|
Bad Index Reach
Here the elbow is too far out due to tension in upper arm, shoulder, and back. The index is not being made to reach and separate from the middle finger, as is required.
|
|
| Good Index Reach
Here the elbow is in more to the body, there is much more relaxation in the surrounding muscles. Most importantly, note the big separation between the index and middle.
Anyone can develop this, if you approach it the right way. |
|
| Bad Pinky Reach
Muscles in the side are tensing as a reaction to the efforts made to stretch out the pinky in this difficult stretch into a Cminor9 chord. My pinky is not going far enough to get a clear note. |
 |
Good Pinky Reach
The elbow is not being pulled into the body. Although my pinky is not reaching all the way to the fret, the D note on the 3rd string, 7th fret does come out clearly (you'll have to take my word for it!)
Although my middle finger looks like it is on the fret, it is actually positioned so that the point of pressure is behind the fret enough to get a clear note. |
 |
Copyright © 1998 Jamie Andreas. All rights reserved.
Fundamental aspects of technique, illustrated using classic songs you know and love (according to The Principles, of course!)
Powerful Secrets! to improve your playing!
Important info on reaching with the index or pinky, and its relation to arm position.
These are essential, and basic, techniques for the rock guitarist. Many people do them wrong, find out if you are one of them!
The classical and casual positions with electric, acoustic, and classical guitars.
There are always lots of questions about how to apply The Principles to a standing position. Here are pictures of me standing with an electric, and using different strap lengths.
Pictures of good left hand positions for various playing situations.
Video clips of the Walking Exercises from "The Principles".
Video clip of Foundation Exercise # 10, The 6 note Arpeggio".
See the proper form of this difficult chord.
There is much confusion as to the "correct" left hand position for guitar. That is because there is no such thing as THE correct left hand position for guitar!
Find out why you need to have those distal joints in shape for this chord, and also why you don't!
In 30 years of teaching, I have rarely (perhaps never) seen a left hand that wasn't crippled with bad form in one way or another, especially when it comes to doing major scales. This workshop student was no exception......
A common error in technique for students, and contributing factor to a lot of playing problems.
What does good tone and bad tone on an acoustic guitar sound like anyway?
Often, we must squeeze our fingers into some rather unaccommodating positions on the guitar. We know we are supposed to strive to get our fingers "right behind the fret" as we play, but, like so many things in life, we have to bend the rules sometimes (it ain't a perfect world!).
