What does relaxed playing *FEEL* like??

[muzwu]

HI, I am asking what the feeling is like for the experienced players here who play without tension. Can you describe it as elaborately, and creatively, as you play?

I have had touches of it, but I would love to know what I have to look foreward to.

[Guillaume]

Hello,

Relaxed/poised playing feels easy. Your fingers do their job smoothly and you feel control over the physical aspect.

Untie your shoelaces. Then tie them again. How does it feel? your hands probably went throught the motions quickly and effortlessly, without struggling, unless you've never learned to do it right

I understand what you want to know from your question, but it is difficult to explain, and the best thing you can do is discover what it feels like through correct practice.

And you asked what it feels like to play "without tension". Just to make sure, playing without tension is not the goal. The goal is to use minimum tension to get the job done, and relax that tension when it is not needed.

Guillaume

[muzwu]

You answered it great! Exactly what I am looking for. The analogy with tying shoelaces is really powerful. I can't speak for everyone, but I remember early memories of not being able to tie shoelaces, and my grandpa doing it for me. I dont actually remember the feeling of not being able to but I imagine it is all fingers and thumbs of course. And now like you say it is nautural. No tension.

I have begun for first time a practice log, and sometimes will mention about some tenseness I felt. I had this experience yesterday when I was practising fingerstyle and trying to go faster and got tense and then became aware, began relaxing and I got that hint of what you mean---a sense of effortlessness, and my speed naturally grew from there.

[Guillaume]

You answered it great! Exactly what I am looking for. The analogy with tying shoelaces is really powerful. I can't speak for everyone, but I remember early memories of not being able to tie shoelaces, and my grandpa doing it for me. I dont actually remember the feeling of not being able to but I imagine it is all fingers and thumbs of course. And now like you say it is nautural. No tension.

I have begun for first time a practice log, and sometimes will mention about some tenseness I felt. I had this experience yesterday when I was practising fingerstyle and trying to go faster and got tense and then became aware, began relaxing and I got that hint of what you mean---a sense of effortlessness, and my speed naturally grew from there.

Very cool. I also find that a practice log is useful because it forces you to come up with a plan of how you're going to improve your playing on a day to day basis.

I actually encourage you to post a video of something you're working on in the "workshop forum". Then Jamie and other players can help you specifically with what you're trying to do. I thought it was worth mentioning it again, because it's free

[chefrusso]

I actually encourage you to post a video of something you're working on in the "workshop forum". Then Jamie and other players can help you specifically with what you're trying to do. I thought it was worth mentioning it again, because it's free

.... and it's awesome!

[Alexander]

How are you going about your practice log? What instructions or suggestions for putting together a useful/workable log?

btw - I like the shoe tying analogy too.


thanks
alexander

[muzwu]

How are you going about your practice log? What instructions or suggestions for putting together a useful/workable log?

btw - I like the shoe tying analogy too.


thanks
alexander

WOW you are a mindreader! I had been planning on asking about the practise log here

I could do with guidance. At the moment I am putting date, and what I have done, so here's an example:

"12/4/08~~ fingering first position Cmajor scale, foreward and backward. Also doing part of it with eyes closed. Both slow and faster, but not using metronome; (6 minutes);

Explored C major scale patterns up and down neck. NOT focussing on gaining speed because I think it is more important at this stage to KNOW where the patterns are; (12 mins)

I practiced from Tyler Fingerstyle part 3, first the I finger striking the high string for several minutes, and then using fingers I&M to both striker each string. I used the advanced metronome for this at 300BPMs and at times went faster than that. It felt alright, but as tension became apparent I let myself relax, and found that I had more energy for expressing fingerstyle! (over 5 mins---I only employed stopwatch in last part so am not sure exactly)

I practiced freestrokes using I&M on each string. No metronome. Trying to ring each string without ringing nearby string. Over 5 mins

Part 4 And practised plucking all 3 fingers as freestrokes, both with thumb planted, but also both thumb and fingers freestroking simultaneously and alternately, and experimenting with different volume (3 mins)

Did freestrokes with thumb and fingers with advanced metronome 140bpm for 3 mins
Part 5 Practised A min first position scale using advanced metronome 140bpms, and also trying to go faster (5 mins)

13/4/10 Fingerstyle lesson 6, did whole video, and then practised both, and then did 1st fingerstyle with advanced meteronome 100bpm over 5 minutes (notice how plucking 6th string with C chord is cool variation)
Practised 2nd fingerstle pattern. Noticed the chord change from G7 to C was difficult to trying to focus on that. 2.55 mins 100bpm (resting hand as I have been on this for quite a while!)

