.

[nagukush]

Thank You everybody. Yes i'm understanding and implementing the same in my practice and i hope i'll get over it with time. Thank you so much for caring guys !!!