The Top 5 Aspects of Technique Guitar Students Ignore
After teaching guitar and bass for so many years, I have noticed many students ignore working on their technique. Technique is fundamental and essential when learning how to play. If it is not addressed and in the forefront of a player’s mind when they play, then I end up being a witness to so many issues they have while performing. The result is the students physically fighting against themselves. Here is a short list of things students should pay attention to while they practice.
1. Thumb First, Fingers Second
When a student first attempts to learn a new chord, chord progression, or melody, their first instinct is to place their fingers and then add their thumb. In fact, it should be precisely the opposite. Place your thumb on the back of the neck in the area you are about to play and then add your fingers. This will give you a foundation and make your hand feel more stable as you learn your new material.
2.Clamp the pick, Don’t pinch the pick
A large number of students use their index finger and thumb to pinch the pick in their playing hand before they attack the strings. The problem here is surface area, time, and sweat. As you continue to play, the small amount of surface area the student is employing to hold the pick makes their grip very weak. Then over time, the pick tends to move around and combine with the sweat you create as you play. The result is a pick that won’t stay still. A better approach is to curl your index finger in, place the pick on your index finger on your first knuckle, and then clamp down on the pick with your thumb. By doing this, you create a larger surface area and a sure grip that sweat has a harder time messing with.
3. Finger Tips
Place your fingertips on the strings, not the flat part of your fingers. This is a more precise way of approaching the strings. If your fingers are flat then there is always the danger of you pushing down too many strings. When you then play, these other strings could ring out and create sounds you were not intending. Plus, you are using a smaller amount of surface area again for better precision. There is also the addition of tone. By employing fingertips and using less surface area, your tone and the sounds your strings make tend to sound much better.
4. Play in the Front of the Fret
So many players think that the right placement of their fingers on the string between the frets is the middle of the fret. While that does the job sometimes, a better placement is at the front of the fret. This location is on the string, close as you can to the metal part of the fret, closest to the body of your guitar. The farther away your finger is from the front of the fret then the more of your string is hanging between the frets. When you strike the string with your pick, the string will vibrate back and forth over those frets and create more opportunities for string buzz. String buzz is the twangy sound of your string colliding with your frets. This creates a lot of unwanted noise and makes you sound slightly sloppy in your playing.
5. Move Your Thumb
Ah, the thumb again. Remember, your thumb is the foundation for your whole hand. If your thumb is placed higher on the back of the neck, it will allow you to play on the higher-sounding strings more easily as it compresses your fingers. If you place the thumb lower on the neck, that will allow you to play the lower-sounding strings easier as it allows your fingers to spread out easier. I am constantly moving my thumb up and down the back of my neck when I play, especially if I am soloing or playing scales. This also has applications for chords. It is much easier to play a D chord with your thumb higher on the neck as it compresses those fingers. With your thumb lower on the neck, it is easier to play a C chord as it allows you to spread your fingers apart. Give it a try.
These are very basic tips regarding building good technique in your guitar playing but should not be ignored. If you’ve ever tried to play a riff or a solo and wondered why it never sounds correct or very clean, then chances are you were ignoring some of these techniques. Study them well and keep them in mind always. Happy playing everyone!
Garrett