Practised finding notes on fretboard, C< B<D<F<E are quite easy but still struggle a little with G and A

I have been spending much time studying modes. I revisited my old thread at Jazzguitar, and am trying to understand

I recorded me playing Dm7 and then improvised D dorian over it “Now, you and your friend get really sophisticated. You learn jazz and you find out about the II-V-I progression. You are in C, so the progression is Dm7, G7, CMaj7.

Now, it turns out that D Dorian (which is a minor mode) consists of D, E, F, G, A, B, C; and, you already know that G7 (G mixolydian) is G, A, B, C, D, E, F; and Cmaj (C Ionian) is C, D, E, F, G, A, B. . . so, you can solo over your II-V-I in C using only the notes in the C Ionian scale, but starting on D for the II chord, G for the V chord, and C for the I chord. You are playing a set of modes over the II-V-I in C!

Now, this is a VERY simple explanation of how this all works, but it is a good, easy to understand, place to start. Don't try to complicate it until this basic approach makes sense to you. Find a backing track for a II-V-I in the key of C and try it out.” This is what I will be doing next lesson!

14/4/10 Practicing beginning of Tyler Fingerstyle part 6, for 8 minutes, 3 mins with metronome bpm (INSIGHT—I remembered Bourassi encouraging not stopping flow with right hand and to allow fingers to respond/left hand and I felt it work!)
I LOVE the pattern at end—very Downhome Bluesy feel. I of course want to practise whole of part 6, but tomorrow I want to focus on this pattern!

Part 7 Spent a lot of time practising first part of this video till tired. Will return to it tomorrow!
I recorded a chord progression of Dm7, Cmaj7 and G& and improvised the modes D Dorian, Ionian, and G Mixolydian over them

15/4/10 Practising part 6 (Fingerstyle again) with metronome at 140bpm, over 5 mins. Part 7 started practice at 140bpm and then paused stopwatch and upped it to 180, all in all 6.50 minutes (I seemed to keep up well with 180)

Learning the modes of C major scale Modes Part I - Introduction for at least hour. I feel I am understanding their patterns!
I have begun to practice the modes up and down neck to sound of pedal tones for each key. I really want though to really focus on each one. I am exploring D Dorian.

I found out about this amazing site http://www.musictheory.net/ and have learnt a lot! I am tired as I have been really studying it for hours. I am up to Key Signature Calculation

16/4/10 Practising part 7 (Fingerstyle)—Really going slow, over 10 mins

17/4/10 practising fingering foreward-only 1st position Cmajor scale
I started on 140 bpm, and tried to double it in spurts. Then I upped it to 180bpm, and then 220. I alternated foreward-only and also forewards and backwards. I didn’t use stopwatch at beginning so all in all about 8mins practise

I have been doing the free jazz lessons at Jazzguitar.be (Modes), and have been practising D Dorian and E Phyrgian

18/4/10 practised 1st position Cmajor scale. Started with 140bpm, and alternated with doubling speed. Then tried 180bm, and then 220bpm—all foreward-only, and for over 5mins.
Also practised Fingerstyle parts 8-11
INTERESTING scale pattern I discovered yesterday. I.e., D on2nd string 3rd fret, go 8,7, and descend till you reach root!"

What are your thoughts of this log and the way it's going?

[Alexander]

Thanks muzwu, that's helpful. That was almost like diary type journalling. Sounds like you're finding a lot of areas to focus on. It'll be interesting to see what some of the other players, especially the guys with a lot experience, say about their practice sessions (and logs if they keep them).

[Alexander]

Hey muzwu,

I found this site you might be interested in. It has this whole thing on practice logs - even has a possible format to use in PDF
http://www.theguitarsuite.com/Guitar-Pr ... Goals.html

[muzwu]

Hey muzwu,

I found this site you might be interested in. It has this whole thing on practice logs - even has a possible format to use in PDF
http://www.theguitarsuite.com/Guitar-Pr ... Goals.html

This is great Alexander, just what I need THANKS