Get rid of bad habits with lighter touch

[Tomo]

I am very happy to hear this from my students. He lives far away.....so he comes to my place for his 2 hours lesson here and there. Here is his email.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Wanted to send you that e-mail about my wrist and what has been helping it.

It's really a combination of things. One is just playing with a lighter touch. And it's taken me a lot of time and practice (and I'm still working on it) to apply this when playing live. As soon as I play live my automatic reaction is to hit the strings as hard as I can. From playing lighter, my strings are lasting longer, my tone has improved, and my wrist is not using as much energy while playing.

Another thing has been closing my right hand instead of leaving it open while picking. I feel extending my fingers while holding the pick put more pressure and strain on my arm muscles. I can feel it too. For example, if you hold your guitar with your pick in your hands, and open and close your fingers, to me it feels much more relaxed while the hand is closed.

The final thing is the alternate picking techniques. I've been realizing more and more how wrong that my picking was. For example, doing down strokes two times in a row on eighth or sixteenth notes. Working on this alternate picking makes me feel so much more smoother, cleaner, and makes my playing much more effortless.

These are the things I've noticed. I have not come close to mastering them at all. It will take some more time and work to break the old habits, but I'm getting there!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Tomo

[Apartment 11]

Thanks for sharing, Tomo.

[Tomo]

Thanks for sharing, Tomo.

You're welcome. It's possible to improve things. You just need to notice things you didn't notice before.

Tomo

[Tomo]

Play with dynamic touch. Soft, normal, hard. Having choices is good thing.

Tomo

[brad347]

It's possible to improve things. You just need to notice things you didn't notice before.


That, I think, is the most important lesson anyone can learn. It's not enough to just repeat stuff over and over. You have to observe-- be aware, and most importantly listen to what your body is telling you.

[CharAznable]

I struggle with this.

I'm pretty heavy handed, and I play with an open hand. I can't hold 16th notes for more than a couple of bars before my wrist is killing me.

When I play with a closed fist, I feel like I'm playing with my feet, though.

[Serious Poo]

You're welcome. It's possible to improve things. You just need to notice things you didn't notice before.

Tomo
+10000. A sigworthy post if I've ever seen one.

[Neer]

Tomo, I agree that playing with a lighter touch helps one gain much more control of his playing. Besides the obvious physical technique improvements, it really opens up a much wider palette of sound.

[A-Bone]

Tomo, I agree that playing with a lighter touch helps one gain much more control of his playing. Besides the obvious physical technique improvements, it really opens up a much wider palette of sound.

True, it's great for adding natural dynamics to your playing, and when you really dig into a note, people can hear that this is what you are doing.

[Tomo]

Tomo, I agree that playing with a lighter touch helps one gain much more control of his playing. Besides the obvious physical technique improvements, it really opens up a much wider palette of sound.

Thanks! John Mayer... he still talked about what I have taught him...now we can laugh about it. This was one of them. Very important to know. Main source of tone production besides gears.

Tomo

[Dr Git]

Thanks Tomo...I'll make sure to give that a try too

[Blix]

After 25 years of a way too hard pick attack, It clicked for me a few months back, and it have made such a difference, my tone is better and my technique have improved a lot.

[chell]

Thanks! John Mayer... he still talked about what I have taught him...now we can laugh about it. This was one of them. Very important to know. Main source of tone production besides gears.

Tomo

You certainly taught him well! Is there anything else you taught him that's been very important to his playing?

My strat keeps sounding better as I improve!

[Tomo]

You certainly taught him well! Is there anything else you taught him that's been very important to his playing?

My strat keeps sounding better as I improve!

Thank you. First one was not rake 3 strings to get one note ... we all do this like SRV!

Alternate picking technique. Dynamics and phrasing. Yes, Metronome!

I taught this kid for 3 hours/ 5days ... I am very happy to hear this from him

Tomo

<<<>>>
Tomo,

I just wanted to send you a quick thank you email for taking time out of your schedule to teach me a couple weeks ago. I learned so many basic things that I don't think I would have figured out otherwise, or at least for a while. I have been practicing what you have given me to look over along with sitting down and listening to albums. Still listening to Live At The Regal. I hope to take lessons next summer and I wish the best for you and your family this next year. Thanks for everything.

Sincerely,
MM

<<<.>>>

[Tomo]

After 25 years of a way too hard pick attack, It clicked for me a few months back, and it have made such a difference, my tone is better and my technique have improved a lot.

I am very happy to hear that. It's hard to notiice unless you are tuning into that area. That's why I tell all my students to get a Strat & a good tube amp.

Single coil and tube amp= very honest!

Tomo

[Tomo]

That, I think, is the most important lesson anyone can learn. It's not enough to just repeat stuff over and over. You have to observe-- be aware, and most importantly listen to what your body is telling you.

Thank you. Not enough to review this topic over and over.

Tomo

[Tomo]

I struggle with this.

I'm pretty heavy handed, and I play with an open hand. I can't hold 16th notes for more than a couple of bars before my wrist is killing me.

When I play with a closed fist, I feel like I'm playing with my feet, though.

I taugh many heavy handed people. All you need to do is try to find your pace.

You can start to practice something really simple as "chromatic scale"
1234... 4321... but you need to take your time. No tempo first, yoga guitar!

Slow, slower, much slower... take your time. Think about how much less pressure can you use? Each note... stay there as much as you need. 3-5 seconds or more, watch your fingers, thumb... relax at all?

Tomo

[cram]

Tomo - thanks for your contributions in playing and technique. I have been focusing on this throughout the spring and summer. I am still working on it very hard. It is tough for me while playing our music to have faith in being able to play with the careful and calm restraint I work hard at away from our band. I am not "there" in a lot of the tempos for phrases I need - I gravitate to the bad habit of a heavy hand again...

