Are you Hi-Tech, or Low-Tech? Technique includes everything from Richie Havens' playing in open tuning and only moving his barred index finger around the neck, to Segovia's finely sculpted right hand position and finger movements. In each case, the player is doing what they have to do to get what they want.

 

Notice how the word "technique" is related to "technology". Technique is the "technology" you use to play the guitar.

There is one important consideration, however, in your efforts to learn guitar, and build your technique day by day. Even if you are getting what you want at the moment, you must make sure that you will not hinder future development by the way the fingers are being trained to behave. And very often, because of not knowing how to practice, people are training bad habits into their fingers without knowing they are doing so.

For example, a new, young player comes in after taking a few lessons. He proudly plays "Smoke on the Water". It sounds okay. It looks horrible. He plays with only his first finger, running it up and down the 6th string to get the notes, rushing madly with a very tensed up arm, and worse, his inactive fingers squeezing tensely against his active first finger. A major violation of "The Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar"!

He doesn't know it, but he is training his arm and hand to be extremely tense while playing, and he will have major problems as more difficult things are attempted. He is getting what he wants, for now. But he is sowing the seeds of future problems by doing so.

 

Yes, technique is that magical word that you love if you have it, and hate if you don't! The important thing for guitar players is to know how to GET some! And then get more!!

 

The Inside Information: Read the lessons in this section on "Guitar Technique" and you will learn how to avoid many of the most common technical problems that guitar students run into!

 

To begin, choose any essay on the side bar or start with Technical Tips