Try to keep on Jammin’

We’re waiting …

Keep on Jammin’

I’m in Malaysia, by the way. Half a world away from Canada

I will post my first on-line lesson next, which I have not done before on site. You are the one who is finally pushing me to do so, thank you for the push!

I can’t believe that your so called guitar teacher never taught you any of this stuff! Where are you?

Keep on Jammin’

Thanks for the long explanation. You know, I never thought of video taping myself. I read that if we are learning to sing or dance then we have to look at ourself at the mirror to spot our mistakes, but I think video taping should be all the more effective.

However, as I grow older, my fingers are getting stiffer, especially with so much typing (blogging)!! Gah!

What I mean by this is that they should be looking at the r positioning of your hand BEHIND the fret board as well as in front. This shows a vested interest in your advancement as a player.

Most teachers just want to make a buck and don’t really care about their students.

Look at the back of the neck as your problem, NOT the front. Imagine a imaginary line right in the middle of back of the fret board. You should have your thumb running down that middle UNTIL you notice a problem in playing your chords on the front. Reposition your thumb, up or down, until it makes it easier to play the chord. Also, anticipate where you thumb should be, on that imaginary line, to make the transition easier for you and make your chord changes sound seamless!

MOST IMPORTANTLY, slow down the chord changing/progressions that you are making! Practice them so slowly that people may think that your a little simple! Look at how your fingers move. Take it apart, piece by piece. When changing chords, put one finger down at a time until you have them almost rolling effect from the bottom of the frets up. This will force you to look at your mechanics.

One more thing, video your playing of the song. Seriously, this will also force you to look at your finger positioning from a different angle. It is so valuable that you will not believe it until you see it, it works. I have done this in the past, especially when I started to play VERY DIFFICULT pieces!

OR, why don’t you get a “student guitar”. This is a guitar that is made specifically for guitar players with smaller hands. Don’t let the “student guitar” label embarrass you at all! It just shows that you WANT to learn/play properly! Bet your teachers never told you that, did they?

There ya go, you learn a new thing everyday!

Keep on Jammin’ (remember grass hopper, there is never such a thing as a problem, only a solution!)