Seeing things like the letter from your student is an encouragement in my effort.

[Tomo]

Tomo - thanks for your contributions in playing and technique. I have been focusing on this throughout the spring and summer. I am still working on it very hard. It is tough for me while playing our music to have faith in being able to play with the careful and calm restraint I work hard at away from our band. I am not "there" in a lot of the tempos for phrases I need - I gravitate to the bad habit of a heavy hand again...

Seeing things like the letter from your student is an encouragement in my effort.

Thanks for reading my post. You're very welcome. It's not easy but not way too hard. First, please don't expect too much. Our culture, fast food, internet, compare with others.... too much distraction in our life. So if you hurry... you go around longer actually.... I ma happy to hear that you stepped out and into right path. but you need to watch out not going back to old bad habits. It's really easy to go back unless you really changed. When my students are in this... changing techniques... I even encourage not to play in bands if it's possible. You only need to spend this for 6 months to a year... then you can play freely! Or you hurry... now and you won't make that much improvement besides gears, licks, more info!

It's 2pm! I need to back to my work. I need to write all down all ...so I won't waste my time.

Tomo

[Tomo]

+10000. A sigworthy post if I've ever seen one.

Thank you so much! I just finishied my tape lessons for today. So I am free... but I need to write all down what I am doing... it's easy to goof off...

I am really enjoy working with my students. Something seems like pretty simple...yet it's very deep.

Even "Melody" how you are going to play? Straight? With ghost note? With 3&7 ... Harmonized? or different key and different postions?

Those more physical.. but you can even use different touch on each melody, each note.

In order to hear: Use your tube amp. Turn up a bit louder so that you won't pick too hard. A bit brighter, less bass so your touch will contriol these area.

Record yourself. That's only way you can hear the difference. Then write your thoughts, comments on your playing. You look forward to tomorrow!


Tomo

[Tomo]

Thanks Tomo...I'll make sure to give that a try too

You're welcome! I am still careful about my touch. I used to play very hard.

Tomo

[buddastrat]

I do think the fret hand is important to lighten up and use a good solid, but loose touch for many reasons like intonation and avoiding RSI for example. But the picking hand is what defines the player, the attack, attitude, rhythm and...their tone. I love an aggressive pick hand in a player, whether bluegrass, metal, jazz, blues... Take someone like SRV, his strong right hand really attacked those strings to get that tone. I do notice, that the players that have a really good tone, tend to play very strong and even unplugged, you can hear their solidbody guitar, clear from across the room. Those players tend to have a lot of unique personality in their touch, and sound different even if they play on the same gear as someone else. That's why SRV had such a tonal fingerprint. The players that play light all the time, tend to get a similar tone to another who'd play that same guitar/amp. Dynamics are so very important to practice, too. Not always one way. Make it purr or make it scream and everything inbetween.

[Jasco]

I do think the fret hand is important to lighten up and use a good solid, but loose touch for many reasons like intonation and avoiding RSI for example. But the picking hand is what defines the player, the attack, attitude, rhythm and...their tone. I love an aggressive pick hand in a player, whether bluegrass, metal, jazz, blues... Take someone like SRV, his strong right hand really attacked those strings to get that tone. I do notice, that the players that have a really good tone, tend to play very strong and even unplugged, you can hear their solidbody guitar, clear from across the room. Those players tend to have a lot of unique personality in their touch, and sound different even if they play on the same gear as someone else. That's why SRV had such a tonal fingerprint. The players that play light all the time, tend to get a similar tone to another who'd play that same guitar/amp. Dynamics are so very important to practice, too. Not always one way. Make it purr or make it scream and everything inbetween.

I'd agree.

I practice playing light, medium, and hard with my picking hand.

If you're playing acoustically, there are times you need to be able to lean in hard to be heard.

Also, when I gig, I'll often just plug straight into an amp with no effects. My whole dynamics as well as overdrive is controlled by how hard I pick, so I need to be able to lean into it as well there.

The thing I try to stay aware of is staying relaxed while playing hard.

Use of rest-strokes helps to get more bang-for-your-buck too.

[Tomo]

I'd agree.

I practice playing light, medium, and hard with my picking hand.

If you're playing acoustically, there are times you need to be able to lean in hard to be heard.

Also, when I gig, I'll often just plug straight into an amp with no effects. My whole dynamics as well as overdrive is controlled by how hard I pick, so I need to be able to lean into it as well there.

The thing I try to stay aware of is staying relaxed while playing hard.

Use of rest-strokes helps to get more bang-for-your-buck too.

Thanks for writing!

Tomo

[Tomo]

I do think the fret hand is important to lighten up and use a good solid, but loose touch for many reasons like intonation and avoiding RSI for example. But the picking hand is what defines the player, the attack, attitude, rhythm and...their tone. I love an aggressive pick hand in a player, whether bluegrass, metal, jazz, blues... Take someone like SRV, his strong right hand really attacked those strings to get that tone. I do notice, that the players that have a really good tone, tend to play very strong and even unplugged, you can hear their solidbody guitar, clear from across the room. Those players tend to have a lot of unique personality in their touch, and sound different even if they play on the same gear as someone else. That's why SRV had such a tonal fingerprint. The players that play light all the time, tend to get a similar tone to another who'd play that same guitar/amp. Dynamics are so very important to practice, too. Not always one way. Make it purr or make it scream and everything inbetween.

That's why it's important to control dynamics. Not dynamic.

Thanks for your input!

Tomo