Here's a first stab at this. Along with the general effort to relax, I find right/left hand coordination a big challenge (getting a attack clear with no muting or buzzing) so any thoughts and tips you have on that would be great.
I really appreciate how calm and relaxed your face and hands are. That's good. One thing that strikes me however is that your shoulders and arms (particularly your left arm) look like they are a bit locked into place. Sometimes to get around that I will actually flail my left elbow out (left hand still on the guitar), almost like I'm doing the chicken dance. Strange as it may seem, it can help relax your shoulder, ribs and arm.
Try giving the melody a little more dynamic shape.
Re: left and right hand coordination, you might try slowing it down. I mean really, really sloooooooow. To the point where it's feeling unnatural. Make sure that you can play it cleanly at the super slow tempo. If there is anything that you don't really know, this process will expose it because at such a slow tempo nothing can be glossed over. Then speed it up halfway to where you want to be playing it and accelerate from there.
Nicely done! I'm working on relaxing as well and am much more aware of it now. I find that simple stretching everyday helps tremendously, especially stretching the hands and forearm as well. Happy picking!
Hey Chris,
Here's a first stab at this. Along with the general effort to relax, I find right/left hand coordination a big challenge (getting a attack clear with no muting or buzzing) so any thoughts and tips you have on that would be great.
Thanks for a great lesson.
Cheers,
Luca
Hi Luca!
Nicely done. A few points:
I really appreciate how calm and relaxed your face and hands are. That's good. One thing that strikes me however is that your shoulders and arms (particularly your left arm) look like they are a bit locked into place. Sometimes to get around that I will actually flail my left elbow out (left hand still on the guitar), almost like I'm doing the chicken dance. Strange as it may seem, it can help relax your shoulder, ribs and arm.
Try giving the melody a little more dynamic shape.
Re: left and right hand coordination, you might try slowing it down. I mean really, really sloooooooow. To the point where it's feeling unnatural. Make sure that you can play it cleanly at the super slow tempo. If there is anything that you don't really know, this process will expose it because at such a slow tempo nothing can be glossed over. Then speed it up halfway to where you want to be playing it and accelerate from there.
Cheers,
Chris
Nicely done! I'm working on relaxing as well and am much more aware of it now. I find that simple stretching everyday helps tremendously, especially stretching the hands and forearm as well. Happy picking!