Ladder Exercise for Review at 60 bpm

[Molly]

I am posting my first video. I hope I do everything as I should for a posting. With the ladder, I have difficulty with fingers 2 and 3 when playing the ladder with fingers 1 and 2. Either finger 2 wants to be over the fret towards finger 3 (instead of beside it) or else actually inside the fret with finger 3. If finger 2 is in proper place, then finger 3 wants to point towards it as it comes toward the fret. I'm not sure if this is normal when the hand is not yet fully developed or if I need more NT practice to help finger separation of 2 and 3.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rua64iw9 ... e=youtu.be

Thank you to Jamie and to all who have been participating in the forum. I enjoy following your progress and reading the posts.

Kathy

[Molly]

Sorry, the ladder is at 80 (4 clicks per beat), not 60.

Kathy

[Jamie]

Hi Kathy,

That was excellent! Beautiful form on both hands. Just wach the 3 on 1-2...it looked good but might develop a tendency to squeeze toward 2 as the speed goes up. Consciously extend 3 toward the adjacent string and away from 2 BEFORE you active 2. This will prevent the automatic response of 3 to move toward 2.

Excellent work, so start to move these up with the bpa, then let me see them.

[Molly]

Hi Jamie,

Thank you so much for your positive comments and your feedback. I will do some slow NT work on the separation of 2 and 3 and then post another video, moving up the bpm. I am also presently working on the chords Em to C (The Path), trying to get the 2 and 3 finger spread on the C chord so this seems to me that this exercise will be great for that issue too.

Many thanks.

Kathy

[Molly]

Hi Jamie,

I have been working on increasing the speed for the Ladder since my first video post. I worked extending 3 to the adjacent string and then placing 2 when doing the Ladder with 1 and 2, as you suggested. I mostly did this No Tempo or very slowly, relieving any tension in the fingers that resulted. I also discovered tension in my left shoulder, especially as I moved towards the higher pitched strings (G, B, E). I played the Ladder and focused completely (Following) on the shoulder tension, not moving to the next note until it was released, and I noticed my fingers were then much better able to stay in position. It's like your description of the artist working at the end of the ladder. I kept that image in mind. I find it amazing how I think I have no tension and then I find some!

I am posting 2 videos. The first is at 100 bpm (2 clicks per beat). This I seem to be able to manage. The second video is just one notch higher at 60 bpm (1 click per beat) and I feel it is pushing my limits. When doing fingers 1 and 3, I find 4 is not always staying as well in position as it was at slower speeds. Fingers 1 and 2 are always the most challenging for me.

Thank you, Jamie, for reviewing my posts.

Kathy

Ladder at 100 bpm (2 clicks per beat)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w73lNbr6lC0


Ladder at 60 bpm (1 click per beat)
http://youtu.be/mqD_PA_U88A

[Jamie]

Excellent work again Kathy! Your fingers look great, there is only one small thing.....be careful of 4 on the second video. It is tending to go down a bit flat, not quite enough on the tip. This will make it hard to relax into the heavy arm properly.

I suggest you work down to the lower frets now also, starting no tempo to relax into the greater demand of stretch. You will also find in helpful to use "working in groups", as I describe in my book "Beyond the bpa", as you work into higher speeds.

Great work!

[Molly]

Hi Jamie,

Thanks so much for viewing my videos and providing helpful feedback. I do have this book so I will look up and use "working at groups". My immediate goal is to reach the lower frets using this classical left hand position.

I have read and continue to read a lot of your writings. I find them very informative and thought provoking. Incredible! I am very appreciative of what you have provided to assist guitar players in reaching goals. Your resources to me are like none other I have found.

Kathy