learn-guitar.org

I am working on learning how to use my right hand on the guitar. For most folks, the right hand is the hand that you use to strum the guitar strings (while the left hand is the hand that you use on the fretboard to make notes and chords). As I mentioned in my last post, I have been working with the “Priniciples of Correct Practice for the Guitar” for the last week or two. This stuff definitely is NOT for everyone, but I think it is what I need right now in my path to learning to play the guitar.

In any case, I am working on my right hand right now. That is sorta wild, it means I am not even touching the fretboard of my guitar with my left hand. In fact… in some of these excercises I am not even making a sound with the guitar. How is THAT for a different way to learn guitar?

In any case, this right handing string shifting excercise is all about moving your pick (if you are playing pick style) or your fingers (if you are playing fingerstyle) to the various guitar strings in a very controlled manner. You do it painstakingly slow… and then you gradually get faster. But the real key is that as you move over the guitar strings with your right hand, you are alwasy focused on not having any tension in your body. That means in your fingers, your forearm, your bicep, your shoulders, your neck, your belly, your legs.

The key is you learn to play the guitar, and you learn to use your right hand on the guitar, without any undue tension in your body. That means your body will move more freely and easily as you play the guitar.

file under:
learn guitar,
guitar

links: Principles of Correct Guitar Practice