Guitar Principles + Chords and Rhythm

[Snow007]

Lately I've become frustrated with my guitar playing (I really think my right hand is terrible, does anyone anchor their whole palm on the bridge?) and don't feel as if I'm achieving what I could be. So I went and ordered Guitar Principles + Chords and Rhythm in hopes it'll straighten out bad habits since I've seen it regarded highly here.

[Soap]

Re: Guitar Principles + Chords and Rhythm

Do you mean, pressing down or bearing down with your right hand on the bridge?
Is that what you mean?
If so, no I don't, but years ago I use too.
It will(the habit you have aquired)go away as soon as you relax. Relaxing comes when your confidence as a player grows. This comes over time and the more you play.

[Snow007]

Re: Guitar Principles + Chords and Rhythm

I'd say putting pressing down with my right hand so that it is anchored, but it's not really altering the tuning (I use floyd rose). I don't apply too much pressure, but it's there and I feel somewhat limited when jumping between strings at fast paces. Also I notice once I get to a certain speed, I change from wrist picking to wrist/forearm combo but I can still get extremely fast speeds. So I imagine there's a few things that I'm doing "wrong" and can be worked on.

I keep hearing so many different ways people play, and I'm so confused any more as to what is "best". I use to worry about my left hand, but now it's my right hand that I worry about.

Maybe what I'm doing is wrong, or maybe it's just fine, but I'd like to learn the best possible ways of doing things so that's why I thought I'd order the books.

[donf]

Re: Guitar Principles + Chords and Rhythm

I've used Guitar Principles and like certain parts of it. The parts regarding relaxation is excellent. Also, practicing correctly, for eg, not wasting your time while you practice is also good, since you're gonna put the time in anyway.

You gotta take it for what its worth. As in any instructional, it's how much you want to put in. But I recommend it.

[Soap]

Re: Guitar Principles + Chords and Rhythm

I've never heard of the "Guitar Principles" instructional.
But I do agree about the practicing aspect.

Years ago, and I'm going back on this one, but its stuck with me. I had a varsity baseball coach say, "you play like you practice" and thats very true. In regards to guitar playing, everyone has/had to practice to improve their playing. As a beginner or an intermidate playing breaking bad habits that limits ones playing, how you play and what you play when practicing is key. At that level, practice is key.

Gigging? The same principles applies. When you got an up coming gig rehearsal is important. The more rehearsal's the more confindence as an ensemble/band you will have. However, you can rehearse too much, once you've learned and practiced the songs/set list enough to play them well/right, then its time to move on.
You can burn out and loose interest with too much redundancy/repetition.

[SeventhSon]

Re: Guitar Principles + Chords and Rhythm

I think my right hand sucks as well. I cannot make fast strumming sound effortless like Pete Townshend does. I bought Guitar Principles to relearn right hand technique. I haven't cracked the book yet, though...too busy with band practice.

[donf]

Re: Guitar Principles + Chords and Rhythm

I just recently left my band because of what Soap was saying. There's only so many times you can play 'Jessie's Girl' [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] before you start getting burned out.

I wanted to do the things I wanted to do and I didn't have the time because of band practice. I really could give a rats ass whether or not I get up on stage. My quest with the guitar is to try and figure it out, kinda like a crossword puzzle. That's just something I like to do.

I broken out the Guitar Principles to refresh myself. Opened up the Stetina books for practicing and currently taking lessons from this guy who's blind, but phenomenal. He's the one who's opening up the neck for me. Theory is another area I'm hitting pretty hard. The problem with my teacher is, that though he's a master of the guitar, he can't see what I'm physically doing, so if my hand position is wrong, he can't tell (obviously). Thats where I rely on the Principles books. Not that it's gonna show me I'm wrong, but show me how to be aware and to look for those downfalls.